Nephite Flocks

One of the patterns we see in the Book of Mormon is that when a group of people left one area to travel to another, the text often mentions the fact that they took their flocks. For example we read this of Alma’s departure from King Noah: “Now Alma, having been warned of the Lord that the armies of king Noah would come upon them, and having made it known to his people, therefore they gathered together their flocks, and took of their grain, and departed into the wilderness before the armies of king Noah” (Mosiah 23:1). Later when they escaped the Lamanites, “Alma and his people in the night-time gathered their flocks together, and also of their grain; yea, even all the night-time were they gathering their flocks together…. And Alma and his people departed into the wilderness” (Mosiah 24:18,20). Even though they were running for their lives, they still took the time to gather together and take their flocks with them. The people of Limhi did the same thing when they escaped with Ammon. Mormon recorded, “And king Limhi caused that his people should gather their flocks together…. And it came to pass that the people of king Limhi did depart by night into the wilderness with their flocks and their herds, and they went round about the land of Shilom in the wilderness” (Mosiah 22:10-11). They were clearly very concerned about ensuring their flocks went with them, for this chapter mentions flocks five times in conjunction with their departure. I would have thought that bringing their animals would just slow them down and risk them getting captured by the Lamanites, but it appears that leaving their flocks when they fled was not an option.

               Several other stories similarly highlight the Nephites’ focus on taking care of their flocks when going from one place to another. In the war with the Amlicites, the spies of Alma recorded this about a certain group of people: “And they are upon our brethren in that land; and they are fleeing before them with their flocks, and their wives, and their children, towards our city” (Alma 2:25). They were fleeing from war and they still took their flocks! Similarly, when the people of Ammon fled their Lamanite brethren who were trying to kill them, they likewise took their flocks: “And they gathered together all their people, yea, all the people of the Lord, and did gather together all their flocks and herds, and departed out of the land, and came into the wilderness” (Alma 27:14). When the Nephites gathered together to protect themselves from the Gadianton robbers, they likewise focused on protecting their flocks: “[Lachoneus] sent a proclamation among all the people, that they should gather together their women, and their children, their flocks and their herds, and all their substance, save it were their land, unto one place” (3 Nephi 3:13). And when the crisis was over and they returned, the text again mentions that they took their flocks: “The people of the Nephites did all return to their own lands in the twenty and sixth year, every man, with his family, his flocks and his herds, his horses and his cattle, and all things whatsoever did belong unto them” (3 Nephi 6:1). Again and again the Book of Mormon mentions that even in times of great distress the people took care of and kept their flocks.

               I don’t know all the reasons that this was so important to the Nephites, but their focus on not leaving behind their flocks can perhaps be seen metaphorically for how the Lord takes care of us. He is the Good Shepherd and His sheep will follow Him and He will not leave them. For example, Alma (the Elder) was told this by the Lord: “Thou shalt serve me and go forth in my name, and shalt gather together my sheep. And he that will hear my voice shall be my sheep; and him shall ye receive into the church, and him will I also receive” (Mosiah 26:20-21). His son said to the people at Zarahemla, “I say unto you that the good shepherd doth call after you; and if you will hearken unto his voice he will bring you into his fold, and ye are his sheep” (Alma 5:60). The Savior also told the Nephites when He was among them, “For behold I know my sheep, and they are numbered” (3 Nephi 18:31). Christ is the “Redeemer, and [our] great and true shepherd,” and just as the Nephites wouldn’t leave their sheep behind, He won’t leave us if we will follow Him (Helaman 15:13).