They Would Not Leave Them

One of the themes that we see in the story of the people of Zeniff, Noah, and Limhi is loyalty to family. When Zeniff first went up to the land of Nephi, his group ended up contending with each other, “for father fought against father, and brother against brother, until the greater number of our army was destroyed in the wilderness.” Clearly there was not the loyalty to family that there should have been among that group to prevent that kind of fighting, and they were forced to shamefully return “to relate that tale to their wives and their children” (Mosiah 9:2). Zeniff showed more commitment to his people’s wives and children when he was trying to protect them from the Lamanites. When they were attacked, he recorded, “And it came to pass that I caused that the women and children of my people should be hid in the wilderness…. And it came to pass that we did go up to battle against the Lamanites; and I, even I, in my old age, did go up to battle against the Lamanites” (Mosiah 10:9-10). He was devoted to their families and protecting them, and Zeniff made sure that the men of their society fought to protect their women and children.

         Noah, on the other hand, was clearly not loyal to their wives and children in the society. We read that “he had many wives and concubines. And he did cause his people to commit sin,” therefore clearly he was not committed to the welfare of their women and children (Mosiah 11:2). This was painfully obvious when his life was in danger with the Lamanites upon them: “Now it came to pass that the king commanded them that all the men should leave their wives and their children, and flee before the Lamanites.” At this point there was a division among the men as to whether they would follow the king or stay with their families: “Now there were many that would not leave them, but had rather stay and perish with them. And the rest left their wives and their children and fled.” Those who remained were indeed able to protect their wives and children as they persuaded the Lamanites not to slay them. One of those who was among them was Limhi, showing that he did not follow his father into the wilderness but rather stayed true to his own family and people in danger. For that group of Nephites who left their wives and children, ultimately they regretted their decision: “Now they had sworn in their hearts that they would return to the land of Nephi, and if their wives and their children were slain, and also those that had tarried with them, that they would seek revenge, and also perish with them” (Mosiah 19:11-12,19). They learned the hard way that there is no joy or safety in looking out for yourself and neglecting your family.                  

        During the time of Limhi we also see those who were both loyal to and unfaithful towards their wives and children. We read that “the priests of king Noah, being ashamed to return to the city of Nephi, yea, and also fearing that the people would slay them, therefore they durst not return to their wives and their children.” Instead of remaining true to their families, they abandoned them completely and abducted some of the Lamanite women (Mosiah 20:3-5). On the other hand, the people of Limhi, in danger because of the actions of those priests, were faithful to protecting their families: “They fought for their lives, and for their wives, and for their children; therefore they exerted themselves and like dragons did they fight” (Mosiah 20:11). Later as many of the men had died in trying to free themselves from their bondage to the Lamanites, they again showed their commitment to the women and children of their society: “Now there was a great number of women, more than there was of men; therefore king Limhi commanded that every man should impart to the support of the widows and their children, that they might not perish with hunger” (Mosiah 21:17). And ultimately they made it safely to the land of Zarahemla with “their women and children” after miraculously escaping from their bondage (Mosiah 22:2). These stories invite us to consider our own loyalty to our families, to our spouses and children. Hopefully we are all committed to put their well-being above our own, to “rather stay and perish with them” and to fight “like dragons” for their well-being when any kind of danger comes.