The Three Groups to the Lamanites

As I read today about the desire of the sons of Mosiah to go up to the land of Nephi to preach the gospel to the Lamanites, I was struck by the difference between the three groups of Nephites who went up to live among the Lamanites. The first was described this way: “There was a large number who were desirous to possess the land of their inheritance. Wherefore, they went up into the wilderness. And their leader being a strong and mighty man, and a stiffnecked man, wherefore he caused a contention among them; and they were all slain, save fifty, in the wilderness” (Omni 1:27-28). Zeniff gave us more information about this group because he was among them. He recounted how their Nephite leader was “an austere and a blood-thirsty man” who wanted to destroy the Lamanites. When Zeniff protested that they shouldn’t do that, a fight erupted amongst themselves and most were killed. So this first group wanted the land of the Lamanites and they wanted to take the lives of the Lamanites to get it. The second group that went up was led by Zeniff himself who was “over-zealous to inherit the land of our fathers.” He didn’t want to destroy the Lamanites but rather desired to “possess the land in peace” (Mosiah 9:2-3). So this group did that and had peace initially, but because he was so set on obtaining possessions he was blinded and ultimately it ended in war and fighting between his people and the Lamanites. Though they were successful in defending their land against the Lamanites, it came at the cost of many lives and surely constant stress and worry among his people trying to protect their property.  

                The third group to go up was the sons of Mosiah. They sought not to destroy the Lamanites or to take possession of their land, but their desires were summed up in these words: “That they might preach the things which they had heard, and that they might impart the word of God to their brethren, the Lamanites—That perhaps they might bring them to the knowledge of the Lord their God, and convince them of the iniquity of their fathers; and that perhaps they might cure them of their hatred towards the Nephites, that they might also be brought to rejoice in the Lord their God.” What incredible love and selflessness they had! While the first two groups were set on the things of the world and this drove them to seek the land of the Lamanites, these sons of Mosiah sought only the salvation of their brethren so much that “they did plead with their father many days that they might go up to the land of Nephi” (Mosiah 28:1-2, 5). All three groups ultimately received according to their desires: the first wanted destruction and they got it (only for his own group instead of the Lamanites); the second wanted land and they got it, but at the terrible price of war; and the last group wanted the salvation of their brethren and in the end they received that as well. Of these groups the first ended in death, the second suffered under the threat of the Lamanites, and the last found incredible joy. Ammon rejoiced with these words after their missionary labors brought thousands to the knowledge of the Lord: “Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever…. Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name” (Alma 26:16, 35). Mormon suggested that this was “joy which none receiveth save it be the truly penitent and humble seeker of happiness” (Alma 27:18). Because they sought the happiness and welfare of others—even their enemies—they found such joy that it overcame them. These three groups teach us that if we want to be truly happy, we must seek first the welfare of others. If we seek the destruction of others we will find destruction ourselves; if we seek only our own temporal gain we will find stress and struggle to try to obtain and retain it; but if we seek to bless the lives of others we will find exceeding joy given only to lose who lose their lives in the service of God.