Limhi’s people were in bondage because of the reasons just given. Their challenge was to get out. He saw Ammon and his companions as an avenue of escape (v. 15), but as a wise leader, he recognizes that they must do their part. He outlines three things for them to do.
First, they must turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart and trust in him (v. 33). No half-hearted effort would suffice. To turn to God is to seek his help in doing things beyond our natural capacity to perform. These are called miracles. Earlier, he had identified God as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and cited the great miracles the Lord had done for Israel in bringing them out of bondage in Egypt (v. 19 discussed above). Knowing of or reminding them of these miracles would build their trust in the Lord. As Nephi had taught his unbelieving brothers, “if the Lord has such great power, and has wrought so many miracles among the children of men, how is it he cannot instruct me” (1 Nephi 17:51).
The second thing they must do is serve God in all diligence of mind (Mosiah 7:33). To serve him is to keep his commandments and do his will (see Mosiah 2:17–18). To serve with all diligence of mind is to have an eye single to the glory of God. Such diligence will show you how to serve (see D&C 88:67).
The third thing they must do is to have patience. The people will be delivered according to the Lord’s own will and pleasure. He knows what must be done before their delivery from bondage, and when is the best time for that delivery to occur in order to teach his people how to prevent future bondage.
There are two examples of this formula in the following chapters of Mosiah for getting a people out of bondage. Both Limhi’s people and Alma’s people were delivered through this formula. Those will be discussed later.