When Ammon and his expeditionary group from Zarahemla discover Limhi’s people around 121 b.c., hope for relief is rekindled. Limhi is overjoyed to learn from Ammon that King Mosiah is a seer—“a revelator and a prophet also” (Mosiah 8:16)—who can interpret the twenty-four plates of gold discovered and retrieved by Limhi’s search party venturing inadvertently into former Jaredite territory while on a quest to find Zarahemla (see Mosiah 8:9; 21:27). At that time, Limhi, being a Nephite wanderer himself, separated from the place of his origins at Zarahemla, is moved to articulate his feelings about the challenges of mortality in light of the fate of the extinct nation of the Jaredites. “O how marvelous are the works of the Lord, and how long doth he suffer with his people; yea, and how blind and impenetrable are the understandings of the children of men; for they will not seek wisdom, neither do they desire that she should rule over them! Yea, they are as a wild flock which fleeth from the shepherd, and scattereth, and are driven, and are devoured by the beasts of the forest” (Mosiah 8:20–21).
Like the Jaredites, the people of the Nephite colonies, through their pride and lack of faith, have been scattered and driven from time to time by their captors, coming face to face finally with the prospect of utter destruction. But unlike the Jaredites, the people of Limhi spiritually turn themselves about and are blessed, with the help of the Lord, to return safely to Zarahemla and bring with them all of their records (Mosiah 22:13–14). In this manner, invaluable treasures of truth are preserved for our day by the hand of the Lord.
The leadership of Mosiah is a model for all to follow. As leaders, do we consider our ways in order to be sure we are blessing the lives of those we serve?
An account of Alma and the people of the Lord, who were driven into the wilderness by the people of King Noah. [Note: This preamble was included in the original edition of the Book of Mormon published in 1830.] (Chapters 23 and 24.)