Latter Day Saints; United States -- Description and travel
extricating themselves from the oppressive power of the Lamanites. Limhi
also assembled his people together, and announced to them the character of
these visiters. He then brought out the records of his people, and
exhibited them to Ammon and his company. Ammon read the engravings upon the
plates, which in substance were as follows:--Zeniff, the founder of this
people, after leaving Zarahemla, travelled a long way through the
wilderness, where he encountered various trials, and at length came to the
land of Lehi-Nephi and Shilom. They found this country in possession of the
Lamanites. From the king of Laman, however, he obtained by treaty the
privilege of occupying this land. The Lamanites, the old enemies of his
nation, allowed his people to go on and build cities, and make improvements
for many years, and then rose up and sought to bring them under their
dominion, that they might bear the relation of serfs or vassals to them.
This attempt was rigorously resisted by Zeniff and the colony he had
established. During the whole life of Zeniff, who now became their king,
the Lamanites were invariably repulsed, and driven off. After his death the
kingdom was conferred upon his son Noah, who proved to be a very bad and
depraved man. Iniquity soon began to abound every where in the land, and
vice to stalk shamelessly abroad with brazen front. Just at this time the
Lord raised up among them a prophet by the name of Abinadi. He was very
valiant for the truth. He reproved the people for their sins, and denounced
the judgments of God openly against them. This fearless denunciation on the
part of the prophet awaked the displeasure of the people, who determined
and sought to slay the man of God. But Abinadi fled and escaped out of
their hands. After about two years, however, he returned in disguise, so
that they did not know that it was Abinadi. But as he continued to reprove
them, and denounce heaven's wrath against them they determined to kill him.
He however was not at all intimidated, but enforced his bold reproofs by
repeating to them each one of the commands contained in the decalogue. This
exasperated them the more, and they sought to destroy him at once; but he
defied their efforts, declaring to them they could have no power over him
till he had finished his message. Accordingly he went on, and preached unto
them the coming of Christ, exhibiting the whole plan of salvation as laid
down in the gospel. His preaching seemed to make some impression upon the
mind of the king, but the priests of the land, who were wicked and who
derided the idea of the coming of Christ--succeeded in getting him put to
death. He was accordingly led forth and burned at the stake.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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