22:1 And now it came to pass that Ammon and king Limhi began to consult
with the people how they should deliver themselves out of bondage; and
even they did cause that all the people should gather themselves
together; and this they did that they might have the voice of the
people concerning the matter.
22:2 And it came to pass that they could find no way to deliver
themselves out of bondage, except it were to take their women and
children, and their flocks, and their herds, and their tents, and
depart into the wilderness; for the Lamanites being so numerous, it was
impossible for the people of Limhi to contend with them, thinking to
deliver themselves out of bondage by the sword.
22:3 Now it came to pass that Gideon went forth and stood before the
king, and said unto him: Now O king, thou hast hitherto hearkened unto
my words many times when we have been contending with our brethren, the
Lamanites.
22:4 And now O king, if thou hast not found me to be an unprofitable
servant, or if thou hast hitherto listened to my words in any degree,
and they have been of service to thee, even so I desire that thou
wouldst listen to my words at this time, and I will be thy servant and
deliver this people out of bondage.
22:5 And the king granted unto him that he might speak. And Gideon said
unto him:
22:6 Behold the back pass, through the back wall, on the back side of
the city. The Lamanites, or the guards of the Lamanites, by night are
drunken; therefore let us send a proclamation among all this people
that they gather together their flocks and herds, that they may drive
them into the wilderness by night.
22:7 And I will go according to thy command and pay the last tribute of
wine to the Lamanites, and they will be drunken; and we will pass
through the secret pass on the left of their camp when they are drunken
and asleep.
22:8 Thus we will depart with our women and our children, our flocks,
and our herds into the wilderness; and we will travel around the land
of Shilom.
22:9 And it came to pass that the king hearkened unto the words of
Gideon.
22:10 And king Limhi caused that his people should gather their flocks
together; and he sent the tribute of wine to the Lamanites; and he also
sent more wine, as a present unto them; and they did drink freely of
the wine which king Limhi did send unto them.
22:11 And it came to pass that the people of king Limhi did depart by
night into the wilderness with their flocks and their herds, and they
went round about the land of Shilom in the wilderness, and bent their
course towards the land of Zarahemla, being led by Ammon and his
brethren.
22:12 And they had taken all their gold, and silver, and their precious
things, which they could carry, and also their provisions with them,
into the wilderness; and they pursued their journey.
22:13 And after being many days in the wilderness they arrived in the
land of Zarahemla, and joined Mosiah’s people, and became his subjects.
22:14 And it came to pass that Mosiah received them with joy; and he
also received their records, and also the records which had been found
by the people of Limhi.
22:15 And now it came to pass when the Lamanites had found that the
people of Limhi had departed out of the land by night, that they sent
an army into the wilderness to pursue them;
22:16 And after they had pursued them two days, they could no longer
follow their tracks; therefore they were lost in the wilderness.