MOSIAH'S GOOD REIGN--THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HIS ADVENT--HE ASSEMBLES
THE PEOPLE--THE BAPTISM OF LIMHI--CHURCHES ORGANIZED THROUGHOUT THE
LAND.
(MOSIAH CHAP. 25.)
We must now leave the Lamanites in the land of Nephi, and return to
king Mosiah in Zarahemla. It will be remembered that we left the people
of Zarahemla at the time of the death of king Benjamin, three years
after the ascent of his son Mosiah to the throne.
Mosiah was born in the land of Zarahemla, 154 or 155 years before the
coming of Christ. He was instructed in all the wisdom of the Nephites,
and trained in youth in the fear of the Lord. By the direction of
the Almighty he was consecrated by his father to succeed him on the
throne, which ceremony was attended to at the time the whole nation
had gathered at the temple to listen to the words of their aged and
beloved ruler; at the same time, they all covenanted with God to be his
servants ever after. There, in the presence of his future subjects,
under the shadow of the holy house, he was set apart to rule a people
whose sins were all forgiven through their abiding faith in the
unborn Savior. Could a king come to a throne under more auspicious
circumstances? Profound peace with all outside his dominions, and
within its borders reigned union, contentment, prosperity, happiness,
and what is more, righteousness.
Mosiah was thirty years old when he began to reign, which event
happened 476 years after Lehi left Jerusalem.
Mosiah followed in the footsteps of his father, taught his people to
be industrious, and set them the example by tilling a portion of the
earth to maintain himself and his dependents.
It was in the fourth year of his reign that Mosiah sent out the
expedition under Ammon to find the people of Zeniff. Of its success,
and the happy arrival of Limhi and his subjects, and of Alma and his
people, we have already spoken.
Soon after the coming of Limhi and Alma, Mosiah gathered all the
Nephites at one place that they might hear how God had dealt with both.
First he had the records of Zeniff and Alma read in their hearing, at
which they were greatly amazed; but when they beheld the new comers
they were filled with exceeding great joy, mingled with sadness for
the loss of their kindred slain by the inhuman Lamanites, and many
tears were shed for those departed ones. Again, when they listened to
the marvelous deliverances wrought by heaven in behalf of Alma and his
faithful few, the assembled thousands raised their voices on high and
gave thanks to God. Still another shade of feeling came across their
sympathetic hearts, that of pain and anguish when they learned of the
sinful and polluted state of their Lamanite brethren.
Taking advantage of the presence of so many of his subjects, Mosiah
addressed them on such matters as he deemed necessary and desirable. At
his request Alma also taught them. When assembled in large bodies Alma
went from one multitude to another, preaching repentance and faith in
the Lord. After hearing his teaching Limhi requested to be baptized,
and so did all his people. Then Alma baptized them in the same manner
as he had their brethren. He afterwards, by Mosiah's direction, went
through the land, organizing and establishing churches and ordaining
priests and teachers over every church. Thus were seven churches
established at this time in the land of Zarahemla.
[Illustration: BAPTISM OF LIMHI.]