REVIEW OF THE MISSION OF THE SONS OF MOSIAH--ITS IMPORTANCE AND
GREAT LENGTH--ITS RESULTS TO BOTH RACES--THE DATES OF ITS LEADING
OCCURRENCES.
(ALMA CHAP. 17 TO 27.)
So far as we can gather from the records, the great mission of Ammon
and his brethren to the Lamanites was productive of results new to the
history of the Nephites. On many previous occasions dissenters from
the latter had gone over to the Lamanites, until that nation consisted
of a mixed race. But the Nephite people appear to have been, almost
without exception, the literal descendants of the first founders of
the monarchy, Nephi, Sam, Jacob, Joseph and Zoram, and of the people
of Zarahemla. But now a large body of Lamanites was incorporated in
the Nephite nation and became partakers of the liberties accorded to
all other citizens. As the history of the two nations proceeds, the
original distinctions of descent become less and less observable, as
defections from both people were constantly occurring, so that in
process of time a Nephite was not so much a literal descendant of
Lehi's greatest son, as one who recognized the Nephite government, was
an observer of the law of Moses and a believer in the gospel; while the
Lamanite was he who dwelt in the dominions of that people, rejected the
law and the gospel, and adopted the false traditions of that race.
The mission of Ammon and his brethren was not only important but it
was of great length. They left Zarahemla in the first year of the
Judges (B. C. 91) and returned in the fourteenth (B. C. 78). It seems
altogether probable that the conversion of king Lamoni took place in
the first year of their ministry, unless Ammon was detained in prison
a lengthened period before he was brought before the king (for which
suggestion we find no warrant), as it was only the third day of Ammon's
service when his conflict occurred with the cattle thieves at the
waters of Sebus. The conversion of Lamoni was the immediate result. Yet
we judge that the establishment and organization of the church in the
land of Ishmael was a work of considerable time. We are strengthened in
this opinion by the account of the labors performed by Aaron and others
during this same period.
In the fifth year of the Nephite Judges (B. C. 87) the Lamanites
invaded Zarahemla and were disastrously defeated, about which time
we suggest Aaron and his fellows were confined in prison in the land
of Middoni, and the results of the war would measurably account for
the great cruelty with which they were treated by the exasperated
Lamanites, as well as for the ferocity of the old king when he found
his son in the company of the hated Nephite. After the incidents of
that eventful meeting the king was not in a frame of mind to go to war
with the Nephites; the generous words and magnanimous conduct of Ammon
had produced such a deep influence, that though not yet converted, his
heart had experienced a great change. Probably a year or two passed
before Aaron and his fellow-laborers brought him to a full knowledge of
the true plan of redemption. For these reasons we consider the meeting
of Lamoni and his father did not take place earlier than B. C. 87. The
old king's conversion was followed by the issuance of his proclamation
of protection and unqualified religious liberty to the Nephite
missionaries and to all his subjects; of which proclamation Aaron and
his co-laborers took the fullest benefit by preaching from city to
city throughout the wide Lamanite territory, establishing churches and
ordaining officers therein. This labor occupied some years. As the
church grew the spirit of rebellion developed amongst the unconverted,
until they declared open war against the king, and massacred their
gospel-believing brethren.
Immediately after the massacre of the 1005 Anti-Nephi-Lehies the angry
Lamanites broke out in war with the Nephites, under the idea that
the latter were the cause of their internal troubles. They made a
sudden incursion into the land of Zarahemla and destroyed the city of
Ammonihah, which event took place in the eleventh year of the Judges
(B. C. 81), and after that they had many battles with the Nephites,
in which they were driven and slain. After their return from this
inglorious campaign they wreaked their vengeance on their unoffending
brethren, and again commenced to massacre them, which murders, we
suggest, took place during the thirteenth year of the reign of the
Judges (B. C. 79), as in the year following the whole of the believing
Lamanites migrated to the land of Jershon, as before narrated (B.
C. 78). These dates are simply suggestive as far as the history of
the mission is concerned, but those that relate to the Nephites are
distinctly stated in the annals of that people.