And these things were done in the borders of the land that they might not come to the knowledge of the king. ... But behold, it came to pass that the king, having discovered a movement among the people, sent his servants to watch them. ... Therefore on the day that they were assembling themselves together to hear the word of the Lord, they were discovered unto the king. ... And now the king said that Alma was a stirring up the people to a rebellion against him; therefore he sent his army to destroy them. ... And it came to pass that Alma and the people of the Lord were apprised of the coming of the king’s army; therefore they took their tents and their families and departed into the wilderness.
And now behold, the forces of the king were small, having been reduced. ... And now there was a man among them whose name was Gideon, and he being a strong man and an enemy to the king, therefore he drew his sword and swore in his wrath that he would slay the king. ... And it came to pass that he fought with the king. ... And Gideon pursued after him and was about to get upon the tower to slay the king. ... And now the king cried out in the anguish of his soul, saying, Gideon, spare me!
And the king commanded the people that they should flee before the Lamanites, and he himself did go before them. ... Now it came to pass that the king commanded them that all the men should leave their wives and their children and flee before the Lamanites.
Therefore the Lamanites did spare their lives, and took them captives, and carried them back to the land of Nephi, and granted unto them that they might possess the land under the conditions that they would deliver up the king, Noah, into the hands of the Lamanites and deliver up their property, even one half of all they possessed: one half of their gold, and their silver, and all their precious things. ... And thus they should pay tribute to the king of the Lamanites from year to year. ... And now there was one of the sons of the king among those that were taken captive, whose name was Limhi.
And it came to pass that Gideon sent men into the wilderness secretly to search for the king and those that were with him. ... And it came to pass that they met the people in the wilderness, all save the king and his priests. ... And the king commanded them that they should not return, and they were angry with the king and caused that he should suffer, even unto death by fire.
And the people told the men of Gideon that they had slain the king, and his priests had fled from them farther into the wilderness. ... And it came to pass that after they had ended the ceremony, that they returned to the land of Nephi, rejoicing because their wives and their children were not slain; and they told Gideon what they had done to the king.
And it came to pass that the king of the Lamanites made an oath unto them that his people should not slay them. ... And also Limhi, being the son of the king, having the kingdom conferred upon him by the people, made an oath unto the king of the Lamanites that his people should pay tribute unto him, even one half of all they possessed.
And the king of the Lamanites set guards round about the land that he might keep the people of Limhi in the land, that they might not depart into the wilderness. ... And now king Limhi did have continual peace in his kingdom for the space of two years, that the Lamanites did not molest them nor seek to destroy them.
And now the priests of king Noah, being ashamed to return to the city of Nephi, yea, and also fearing that the people would slay them, therefore they durst not return to their wives and their children.
Therefore they sent their armies forth, yea, even the king himself went before his people, and they went up to the land of Nephi to destroy the people of Limhi.
And it came to pass that they found the king of the Lamanites among the number of their dead, yet he was not dead, having been wounded and left upon the ground, so speedy was the flight of his people. ... And they took him, and bound up his wounds, and brought him before Limhi, and said, Behold, here is the king of the Lamanites; he, having received a wound, has fallen among their dead and they have left him. ... And now the king said, I have broken the oath because thy people did carry away the daughters of my people.
Now when Gideon had heard these things, he being the king’s captain, he went forth and said unto the king, I pray thee forbear and do not search this people, and lay not this thing to their charge. ... And now behold, and tell the king of these things, that he may tell his people, that they may be pacified towards us. ... And except the king doth pacify them towards us, we must perish. ... And now let us pacify the king, and we fulfill the oath which we have made unto him. ... And now Limhi told the king all the things concerning his father and the priests that had fled into the wilderness, and attributed the carrying away of their daughters to them.
And it came to pass that the king was pacified towards his people, and he said unto them, Let us go forth to meet my people without arms, and I swear unto you with an oath that my people shall not slay thy people. ... And it came to pass that they followed the king and went forth without arms to meet the Lamanites. ... And it came to pass that they did meet the Lamanites, and the king of the Lamanites did bow himself down before them and did plead in behalf of the people of Limhi. ... And when the Lamanites saw the people of Limhi, that they were without arms, that they had compassion on them, and were pacified towards them, and returned with their king in peace to their own land.
Now they durst not slay them, because of the oath which their king had made unto Limhi, but they would smite them on their cheeks and exercise authority over them, and began to put heavy burdens upon their backs and drive them as they would a dumb ass.
And it came to pass that the people began to murmur with the king because of their afflictions. ... And they began to be desirous to go against them to battle, and they did afflict the king sorely with their complaints.
Therefore king Limhi commanded that every man should impart to the support of the widows and their children, that they might not perish with hunger. ... And the king himself did not trust his person without the walls of the city unless he took his guards with him, fearing that he might by some means fall into the hands of the Lamanites.
And the king, having been without the gates of the city with his guard, he discovered Ammon and his brethren; and supposing them to be priests of Noah, therefore he caused that they should be taken, and bound, and cast into prison.
Now king Limhi had sent, previous to the coming of Ammon, a small number of men to search for the land of Zarahemla, but they could not find it and they were lost in the wilderness. ... And now Limhi was again filled with joy on learning from the mouth of Ammon that king Benjamin had a gift from God whereby he could interpret such engravings; yea, and Ammon also did rejoice. ... Yet Ammon and his brethren were filled with sorrow because so many of their brethren had been slain, and also that king Noah and his priests had caused the people to commit so many sins and iniquities against God. ... And now since the coming of Ammon, king Limhi had also entered into a covenant with God, and also many of his people, to serve him and keep his commandments.
And it came to pass that king Limhi and many of his people were desirous to be baptized, but there was none in the land that had authority from God. ... And now all the study of Ammon and his people, and king Limhi and his people, was to deliver themselves out of the hands of the Lamanites and from bondage.
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.
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. ... And the king granted unto him that he might speak, and Gideon said unto him, Behold the back pass through the back wall on the back side of the city. ... And it came to pass that the king hearkened unto the words of Gideon. ... 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.
And it came to pass that the people of king Limhi did depart by night into the wilderness with their flocks and their herds.
An account of Alma and the people of the Lord who were driven into the wilderness by the people of king Noah.
Now Alma having been warned of the Lord that the armies of king Noah would come upon them and had made it known to his people, therefore they gathered together their flocks, and took of their grain, and departed into the wilderness before the armies of king Noah. ... And the Lord did strengthen them, that the people of king Noah could not overtake them to destroy them.
And the people were desirous that Alma should be their king, for he was beloved by his people. ... But he said unto them, Behold, it is not expedient that we should have a king, for thus saith the Lord: Ye shall not esteem one flesh above another, or one man shall not think himself above another. ... Therefore I say unto you, it is not expedient that ye should have a king; nevertheless, if it were possible that ye could always have just men to be your kings, it would be well for you to have a king; but remember the iniquity of king Noah and his priests. ... And now I say unto you, you have been oppressed by king Noah, and have been in bondage to him and his priests, and have been brought into iniquity by them; therefore, ye were bound with the bands of iniquity. ... And now as ye have been delivered by the power of God out of these bonds, yea, even out of the hands of king Noah and his people, and also from the bonds of iniquity, even so I desire that ye should stand fast in this liberty wherewith ye have been made free, and that ye trust no man to be a king over you; and also trusting no one to be your teacher nor your minister except he be a man of God, walking in his ways and keeping his commandments.