Line upon Line

Bondage comes in several forms in our lives. Although many of us do not live in a dictatorship or fascist society, some find themselves being oppressed by a controlling spouse, parent, boss, co-worker or neighbor.

Others, because of financial difficulty due to circumstances beyond their control or because of financial mistakes, find themselves working long hours at two to three jobs in order to provide the necessities of life for their families. Others are slaves to an addiction of some sort.

Most of us have been under the “bondage of sin” (Doctrine & Covenants 84:49-51). While in these circumstances, we truly feel the need to be rescued and wonder how we can be delivered.

In the first chapter of the Book of Mormon, Nephi states his theme for his record:

I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance (1 Nephi 1:20).

Mormon, too, seems to carry this theme throughout the Book of Mormon. There are many stories of the Nephites being delivered by the hand of the Lord. However, this article will focus only on a group of people, who divided into two factions. Both factions were brought into bondage and were eventually delivered. In examining these two groups, great principles and lessons can be learned.

Those, who are familiar with the Book of Mormon stories, are familiar with wicked King Noah. He was the one who caused the prophet, Abinadi, to be killed for preaching the Gospel.

Abinadi did have one convert – Alma, who was one of King Noah’s high priests. Alma repented and secretly preached the Gospel and converted several hundred people. The Lord warned them to flee out of the land because King Noah was about to subdue this insurrection with his army. Alma obeyed and his group fled and established a city, called Helam.

King Noah’s army was not able to find Alma, and his group and returned back to their homeland. Soon afterwards, there was quite a bit of contention among them and King Noah was put to death, just as Abinadi had prophesied. One of King Noah’s sons, named Limhi, was made the new king. However, the Lamanites soon conquered them and put them into bondage.

Limhi records, “We are in bondage to the Lamanites, and are taxed with a tax which is grievous to be borne.” (Mosiah 7:15) He also states the reason they were brought into bondage. “It is because of our iniquities and abominations that he (the Lord) has brought us into bondage (vs. 20) and “if this people had not fallen into transgression the Lord would not have suffered that this great evil should come upon them.” (vs. 25)

Mormon commented, “And now the afflictions of the Nephites were great, and there was no way that they could deliver themselves out of their hands, for the Lamanites had surrounded them on every side.” (Mosiah 21:5)

So what did they try to do to get out of bondage? Well, the logical thing – war. The people had complained mightily to King Limhi of their bondage and begged him to let them try to fight their way out. Yet:

• “The Lamanites did beat them, and drove them back, and slew many of them.” (vs. 8)
• “Now there were a great many widows in the land, and they did cry mightily from day to day . and their cries did stir up the remainder of the people of Limhi to anger against the Lamanites, and they went again to battle, but they were driven back again, suffering much loss. “(vs. 9-11)
• “Yea, they went again even the third time, and suffered in the like manner; and those that were not slain returned again to the city of Nephi.” (vs. 12)

Like Limhi’s group, we often think we can be our own deliverer. We try to get even for the injustices imposed upon us and harbor ill feelings. We try to stop sinning on our own, only to find we sin again and again, sinking deeper into the mire. Most often, it is those in financial distress who succumb to the “get-rich-quick” schemes and find themselves further in debt.

Limhi and group were finally compelled to learn true principles:

And they did humble themselves even to the dust, subjecting themselves to the yoke of bondage, submitting themselves to be smitten and to be driven to and fro, and burdened, according to the desires of their enemies. And they did humble themselves even in the depths of humility; and they did cry mightily to God; yea, even all the day long did they cry unto their God that he would deliver them out of their afflictions.

And now the Lord was slow to hear their cry because of their iniquities; nevertheless the Lord did hear their cries, and began to soften the hearts of the Lamanites that they began to ease their burdens; yet the Lord did not see fit to deliver them out of bondage. And it came to pass that they began to prosper by degrees in the land.that they did not suffer with hunger (Mosiah 21:13-16).

Eventually Ammon and his brethren from the land of Zarahemla came. With the assistance of a local named Gideon, they devised a plan and helped the people of Limhi to escape. Just prior to their escape, King Limhi gathered the people to the temple and told them:

O ye, my people, lift up your heads and be comforted; for behold, the time is at hand, or is not far distant, when we shall no longer be in subjection to our enemies .Therefore, lift up your heads and rejoice, and put your trust in God . in that God who brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt . and again, that same God has brought our fathers out of the land of Jerusalem, and has kept and preserved his people even until now . and if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage (Mosiah 7:18-20, 33).

Even though the escape plan was manmade, they all knew from where the source of deliverance really came.

Meanwhile, the Lamanites had come over to the land of Helam, and the citizens “were much frightened because of the appearance of the Lamanites. But Alma went forth and stood among them, and exhorted them that they should not be frightened, but that they should remember the Lord their God and that He would deliver them. Therefore they hushed their fears, and began to cry unto the Lord that He would soften the hearts of the Lamanites, that they would spare them, and their wives, and their children. And it came to pass that the Lord did soften the hearts of the Lamanites.” (Mosiah 23:26 – 29)

Alma and his people were put into bondage and their afflictions were worse than Limhi’s group. Why? They were the good guys! Why would the Lord allow this? We read that, “Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith.

We have often seen good people put in very trying situations and wonder about the fairness of life and of God. We need to remember that the real test of a good pilot is not if he can fly in fair weather, but if he can fly in the worst of situations. It is those unfavorable situations that test the pilot’s skill and judgment and proves his capability.

I would feel uncomfortable flying with a pilot who had flown only in fair weather. Jesus Christ experienced and conquered the severest storm of all – all of mankind’s sins, temptations, sorrows and pains. This ordeal gave Him the experience He needed in order that He “may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities” and He “suffered according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance ” (Alma 7:12-13).

We should not be surprised when we are put in bondage due to circumstances out of our control. However, great lessons can be learned from Alma’s group.

Amulon, a fellow high priest of King Noah, who defected to the Lamanites, was placed over Alma and the city of Helam. Amulon knew Alma and delighted in making their lives miserable. “And it came to pass that so great were their afflictions that they began to cry mightily to God. And Amulon commanded them that they should stop their cries; and . whosover should be found calling upon God should be put to death.” (Mosiah 23:10-11).

The great difference between the people of Limhi and the people of Alma was that the people of Alma submitted to their situation, yet continued to cry mightily unto the Lord. They did not try to fight their way out. Even though they were not allowed to pray vocally, they continued their prayers in their hearts. They put their trust in the Lord and continued to submit to His will.

Because of this, they received a witness from the Lord that He would deliver them out of bondage. Additionally the Lord declared, “And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.” (Mosiah 24:14)

We need to remember that Jesus Christ is our Savior and will save us from our sins, our afflictions, our burdens and grief as we turn our lives over to Him, truly repent of our sins, place our trust in Him and be obedient to His guidance.

The burdens of the citizens of Helam were made light. “Yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.” (vs. 15) This was another great difference between the two groups. Limhi’s people complained mightily because of their bondage, and Alma’s group did submit cheerfully and with patience to the will of the Lord.

The Lord caused a deep sleep to come upon the Lamanites and Alma’s people escaped to the land of Zarahemla. They were delivered by the mighty power of the Lord.

I can testify that these principles are true. I have been in both the Limhi and Alma “camps” in my life. I have been in bondage, by sin, by others, and financially, and tried many devices to escape but to no avail. In fact, my efforts made the situations worse.

I finally resigned myself to my lot, and truly accepted God’s will and learned to find joy in my daily life. I learned to cheerfully submit. Then the Lord taught me the things I needed to do, what I needed to repent of in my life and in my relationships, and I was taught new perspectives that helped me to deal with the difficult situations. In doing so, I truly did find that my burdens were made lighter and when the time came, I was delivered by the mighty hand of the Lord.

Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.
I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing;
I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.
Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink;
Let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.
Hear me, O Lord; for thy loving kindness is good;
Turn unto me according to the multitude of they tender mercies.
And hide not thy face from thy servant;
For I am in trouble: hear me speedily!
Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it:
Deliver me because of mine enemies.
I will praise the name of God with a song,
And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.
This also shall please the Lord better
Than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
For the Lord heareth the poor,
And despiseth not his prisoners.

(Excerpts from Psalms 69)