Book of Mormon Commentary CofC - Odessa, Missouri Community ...

Book of Mormon Commentary
Omni Chapter 1
Nothing is revealed as to the background or biography of Mosiah. Whether he was originally a
prophet, priest, or king is not disclosed. Exactly why the Nephites were to leave the land of Nephi
and depart "into the wilderness" is not revealed. Doubtless their scattered farms and villages, and
their wealth in stock, grain, and precious things, offered an irresistible temptation to the corrupt
Lamanites.
It is likely that not all of the Nephites were willing to leave their immovable possessions for a new
life in the wilderness. Amaleki uses the phrase ''as many as would hearken" twice. Those who
hearkened "were led by many preachings and prophesyings" (22).
Omni 1:23 And they were admonished continually by the word of God: and they were led by the power
of his arm, through the wilderness, until they came down into the land which is called the land of
Zarahemla.
1:23 The land of Nephi and the wilderness must have been situated at a higher elevation than the
land of Zarahemla, since the record reads that "they came down into the land ...of Zarahemla."
Some years later a group wished to return to the land of Nephi, and the record says, "wherefore,
they went up into the wilderness” (49).
Omni 1:25 Now, there was great rejoicing among the people of Zarahemla; and also, Zarahemla did
rejoice exceedingly, because the Lord had sent the people of Mosiah with the plates of brass which
contained the record of the Jews.
1:25 Amaleki said the cause of their happiness was that "the Lord had sent the people of Mosiah
with the plates of brass which contained the record of the Jews." The language of these people
"had become corrupted, and they had brought no records with them" (30). The difficulty of having
communication is suggested by the statements "Mosiah discovered that the people of Zarahemla
came out from Jerusalem” (26) and "Mosiah, nor the people of Mosiah, could understand them"
(31).
Omni 1:27 And they journeyed in the wilderness, and were brought by the hand of the Lord, across the
great waters, into the land where Mosiah discovered them; and they had dwelt there from that time forth.
1:27 Little has been revealed of the history of this people during the four hundred years after they
1eft Jerusalem about 589 B.C. The kind of boat, the ocean crossed, and exactly where they landed
are not known. When “Mosiah discovered them, they had become exceeding numerous" (28).
Amaleki adds, "They had had many wars and serious contentions" (29).
Omni 1:31 And they denied the being of their Creator; and Mosiah, nor the people of Mosiah, could
understand them.
1:31 Having brought no scriptures, they lapsed into heathenism. Both the development of a
religion and of a culture depend largely on a written language. That they received Mosiah and his
people with rejoicing because they had "the plates of brass which contained the record of the
Jews” (25) indicates that they had not degenerated as had the Lamanites.
Omni 1:37 And Coriantumr was discovered by the people of Zarahemla; and he dwelt with them for the
space of nine moons.