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Book of Mormon Commentary
Mosiah Chapter 6
THE RECORD OF ZENIFF. --An account of his people, from the time they courts the land of
Zarahemla, until the time that they were delivered out of the hands of the Lamanites.
ZENIFF TELLS OF LOCATING IN LEHI-NEPHI, VER. 1-13
Mos 6:2 But when I saw that which was good among them, I was desirous, that they should not be
destroyed; therefore, I contended with my brethren in the wilderness: for I would that our ruler should
make a treaty with them.
6:2 The story of a group of Nephites who returned "to the land of Nephi” (1) is written in the "Record of
Zeniff." It was preserved as chapters 6 to 10, inclusive, of Mosiah. These adventurers were determined
to try to recover "the land of their inheritance" (0. 1:49).
Zeniff was “taught in all the language of the Nephites" (Mos. 6:1). This included the Hebrew and
Egyptian, though the latter had been modified (Mos. 1:6; Mn. 4:98). He had been a spy among the
Lamanites and knew their land, and had some sympathy for them. When he tried to get the Nephite
leader of the returning group to make a treaty instead of destroying them, the group was divided, and all
but fifty were slain (0. 1:50). These returned to Zarahemla and recruited a large number for a second
journey. After "famine and sore afflictions" (Mos. 6:6) they reached the Lamanites' capital city. Zeniff
“with four of my men," sought out the king and asked him if his people might possess the land of Lehi-
Nephi in peace.
Mos 6:9 And I went in unto the king, and he covenanted with me, that I might possess the land of Lehi-
Nephi, and the land of Shilom.
6:9 King Laman “commanded that his people should depart out ot that land... that we might possess it"
(10). However, this was a crafty way of bringing the Nephites “into bondage" (13). He waited till Zeniff
and his people had improved the land, repaired the walls, and had begun “to build buildings" (11).
KING LAMAN IS DEFEATED IN WARS, VER. 14-33
Mos 6:15 Now, they were a lazy, and an idolatrous people; therefore, they were desirous to bring us
into bondage, that they might glut themselves with the labors of our hands; yea, that they might feast
themselves upon the flocks of our fields.
6:15 After living in Lehi-Nephi for twelve years, the Nephites had become prosperous. "King Laman
began to grow uneasy" (14) lest they become so strong that their scheme to "bring them into bondage”
would not succeed. So the king stirred up the people unto “wars and contentions” (16). The first attack
came in the "south of the land of Shilom" while the Nephites "were watering and feeding their flocks,
and tilling their lands” (17). The Nephites who were able to escape fled to the “city of Nephi" (18). Here
they were armed, and Zeniff led all his men of war to battle.
Mos 6:22 And God did hear our cries, and did answer our prayers; and we did go forth in his might.
6:22 The record lists the slain as 3,043 Lamanites and 279 Nephites(23, 25). Zeniff recorded, "We again
began to possess the land in peace" (26). However, he knew that this would not last, so they made
“weapons of war... of every kind" (27). Guards were placed on the borders of the land. Thus they had
twenty-two years of armed truce.