Book of Mormon
Covenant of Christ
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22 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. And even they did cause that all the people should gather themselves together; and this they did that they might have the voice of the people concerning the matter. 2 And it came to pass that they could find no way to deliver themselves out of bondage except it were to take their women and children, and their flocks, and their herds and their tents, and depart into the wilderness, for the Lamanites being so numerous that it was impossible for the people of Limhi to contend with them, thinking to deliver themselves out of bondage by the sword.
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22 Ammon and king Limhi discussed with the people how to get free from slavery. They even brought everyone together to take a vote of the people about it. 2 But since there were so many Lamanites, it was impossible for Limhi’s people to fight their way free from slavery by force, so they couldn’t come up with a way to liberate themselves other than taking their women, children, flocks, herds, and tents and retreating into the wilderness.
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3 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. 4 And now, O king, if thou hast not found me to be an unprofitable servant, or if thou hast hitherto listened to my words in any degree, and they have been of service to thee, even so I desire that thou wouldst listen to my words at this time; and I will be thy servant and deliver this people out of bondage. 5 And the king granted unto him that he might speak, and Gideon said unto him, 6 Behold the back pass through the back wall on the back side of the city. The Lamanites, or the guards of the Lamanites, by night are drunken. Therefore let us send a proclamation among all this people that they gather together their flocks and herds, that they may drive them into the wilderness by night. 7 And I will go according to thy command and pay the last tribute of wine to the Lamanites, and they will be drunken; and we will pass through the secret pass on the left of their camp when they are drunken and asleep. 8 Thus we will depart with our women and our children, our flocks and our herds, into the wilderness; and we will travel around the land of Shilom. 9 And it came to pass that the king hearkened unto the words of Gideon. 10 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.
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3 Then Gideon came forward and addressed the king, saying: Your majesty, you’ve taken my advice many times before while we fought our Lamanite brothers. 4 And now, your majesty, if I haven’t given you bad advice, or if you’ve listened to me before and found I gave you good counsel, I ask you to consider my counsel now; because I have a way to free this people from slavery. 5 The king wanted to hear him, and Gideon said: 6 Consider the back passageway through the back wall behind the city. The Lamanite guards get drunk at night. So let’s announce to the people to gather their flocks and herds, so they can herd them into the wilderness at night. 7 And I’ll go with your permission and pay the latest tribute of wine to the Lamanites, and they’ll get drunk. Then we’ll pass through the secluded pass on the left of their camp while they’re passed-out drunk. 8 This is how we can leave with our women, children, flocks, and herds into the wilderness; and we’ll avoid the land of Shilom. 9 The king adopted Gideon’s plan 10 and had his people gather their flocks. And he sent the Lamanites the wine tribute, sending more wine as a gift to them. They drank the wine king Limhi sent them without restraint.
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11 And it came to pass that the people of king Limhi did depart by night into the wilderness with their flocks and their herds. And they went round about the land of Shilom in the wilderness and bent their course towards the land of Zarahemla, being led by Ammon and his brethren. 12 And they had taken all their gold, and silver, and their precious things which they could carry, and also their provisions, with them into the wilderness; and they pursued their journey. 13 And after being many days in the wilderness, they arrived in the land of Zarahemla, and joined his people and became his subjects. 14 And it came to pass that Mosiah received them with joy, and he also received their records, and also the records which had been found by the people of Limhi. 15 And now it came to pass, when the Lamanites had found that the people of Limhi had departed out of the land by night, that they sent an army into the wilderness to pursue them. 16 And after they had pursued them two days, they could no longer follow their tracks; therefore they were lost in the wilderness.
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11 And so king Limhi’s people ran away during the night into the wilderness with their flocks and herds. They avoided the land of Shilom while leaving and set their course toward the land of Zarahemla, letting Ammon and his men show the way. 12 They had taken all the gold, silver, valuable things, and supplies they could carry with them as they left, and they went on with their journey. 13 After traveling many days in the wilderness, they arrived in Zarahemla and joined Mosiah’s people and became his subjects. 14 Mosiah gladly received them, and he also accepted their records and the records found by Limhi’s people. 15 When the Lamanites discovered they had left the land at night, they sent an army into the wilderness to chase them. 16 After they had pursued them for two days, they lost their tracks and became completely disoriented in the wilderness.