The treaty between King Limhi and the king of the Lamanites is almost immediately tested. Twenty-four young Lamanite women are kidnapped, and the Lamanite army attacks Limhi’s people. The Lamanite king is captured, and when he explains what happened, Limhi initially wants to search among his people. Limhi’s advisor Gideon convinces him to call off the search, hypothesizing that the crime was committed by the priests of King Noah. The king of the Lamanites calls off his armies when he understands the situation.
Chapter Outline
- Lamanite women kidnapped (v. 1-5)
- The Lamanites attack, and the Nephites defend themselves (v. 6-11)
- The king of the Lamanites is captured and questioned (v. 12-15)
- Gideon convinces Limhi not to blame his own people (v. 16-22)
- The Lamanite king withdraws his armies (v. 23-26)
My Takeaways
- When your motives are pure, you are more likely to work with your whole heart.
- Assume positive intent and give others the benefit of the doubt wherever possible.
- People want to be trusted. Don’t humiliate the people you lead with unnecessary inspections or interrogations.
Featured Blog Posts
❖ The Nephites defend themselves – Mosiah 20:6-11
Like Dragons Did They Fight – Mosiah 20:11
11 And it came to pass that the people of Limhi began to drive the Lamanites before them; yet they were not half so numerous as the Lamanites. But they fought for their lives, and for their wives, and for their children; therefore they exerted themselves and like dragons did they fight. (Mosiah 20:11) When…
❖ The Lamanite king is captured and questioned – Mosiah 20:12-15
“Ye Shall Not Slay Him” – Mosiah 20:14
Mosiah 20 can be read as a series of case studies about the importance of trust in relationships. Multiple times, key characters have to make decisions based on limited information. The stories illustrate the danger of jumping to conclusions and the value of giving other people the benefit of the doubt. When a group of…
❖ Gideon convinces Limhi not to blame his own people – Mosiah 20:16-22
That Space Between Naïveté and Paranoia
Zeniff trusted people, and the king of the Lamanites exploited that trust. His grandson Limhi was far more cautious. We need to find a balance: set appropriate boundaries and mitigate risks, but remember that trust is the lifeblood of relationships.
Mosiah 20:17 Lay Not This Thing to Their Charge
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. (Mosiah 20:17) There is an important lesson in Gideon’s counsel about trust and privacy. A leader might…
Old Testament Foundations
Mordecai
After receiving poor advice from Memucan and dealing with a power-hungry prince named Haman, King Ahasuerus must have been relieved to find Mordecai, a humble man of integrity. Even though the main character in the book of Esther is the queen herself, her cousin and mentor Mordecai is a constant presence throughout the book, acting…
The Book of Judges and the Book of Mormon
Did the authors of the Book of Mormon have access to the book of Judges? They did have the brass plates, which contained “the five books of Moses…and also a record of the Jews…and also the prophecies of the holy prophets” (1 Nephi 5:10-13). It seems reasonable to assume that some version of the book…
All Posts Referencing Mosiah 20
- The Former Sins (7/23/2025)
- Captivity and Deliverance: Limhi and Alma (5/26/2024)
- Gideon (5/25/2024)
- That Space Between Naïveté and Paranoia (5/7/2024)
- Mordecai (7/28/2022)
- The Book of Judges and the Book of Mormon (6/5/2022)
- “Ye Shall Not Slay Him” – Mosiah 20:14 (5/15/2020)
- Like Dragons Did They Fight – Mosiah 20:11 (1/14/2017)
- “Like Dragons Did They Fight” – Mosiah 20:11 (5/15/2015)
- Mosiah 20:17 Lay Not This Thing to Their Charge (10/21/2014)