Difference between revisions of "Zeniff"

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'''Zeniff''' is my name and I was the first king of a group of [[Nephites]] to return to the land of Lehi-Nephi around 200 B.C.
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'''Zeniff''' was the first king of a group of [[Nephites]] to return to the land of Lehi-Nephi around 200 B.C.
  
 
==Family==
 
==Family==
I'm Zeniff, the father of sons, one of them named [[King Noah | Noah]] and the grandfather of [[Limhi]]. I left [[Zarahemla]] to reclaim my ancestral Lehi-Nephi from the [[Lamanites]]. I am mentioned by name for the first time in the [[Book of Mormon]] in [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/mosiah/7/9#9 Mosiah 7:9] but an earlier reference to my return to the land of Nephi is written in [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/omni/1/27-30#27 Omni 1:27-30]
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Zeniff was the father of [[King Noah | Noah]] and the grandfather of [[Limhi]]. He left [[Zarahemla, Land of | Zarahemla]] to reclaim his ancestral Lehi-Nephi from the [[Lamanites]]. He is mentioned by name for the first time in the [[Book of Mormon]] in [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/mosiah/7/9#9 Mosiah 7:9] but an earlier reference to his return to the land of Nephi is written in [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/omni/1/27-30#27 Omni 1:27-30]
  
 
==Reclaiming Lehi-Nephi—First attempt==
 
==Reclaiming Lehi-Nephi—First attempt==
I knew about the land of Nephi and was sent to spy on the [[Lamanites]] forces so that our army could destroy them. However I saw that their was good among them so I appealed to my ruler to spare them. He wanted me killed but I was rescued after a fight amongst ourselves and many [[Death | deaths]]. I returned with only fifty to [[Zarahemla]] and to report to the wives and children of the [[Death | dead]].
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Zeniff knew about the land of Nephi and was sent to spy on the [[Lamanites]] forces so that the Nephite army could destroy them. However he saw that there was good among them so he appealed to his ruler to spare them. Zeniff's leader wanted him killed, but he was rescued after a fight broke out amongst themselves. He returned to [[Zarahemla, Land of | Zarahemla]] with only fifty others to report to the Nephites.
  
 
==Reclaiming Lehi-Nephi—Second attempt==
 
==Reclaiming Lehi-Nephi—Second attempt==
I was overzealous to reclaim the land and I went again with volunteers ([[Amaleki | Amaleki's]] brother was one) but we had famine and adversity among us because we were slow in remembering [[God]]. We eventually reached the site where we had fought each other and I took four of my men to visit [[King Laman I | King Laman]].
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He was overzealous to reclaim the land and went again with volunteers ([[Amaleki|Amaleki's]] brother was one) but their was famine and adversity among them because they were slow in remembering [[God]]. The people eventually reached the site where they had fought each other and Zeniff took four of his men to visit [[King Laman I | King Laman]].
  
 
==The Treaty==
 
==The Treaty==
The [[King Laman I | King]] made a [[covenant]] with me so that I could have the land of Lehi-Nephi and the land of Shilom, including both cities of the same name. The [[King Laman I | King's]] people left and we constructed buildings and repaired the walls of Lehi-Nephi and Shilom. We grew corn, wheat, barley, neas, and sheum.  
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The [[King Laman I | King]] made a [[covenant]] with Zeniff, giving him the land of Lehi-Nephi and the land of Shilom, including both cities of the same name. The [[King Laman I | King's]] people left and Zeniff's people constructed buildings and repaired the walls of Lehi-Nephi and Shilom. They grew corn, wheat, barley, neas, and sheum.  
  
[[King Laman I | King Laman]] was crafty and his only goal was to bring the [[Nephites]] into bondage. His people were lazy and idolatrous and wanted to glut themselves on our work.   
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Zeniff was tricked into settling in the land so that they could be destroyed. [[King Laman I | King Laman]] was crafty, and his only goal was to bring the [[Nephites]] into bondage. His people were lazy and idolatrous and wanted to glut themselves on the work of others.   
  
 
==War==
 
==War==
After twelve years, [[King Laman I | King Laman]] worked up his people to fight with us, and to go to war. He was uneasy that we were growing stronger. An attack came the next year on the south of Shilom where the [[Lamanites]] slew my people and took their flocks and corn. The survivors fled to the city of Nephi to ask for my protection.
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After twelve years, [[King Laman I | King Laman]] worked up his people to war with Zeniff and his people. He was uneasy that they were growing stronger. An attack came the next year on the south of Shilom where the [[Lamanites]] slew Zeniff's people and took their flocks and corn. The survivors fled to the city of Nephi to ask for his protection.
  
We [[prayer | prayed]] to the [[Christ | Lord]] for help and in one day and night killed 3,043 [[Lamanites]] and drove them from our lands. We greatly sorrowed and lamented the loss of 279 of our own. I helped bury the [[Lamanites | Lamanite]] [[Death | dead]].
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They [[prayer | prayed]] to the [[Christ | Lord]] for help and in one day and night killed 3,043 [[Lamanites]] and drove them from their lands. They greatly sorrowed and lamented the loss of 279 of their own.
  
 
==War Again==
 
==War Again==
[[King Laman I | King Laman]] died and his son [[King Laman II | Laman]] took over and attacked Shilom from the north. I had my spies in the land of Shemlon and was forewarned. I sent the women and children into the wilderness. The young and old men, including me, fought in the strength of the [[Christ | Lord]] and slaughtered so many [[Lamanites]] that we did not count them.
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[[King Laman I | King Laman]] died and his son [[King Laman II | Laman]] took over and attacked Shilom from the north. Zeniff had placed his spies in the land of Shemlon and was forewarned. He sent the women and children into the wilderness. The young and old men fought in the strength of the [[Christ | Lord]] and slaughtered so many [[Lamanites]] that they did not count them.
 
 
The [[Lamanites]] have been taught to hate, rob, and murder the [[Nephites]] and so I was tricked, as I've previously written, by [[King Laman I | King Laman]] into settling in the land so that we could be destroyed.
 
 
 
==Conclusion==
 
I am old now, I have reigned for forty years, and I give my kingdom to one of my sons, [[King Noah | Noah]].
 
 
 
Kind reader, bear in mind that the [[Lamanites]] know nothing of the [[Christ | Lord]], or his strength, and they depend only on their own strength. However, they are strong, wild, ferocious, and blood-thirsty. They believe they had to leave Jerusalem because of the sins of their fathers, and that they were wronged in the wilderness by their brethren (because Nephi took the lead), and they were also wronged while crossing the sea (because they turned against the [[Christ | Lord]]), and that they were wronged when they arrived here (because they did not rule). They were [[anger |angry]] when [[Nephi]] was commanded by the [[Christ | Lord]] to leave into the wilderness and took the [[Brass Plates]] (they said they were robbed). That is why they hate us so.
 
 
 
May the [[Christ | Lord]] bless my people.
 
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
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* [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/in/z/14 Index for Zeniff]
 
* [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/in/z/14 Index for Zeniff]
 
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeniff Wikipedia article]
 
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeniff Wikipedia article]
[[Category:Book of Mormon Topics]][[Category:Book of Mormon Characters]]
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[[Category:Book of Mormon Characters]]
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[[Category:Nephites]]

Latest revision as of 13:15, 9 July 2008

Zeniff was the first king of a group of Nephites to return to the land of Lehi-Nephi around 200 B.C.

Family

Zeniff was the father of Noah and the grandfather of Limhi. He left Zarahemla to reclaim his ancestral Lehi-Nephi from the Lamanites. He is mentioned by name for the first time in the Book of Mormon in Mosiah 7:9 but an earlier reference to his return to the land of Nephi is written in Omni 1:27-30

Reclaiming Lehi-Nephi—First attempt

Zeniff knew about the land of Nephi and was sent to spy on the Lamanites forces so that the Nephite army could destroy them. However he saw that there was good among them so he appealed to his ruler to spare them. Zeniff's leader wanted him killed, but he was rescued after a fight broke out amongst themselves. He returned to Zarahemla with only fifty others to report to the Nephites.

Reclaiming Lehi-Nephi—Second attempt

He was overzealous to reclaim the land and went again with volunteers (Amaleki's brother was one) but their was famine and adversity among them because they were slow in remembering God. The people eventually reached the site where they had fought each other and Zeniff took four of his men to visit King Laman.

The Treaty

The King made a covenant with Zeniff, giving him the land of Lehi-Nephi and the land of Shilom, including both cities of the same name. The King's people left and Zeniff's people constructed buildings and repaired the walls of Lehi-Nephi and Shilom. They grew corn, wheat, barley, neas, and sheum.

Zeniff was tricked into settling in the land so that they could be destroyed. King Laman was crafty, and his only goal was to bring the Nephites into bondage. His people were lazy and idolatrous and wanted to glut themselves on the work of others.

War

After twelve years, King Laman worked up his people to war with Zeniff and his people. He was uneasy that they were growing stronger. An attack came the next year on the south of Shilom where the Lamanites slew Zeniff's people and took their flocks and corn. The survivors fled to the city of Nephi to ask for his protection.

They prayed to the Lord for help and in one day and night killed 3,043 Lamanites and drove them from their lands. They greatly sorrowed and lamented the loss of 279 of their own.

War Again

King Laman died and his son Laman took over and attacked Shilom from the north. Zeniff had placed his spies in the land of Shemlon and was forewarned. He sent the women and children into the wilderness. The young and old men fought in the strength of the Lord and slaughtered so many Lamanites that they did not count them.

See also

External links