Mosiah 8
People in this chapter
Mosiah 8 begins with a teaching meeting. Ammon stands before Limhi's people and tells them everything that has happened in Zarahemla since their grandparents left, and then he rehearsed unto them the last words which king Benjamin had taught (v. 3). The sermon of Mosiah 2-5 reaches a second people.
Tap any highlighted phrase to jump to the commentary that unpacks it.
Mosiah 8:1-4The Last Words Which King Benjamin Had Taught
1And it came to pass that after king Limhi had made an end of speaking to his people, for he spake many things unto them and only a few of them have I written in this book, he told his people all the things concerning their brethren who were in the land of Zarahemla. 2And he caused that Ammon should stand up before the multitude, and rehearse unto them all that had happened unto their brethren from the time that Zeniff went up out of the land even until the time that he himself came up out of the land. 3And he also rehearsed unto them the last words which king Benjamin had taught them, and explained them to the people of king Limhi, so that they might understand all the words which he spake. 4And it came to pass that after he had done all this, that king Limhi dismissed the multitude, and caused that they should return every one unto his own house.
Ammon tells Limhi's people what has happened in Zarahemla and teaches them king Benjamin's last sermon. Then everyone goes home.
Mosiah 8:5-12Canst Thou Translate?
5And it came to pass that he caused that the plates which contained the record of his people from the time that they left the land of Zarahemla, should be brought before Ammon, that he might read them. 6Now, as soon as Ammon had read the record, the king inquired of him to know if he could interpret languages, and Ammon told him that he could not. 7And the king said unto him: Being grieved for the afflictions of my people, I caused that forty and three of my people should take a journey into the wilderness, that thereby they might find the land of Zarahemla, that we might appeal unto our brethren to deliver us out of bondage. 8And they were lost in the wilderness for the space of many days, yet they were diligent, and found not the land of Zarahemla but returned to this land, having traveled in a land among many waters, having discovered a land which was covered with bones of men, and of beasts, and was also covered with ruins of buildings of every kind, having discovered a land which had been peopled with a people who were as numerous as the hosts of Israel. 9And for a testimony that the things that they had said are true they have brought twenty-four plates which are filled with engravings, and they are of pure gold. 10And behold, also, they have brought breastplates, which are large, and they are of brass and of copper, and are perfectly sound. 11And again, they have brought swords, the hilts thereof have perished, and the blades thereof were cankered with rust; and there is no one in the land that is able to interpret the language or the engravings that are on the plates. Therefore I said unto thee: Canst thou translate? 12And I say unto thee again: Knowest thou of any one that can translate? For I am desirous that these records should be translated into our language; for, perhaps, they will give us a knowledge of a remnant of the people who have been destroyed, from whence these records came; or, perhaps, they will give us a knowledge of this very people who have been destroyed; and I am desirous to know the cause of their destruction.
Limhi shows Ammon his people's record and asks whether he can read other languages. Ammon says no.
Limhi's searchers found a destroyed people's land and brought back twenty-four gold plates, armor, and rusted swords. No one could read the plates.
Limhi wants to know why the people on the plates were destroyed. A people in bondage wants to learn from another people's ruin.
Mosiah 8:13-18A Seer Is Greater Than a Prophet
13Now Ammon said unto him: I can assuredly tell thee, O king, of a man that can translate the records; for he has wherewith that he can look, and translate all records that are of ancient date; and it is a gift from God. And the things are called interpreters, and no man can look in them except he be commanded, lest he should look for that he ought not and he should perish. And whosoever is commanded to look in them, the same is called seer. 14And behold, the king of the people who are in the land of Zarahemla is the man that is commanded to do these things, and who has this high gift from God.
Ammon says king Mosiah has instruments from God called interpreters. Only a person God commands may use them, and that person is called a seer.
15And the king said that a seer is greater than a prophet. 16And Ammon said that a seer is a revelator and a prophet also; and a gift which is greater can no man have, except he should possess the power of God, which no man can; yet a man may have great power given him from God. 17But a seer can know of things which are past, and also of things which are to come, and by them shall all things be revealed, or, rather, shall secret things be made manifest, and hidden things shall come to light, and things which are not known shall be made known by them, and also things shall be made known by them which otherwise could not be known.
Limhi says a seer is greater than a prophet. Ammon agrees: a seer is also a prophet and a revelator, and can know things past and future that could not otherwise be known.
18Thus God has provided a means that man, through faith, might work mighty miracles; therefore he becometh a great benefit to his fellow beings.
God gives seers their gifts so they can bless others. Through faith they do mighty works and become a great benefit to people around them.
Mosiah 8:19-21A Wild Flock Which Fleeth from the Shepherd
19And now, when Ammon had made an end of speaking these words the king rejoiced exceedingly, and gave thanks to God, saying: Doubtless a great mystery is contained within these plates, and these interpreters were doubtless prepared for the purpose of unfolding all such mysteries to the children of men. 20O how marvelous are the works of the Lord, and how long doth he suffer with his people; yea, and how blind and impenetrable are the understandings of the children of men; for they will not seek wisdom, neither do they desire that she should rule over them!
Limhi rejoices and thanks God. He marvels at the Lord's patience and grieves that people will not seek wisdom.
21Yea, they are as a wild flock which fleeth from the shepherd, and scattereth, and are driven, and are devoured by the beasts of the forest.
Research trail
Sources & further study
These references support the historical, linguistic, manuscript, and contextual notes in this chapter. Scripture remains the primary text; external sources are provided so readers can inspect the research directly.
- SeerDefines a seer from Mosiah 8:13-16 and notes that the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve are sustained as prophets, seers, and revelators.
- Urim and ThummimInstruments prepared by God to assist in receiving revelation and translating languages, with Mosiah 8:13 among the passages listed.
- Book of Mormon TranslationExplains that the instrument called in the Book of Mormon the "interpreters" is better known to Latter-day Saints as the Urim and Thummim, and that Joseph Smith found it with the plates.
- JareditesThe people whose record was engraved on the twenty-four plates of verse 9 and whose destruction Limhi wanted to understand.
- Good ShepherdScriptures that identify Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd, the One the wild flock of verse 21 flees from.
- Why Is a Seer Greater than a Prophet?Scholars compare Ammon's description of a seer in verses 13-19 with biblical seers and with the calling of Joseph Smith.
Where this echoes in Scripture
The Last Words Which King Benjamin Had Taught
- Mosiah 3:5The Lord Omnipotent who reigneth… shall come down from heaven among the children of men.Part of the sermon Ammon rehearsed.
- Mosiah 21:32Since the coming of Ammon, king Limhi had also entered into a covenant with God, and also many of his people.
- Romans 10:14How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Canst Thou Translate?
- Mosiah 21:26-27They did find a land which had been peopled… And they brought a record with them, even a record of the people whose bones they had found.
- Mosiah 28:11-12The records which were on the plates of gold which had been found by the people of Limhi.
- Ether 1:2I take mine account from the twenty and four plates which were found by the people of Limhi, which is called the Book of Ether.
- Alma 37:21Concerning those twenty-four plates, that ye keep them… and that ye preserve these interpreters.
A Seer Is Greater Than a Prophet
- 1 Samuel 9:9He that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.
- Mosiah 28:13-16Whosoever has these things is called seer, after the manner of old times.
- Amos 3:7Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
- D&C 21:1In it thou shalt be called a seer, a translator, a prophet, an apostle of Jesus Christ.
- Moses 6:36A seer hath the Lord raised up unto his people.
A Wild Flock Which Fleeth from the Shepherd
- John 10:11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
- Ezekiel 34:5They were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field.
- Alma 5:38The good shepherd doth call you; yea, and in his own name he doth call you, which is the name of Christ.
- Isaiah 53:6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way.
- Proverbs 1:20Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets.