Mosiah 9:1

I, Zeniff, having been taught in all the language of the Nephites, and having had a knowledge of the land of Nephi, or of the land of our fathers’ first inheritance, and I having been sent as a spy among the Lamanites, that I might spy out their forces, that our army might come upon them and destroy them; but when I saw that which was good among them, I was desirous that they should not be destroyed;

I, Zeniff, learned the Nephite language. I knew about the land of Nephi. That was the land where our fathers first lived. I was sent as a spy to watch the Lamanites. Our army wanted to know how strong they were so we could destroy them. But when I saw good things about them, I didn’t want them to be destroyed.

I grew up learning the Nephite language and knew the land of Nephi well—the land where our ancestors first settled. My commander sent me as a spy to scout out the Lamanite army so we could ambush and destroy them. But when I saw the good in these people, I didn’t want them slaughtered.