Mosiah 9:12

~200–187 BC

1830 Edition

Now, they were a lazy, and an idolatrous people; therefore, they were desirous to bring us into bondage, that they might glut themselves with the labors of our hands; yea, that they might feast themselves upon the flocks of our fields.

Influences

John 16:19 (KJV)
Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me?

Changes

Now, they were a lazy, and an idolatrous people; therefore, they were desirous to bring us into bondage, that they might glut themselves with the labors of our hands; yea, that they might feast themselves upon the flocks of our fields.

Simple English

The Lamanites were lazy people who worshiped fake gods. They wanted to make us slaves. They wanted to eat the food we worked hard to grow. They wanted to take our animals for themselves.

Paraphrase

His people were lazy idol-worshipers who wanted to make us their slaves. They craved the fruits of our labor—they wanted to gorge themselves on the work of our hands and feast on our flocks and fields.