# Mosiah 22

*Paraphrase*

### Planning an Escape

Ammon and King Limhi started talking with the people about how they could break free from slavery. They called everyone together to hear what the people thought about it. They couldn’t find any way to escape except to take their families, livestock, herds, tents, and flee into the wilderness. The Lamanites had too many soldiers—there was no way Limhi’s people could fight their way out.

### Gideon’s Plan

Then Gideon stepped forward and spoke to the king: “My king, you’ve listened to me before when we fought against the Lamanites. If you’ve found my service useful—if my words have helped you in the past—then listen to me now. Let me serve you again. I can get these people out of slavery.“ The king told him to speak. Gideon said:

“There’s a back pass through the rear wall of the city. At night, the Lamanite guards get drunk. Let’s send word to everyone: gather your flocks and herds tonight and drive them into the wilderness under cover of darkness. I’ll follow your orders and deliver the final tribute of wine to the Lamanites. They’ll get drunk. Then we’ll slip through the secret pass on the left side of their camp while they’re passed out. We’ll take our families, our flocks, and our herds into the wilderness. Then we’ll circle around the land of Shilom.“

The king agreed with Gideon’s plan.

### The Night Escape

King Limhi had his people gather their flocks. He sent the wine tribute to the Lamanites—and then sent even more wine as a gift. The Lamanites drank it all freely.

That night, King Limhi’s people left for the wilderness with their flocks and herds. They circled around the land of Shilom through the wilderness and headed toward Zarahemla, with Ammon and his brothers leading the way. They carried all the gold, silver, and precious things they could manage, along with food for the journey.

After many days traveling through the wilderness, they reached Zarahemla. They joined Mosiah’s people and became his subjects. Mosiah welcomed them with joy. He also received their records—both theirs and the ancient records Limhi’s people had discovered.

### The Pursuit Fails

When the Lamanites realized that Limhi’s people had escaped during the night, they sent an army into the wilderness to chase them down. After two days of pursuit, they lost the trail. They wandered lost in the wilderness.

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*Source: [The Book of Mormon](https://bookofmormon.com/paraphrase/mosiah/22)*
