The Great Gathering
King Mosiah called everyone together for a great gathering.
The Nephites—descendants of Nephi—were actually outnumbered by the people of Zarahemla, who descended from Mulek and those who came with him into the wilderness. And both groups combined still didn’t match the Lamanites in number. The Lamanites had more than twice as many people. All the Nephites and all the people of Zarahemla came together, gathering in two large groups.
Reading the Records
Mosiah read aloud the records of Zeniff—the whole story of Zeniff’s people from when they left Zarahemla until they returned home. He also read the account of Alma and his people, including all the suffering they went through from the time they left until they made it back.
Joy Mixed with Sorrow
When Mosiah finished reading, the people who had stayed behind were stunned. They didn’t know what to think. When they looked at those who’d been freed from slavery, overwhelming joy flooded through them. But then they thought about their relatives who had been killed by the Lamanites, and grief filled their hearts. Tears poured down their faces. Then they remembered God’s perfect timing and his power in rescuing Alma and his people from the Lamanites and from slavery. They lifted their voices and thanked God. But when they thought about the Lamanites—their own relatives—living in such a sinful and broken state, their hearts ached with pain for their souls.
Now the children of Amulon and his friends—the ones whose fathers had married Lamanite women—were ashamed of what their fathers had done. They refused to be called by their fathers’ names anymore. Instead, they took the name of Nephi so they could be counted as Nephites. From then on, all the people of Zarahemla were counted among the Nephites, because the kingdom had been given only to those descended from Nephi.
Alma Teaches the People
After Mosiah finished speaking and reading to the people, he asked Alma to speak to them as well. Alma spoke to the large crowds, moving from one group to another, teaching about repentance and faith in the Lord. He urged the people of Limhi and everyone who had been freed from slavery to remember that it was the Lord who delivered them.
After Alma had taught the people many things and finished his message, King Limhi said he wanted to be baptized. His whole nation wanted to be baptized too. So Alma went into the water and baptized them—the same way he had baptized his people at the waters of Mormon. Everyone he baptized became part of God’s church because they believed Alma’s words.
Churches Established Throughout the Land
King Mosiah authorized Alma to establish churches throughout the land of Zarahemla and gave him authority to ordain priests and teachers for each church.
This was necessary because there were so many people that one teacher couldn’t lead them all, and they couldn’t all gather in one place to hear God’s word. So they met in different groups, called churches. Each church had its own priests and teachers, and every priest taught the message exactly as Alma had given it to him. Even though there were many churches, they were all one church—the church of God. Because every church preached the same message: repentance and faith in God.
Seven churches were established throughout the land of Zarahemla. Anyone who wanted to follow Christ and take his name joined one of God’s churches. They were called God’s people. The Lord poured out his Spirit on them, and they were blessed and thrived in the land.