Mosiah 9

(Below is a list of questions and quotes that help me think about each verse as I read it. The numbers represent the verses in the chapter.)

The righteous prosper and the wicked perish, though sometimes righteous people suffer from the punishments the Lord sends upon the wicked. The Lord will strengthen us as we do all we can and put our trust in Him.

1-18. What assignment did Zeniff have that brought him into contact with the Lamanites? What did Zeniff see in the Lamanites that led to a serious struggle? Why did Zeniff want to live among the Lamanites?  How were Zeniff's people different from the Lamanites? Do you think the Lord hates his children when they make mistakes? What do you think are the dangers of being slow to remember the Lord as you make choices in your life?

1-3. Why in mortality does it sometimes appear that the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer? What do these verses say about the spiritual state of the Lamanites and Nephites?

1. What can you learn from Zeniff about overcoming feelings of hatred? What can you do to honestly see the good in others?

3. How did Zeniff's over-eagerness to dwell in the land of Nephi lead his people into trouble? What did Zeniff fail to recognize because of his overzealous desires to obtain the land of Nephi? What are some modern examples of what some young people might be overzealous to attain? What are some dangers of being overzealous, even in a good cause? How can we be zealous in the Lord’s work without being overzealous?

4-12. What were King Laman's motives for allowing Zeniff's people to settle in their land?

12-19. Who won these battles: the wicked or the righteous? Do you think that only the wicked died in these battles? In what ways did the righteous suffer because of these battles? How can it help us now to know that one day we will receive great blessings for our righteous acts?

“I explained concerning the coming of the Son of Man; also that it is a false idea that the Saints will escape all the judgments, whilst the wicked suffer; for all flesh is subject to suffer, and ‘the righteous shall hardly escape;’ still many of the Saints will escape, for the just shall live by faith; yet many of the righteous shall fall a prey to disease, to pestilence, etc., by reason of the weakness of the flesh, and yet be saved in the Kingdom of God” - Joseph Smith, (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 162).

13-17. In their determination to obtain a part of the land of Nephi, Zeniff and his people “were slow to remember the Lord [their] God” (Mosiah 9:3). What finally led them to turn to the Lord? How were they blessed when they remembered the Lord and prayed for deliverance? As members of the Church, we have made a covenant to “always remember” the Lord (see D&C 20:77, 79). What are some things we can do that can help us keep this covenant?

16-18. What did the Lamanites do that broke the promise they made in verse 6? How were Zeniff's people able to defeat the more numerous Lamanite army? What does this tell us about the Lord's feelings toward his children? Where could you go for help even when your troubles were caused because of your own bad choices?

17-18. In what area of my life can I trust the Lord more completely and ask Him to strengthen me? When have you asked the Lord for help and felt strengthened by Him? What did you do to receive the Lord's strength?