If your opinion of King Noah isn’t already low enough, today’s reading, Mosiah 19, should help you to lower it further. Consider, for example, these passages:
“And the king commanded the people that they should flee before the Lamanites, and he himself did go before them” (19:9).
In other words, when danger threatened and all looked dark, King Noah was a natural leader!
“And they did flee into the wilderness, with their women and their children. And it came to pass that the Lamanites did pursue them, and did overtake them, and began to slay them. Now it came to pass that the king commanded them that all the men should leave their wives and their children, and flee before the Lamanites.” (verses 9-11)
Some refused to obey, but others did indeed abandon their wives and children to the murderous Lamanites in order to save their own skins. Eventually, though, they came to regret their cowardice:
“Now they had sworn in their hearts that they would return to the land of Nephi, and if their wives and their children were slain, and also those that had tarried with them, that they would seek revenge, and also perish with them. And the king commanded them that they should not return; and they were angry with the king, and caused that he should suffer, even unto death by fire.” (19:19-20)
And, thus, Abinadi’s prophecy was fulfilled, that Noah would die by fire, just as Abinadi himself died.
Incidentally, the good Limhi illustrates the fact, as if such illustration is needed, that good children can emerge from even depraved and debauched fathers. There is, thus, hope for my kids.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In