The people of Limhi were a Nephite group led by King Limhi, the son of King Noah, who inherited the kingdom upon his father’s death. During their subjugation by the Lamanites, they were forced to pay half of all they possessed as tribute (Mosiah 19:26). Surrounded by Lamanite guards to prevent their escape, the people of Limhi lived in a state of confinement and oppression in the land of Nephi (Mosiah 19:28). Despite being considerably outnumbered, they bravely fought for their lives and the safety of their families against the Lamanites (Mosiah 20:11). These hostilities were marked by episodes of peace but also grievous conflicts, during which the people of Limhi suffered losses that stirred them to further resistance (Mosiah 21:11).
During their subjection to the Lamanites, the people of Limhi mistakenly kidnapped the daughters of the Lamanites, which led to a vengeful assault that was fiercely repelled by Limhi’s forces (Mosiah 20:6-9). Eventually, the people of Limhi, yearning for peace and freedom, sought to negotiate with the Lamanites, demonstrating humility and diplomacy that led to temporarily pacified relations (Mosiah 20:25-26).
Their desire for liberation was fulfilled through the arrival of Ammon, a strong Nephite who, along with his brethren, helped formulate a plan for their escape. King Limhi and his people, following Ammon’s guidance, ingeniously provided wine to the Lamanite guards and escaped into the wilderness (Mosiah 22:10-11). Pursued but undeterred, they were led to the land of Zarahemla, where they were welcomed with joy by Mosiah, who received them and their records, including those found by the people of Limhi that contained the history of the Jaredites (Mosiah 22:14; Ether 1:2).
Throughout their trials, the people of Limhi showed a commitment to faith even in the absence of priesthood authority. They expressed a strong desire to enter into a covenant with God and to be baptized, although they had to wait until the proper authority was present in the form of Alma (Mosiah 21:32-33; Mosiah 25:17). Once safely established in Zarahemla, the people of Limhi’s records contributed significantly to Nephite knowledge, providing a history of the now-extinct Jaredite civilization (Mosiah 28:11). The experiences of the people of Limhi stand as an enduring account of perseverance, faith, and divine deliverance within the larger narrative of the Nephite and Lamanite peoples.