Brief Biography
Zeniff, the father of King Noah, and the grandfather of King Limhi, led a colony from Zarahemla to re-inherit their former homeland in the land of Nephi. Zeniff’s record, written toward the end of his life, gives an account of the history of the Nephite colony (Mosiah 9–10). Zeniff’s knowledge of that land suggests that he had previously lived there and that he, as a younger man, might have accompanied Mosiah I to the land of Zarahemla. During the early reign of King Benjamin, Zeniff was part of a failed expedition to return to the land of Nephi, which ended in bloodshed. Undeterred, he led a second expedition, in which he successfully negotiated a treaty with the Lamanite king, allowing the Nephite colony to settle in the cities of Nephi-Lehi and Shilom. After twelve years, his people suffered a surprise attack by the Lamanites that killed 279 of his people, before it was successfully repulsed. Toward the end of his life, Zeniff, better prepared, successfully defended his people against a second attack by the Lamanites.
Insights into the Words and Phrases
Zeniff
Did you know that Zeniff compares himself to Nephi to show that he made a mistake in leaving the land of Zarahemla?
As might be expected of a ruler, Zeniff’s favored words revolve around his lands, possessions, and people, but also God, as a source of strength in battle. Only Zeniff uses the words "austere" (1), "collected" (1), "depended" (1), "forty-three" (1), "invent" (1), "lazy" (1), "leathern" (1), "neas" (1), "sheum" (1), "rescued" (1), "ruling" (1), "seventy-nine" (1), "shaved" (1), "stimulate" (1), "tend" (1), and "unawares" (1).
"Over-zealous" is notable as a word Zeniff applies to himself (Mosiah 9:3). Limhi is the only other Book of Mormon speaker to use this word and he does so in reference to his grandfather (Mosiah 7:21). The word suggests an excessive desire to achieve a particular goal.
Zeniff begins his account in language that recalls the beginning of Nephi’s record (Mosiah 9:1; 1 Nephi 1:1). Like Nephi, Zeniff begins in the first person and gives his name. Both writers speak of "having been" twice, and "having had." Nephi speaks of "having seen many afflictions in the course of my days" and Zeniff says, "I saw that which was good" among the Lamanites.
Both Nephi and Zeniff speak of what they were taught. For Nephi, these teachings included the language of his father Lehi. Zeniff says he was taught in "all the language of the Nephites." Each writer mentions his knowledge of various matters and both speak of having obtained knowledge of something good. Nephi is born of goodly parents and has obtained a knowledge of the goodness and mysteries of God, while Zeniff refuses to destroy the Lamanites when he sees "that which was good among them." Both writers conclude their introductions with the word "therefore" and go on to tell their respective stories.
While Zeniff evokes the language of Nephi, his words suggest that he falls short of his ancestor’s achievements. Zeniff possesses "a knowledge of the land of his father’s first inheritance," while Nephi possessed a "knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God," something that Zeniff does not claim. Zeniff says his group "began to multiply and prosper in the land" (Mosiah 9:9), while Nephi said that his people "began to proper exceedingly" (2 Nephi 5:13). With prophetic wisdom and foresight, Nephi prepared his people with weapons to defend against their Lamanite enemies (2 Nephi 5:14). Zeniff is at first deceived by King Laman and is caught off guard, but quickly prepares weapons for the defense of his people (Mosiah 9:16).
Only a generation earlier, Mosiah I had been commanded by God to leave that land with "as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord" (Omni 1:12-13). Zeniff has honorable qualities, but is not a prophet or seer like Mosiah I (Omni 1:20), and lacks a divine mandate to return. In retrospect, he attributes his actions to his own overzealousness, rather than to wisdom (Mosiah 9:3). He realizes that his myopic determination to return to the land of his fathers blinded him to the deceptions of his enemies and placed his people in a dangerous and precarious situation.
Key Insights
Zeniff’s account shows how determination to achieve a goal, which ignores the counsel of the Lord’s prophets, can blind us to the deceptions and evil plans of others and place us in serious danger. However, it also shows that when we awake to a remembrance of God, and call upon Him for help, He can strengthen us even in difficult situations.
Nephi and Zeniff
| Nephi | Zeniff |
|---|---|
| I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days. Yea, I make a record in the language of my father, which consists of the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians (1 Nephi 1:1-2). |
I, Zeniff, having been taught in all the language of the Nephites, and having had a knowledge of the land of Nephi, or of the land of our fathers’ first inheritance, and having been sent as a spy among the Lamanites that I might spy out their forces, that our army might come upon them and destroy them---but when I saw that which was good among them I was desirous that they should not be destroyed. Therefore, I contended with my brethren in the wilderness (Mosiah 9:1-2). |