The people of Limhi were the Nephites in the land of Nephi who came under the rule of King Limhi, son of King Noah, after Noah’s death. As a condition of their subjugation by the Lamanites, Limhi swore that his people would pay tribute of one half of all they possessed (Mosiah 19:26). The Lamanite king set guards around the land to keep them from departing into the wilderness (Mosiah 19:28). Their bondage was no accident: “all this was done that the word of the Lord might be fulfilled” (Mosiah 21:4), completing the judgment Abinadi had pronounced on Noah’s people.
When the daughters of the Lamanites went missing, the Lamanites blamed the people of Limhi and sent an army against them, though the women had in fact been carried off by the priests of Noah (Mosiah 20:1-7). Limhi spotted the Lamanite preparations from a tower and laid wait for them; though outnumbered, his people drove the Lamanites back, fighting for their wives and children (Mosiah 20:8-11). Their continual losses in renewed battles stirred the survivors to fight again, and they were driven back with much loss (Mosiah 21:11). Limhi then sent his people unarmed to meet the Lamanites, and the Lamanite king, persuaded that they were not the offenders, made peace (Mosiah 20:25-26).
The turning point in their bondage came through deep humility and sustained prayer: “they did humble themselves even in the depths of humility; and they did cry mightily to God; yea, even all the day long did they cry unto their God” (Mosiah 21:14). The Lord was slow to hear because of their iniquities, but did hear, and began to soften the hearts of the Lamanites to ease their burdens — providing gradual relief before physical escape was possible (Mosiah 21:13-15).
After Ammon and his brethren arrived from Zarahemla, they helped plan the people’s escape. Limhi sent extra wine as tribute and a present to the Lamanite guards, who drank freely, and the people departed by night into the wilderness with their flocks toward Zarahemla, led by Ammon (Mosiah 22:10-11). Pursued by a Lamanite army (Mosiah 22:15), they reached Zarahemla, where Mosiah received them with joy along with their records (Mosiah 22:14). Among these were twenty-four gold plates the people of Limhi had found, containing the record of the Jaredites; Mosiah later translated them (Ether 1:2; Mosiah 28:11).
Limhi and many of his people entered into a covenant with God to keep his commandments and desired baptism, but Ammon declined to perform it, considering himself unworthy, and there was none in the land with authority from God (Mosiah 21:32-33). After they settled in Zarahemla, Alma taught them, and Limhi and all his people were baptized (Mosiah 25:17).