SOTW 3 Annotated for LDS Ch. 37 Trouble in Africa

The Zulu Kingdom

Before he died, King Benjamin counseled his sons to “remember that were it not for these plates [of Nephi], which contain these records and these commandments, we must have suffered in ignorance, even at this present time, not knowing the mysteries of God (Mosiah 1:3).”

We find that the tribes of south Africa suffered because they had no records to help them remember their history. However, once records of their doings were recorded, we find that their struggles were not unlike those of the Nephites and Lamanites.

Shaka, King of the Zulus, was not unlike Amalickiah, a Nephite who aspired to become king. Being rejected by his people, Amalickiah sought power among the Lamanites. Having found favor with the king, Amalickiah soon found himself commanding the Lamanite armies, which he put to use for his own desires. After murdering the king who befriended him, he sent his men out to attack the Nephites in their lands. Mormon records that no matter how difficult the mission, Amalickiah would send his army into battle, “for behold, he did care not for the blood of his people (Alma 49:10).”

Like Shaka, Amalickiah made decisions in anger. In his wrath at the failures of his armies, Amalickiah swore “that he would drink the blood of Moroni, [head of the Nephite armies]. But behold, we shall see that his promise which he made was rash (Alma 51:9).” Amalickiah was killed and succeeded by his brother, Ammoron, who continues in his brother’s murderous ways. Upon his death, the Lamanites cease their pursuit to enslave the Nephites.


The Boers and the British

As the Boers left their adopted homes, driven by disagreements with the British laws, their trek has been compared to the Mormon pioneers who were driven west by religious persecutions seeking to live the way the felt was right.