Societal Rebirth

One thing that I've been thinking about while reading the Book of Mormon this time has been the rebirth of societies and groups of people. I just finished reading about how the society tied to King Noah crumbled due to wickedness. I think this wickedness was widespread, not limited to Noah and his priests. Mosiah 11:26 says that it was initially the general populace, not King Noah, who threw Abinadi out. Verse 29 says that they were blinded and hard-hearted. 

Abinadi's warnings were ultimately fulfilled due to these Nephites' failure to repent and change. Their society in the Land of Nephi was destroyed. The people who weren't killed or scattered were made slaves of the Lamanites. It was at this point that they humbled themselves and decided to change. 

Alma and the people who followed him humbled themselves and were spared much of what happened to their countrymen, even though they underwent a period of enslavement themselves. 

I really like how the story ends for these people. When they repent, the Lord helps them, delivers them from slavery, and leads them to safety. He works directly with Alma and helps Limhi indirectly by inspiring Mosiah and the people in Zarahemla to send what turns out to be a rescue party (Mos 7:1-2).  

I think Mormon chose to include these stories because they illustrate how things work in our individual lives. We have the same potential to become slaves (to sin and bad habits) and to cause destruction to our lives and those around us. God sends people to warn us that we need to change. When we decide that we want to change, God sends help, wipes our sins away and leads us to safety.  It's meaningful that both the peoples of Alma and Limhi begin their new lives with baptism, wanting the same rebirth in their individual lives that they experienced socially and politically.