An Instrument in His Hands

Part 3 Chapter 4

Part 3

Chapter 4

We trudged single file through the mountain pass that led to the delta of the Sidon River. I was able to keep up with Alma, Corianton, and the porters due to all the walking I had done over the past few years. As we reached the crest, we stopped to look down at the plains. Far away was the East Sea, and across that was the old land of Jerusalem.Perhaps there was a ship down there that I could board and sail away!

‘They grow rice down there,’ Corianton informed me before I could carry my rebellious thoughts too far.

I knew that. ‘Yes. I once sold corn cakes in the Central Marketplace next to the merchants who marketed Jershon rice upriver to Zarahemla. It is brought to Antionum to be measured.’

‘It’s goodly land,’ Alma commented.

‘Perhaps I will marry a fat Lamanite and settle there!’ I quipped as we started downhill.

‘Don’t you know anything?’ Corianton protested. ‘There aren’t any Lamanite men there! They are a bunch of widows and children.’

‘There are not many Lamanite men, Corianton,’ Alma corrected.

Corianton continued, ‘Haven’t you heard their story?’

‘I haven’t,’ I answered.

‘Where have you been all this time? In a hole?’

‘Practically,’ I answered. ‘At least I’ve been holed up in one valley that has separated itself from the rest of the Nephites. Tell me the story.’

Corianton stepped back to walk beside me and said, ‘When they accepted the Nephite religion, the other Lamanites gathered armies to come against them. However, these Lamanites were so committed to their new faith, that they buried their weapons of war and would not defend themselves.’

I gasped.

‘Right. They were slaughtered like lambs until many of the Lamanites could not bear to do it anymore. Some of the Lamanite warriors bowed down with them to be killed, until the rest of them stopped the slaughter.’

‘So that is why there are so many widows!’

‘Yes,’ said Alma. ‘The men that are left carry a heavy burden.’

‘I am needed there, yes?’

Alma nodded. ‘Yes, Abigail, your services are very much needed among these Christians.’

‘I will be so grateful to be in a place where I may speak fully of my faith. I have not met any of them, so they must not market their rice in Antionum.’

Alma explained, ‘It has been a bone of contention with the Zoramites. But fortunately they consume most of the rice, corn, squash, and beans that they grow amongst themselves. The Zoramites fear that they will grow stronger and circumvent the Zoramite rice market, and take their grain straight to Zarahemla. They could, you know.’

I thought about it for a moment, then said, ‘It would be wise to do so. You mentioned that there will be refugees from Antionum that will flee to Jershon? Will they also grow rice?’

‘You forsee the problem?’

I rubbed my hand across my brow. ‘It could be a large problem. I’ve taught those young people to calculate and measure. They can do it as well or better than the rice merchants, and they are ambitious.’

Alma responded, ‘We will face that problem when it comes. Our fear is that the Zoramites will unite with the Lamanites in the East Wilderness and cause a war to regain influence in the delta. We hoped to convert them and stop this.’ He glanced over at his son, Corianton. ‘But now, I have little hope of averting that war.’

‘But you will have saved many souls. They believed you, you know – the poor.’

‘Let us hope that they gain faith, and nourish it. They will need it desperately.’

I reached over and squeezed Corianton’s shoulder. It was hard to be the cause of momentous events such as a war, or a change of government. I understood. We never mean to set such big things in motion.

When Corianton was out of earshot, Alma confided, ‘I don’t know what you have said to Corianton, but it has had a powerful effect upon him. He’s very comfortable with you.’

‘He is much like the young men that I’ve taught for many years. In fact, he is less mischievous than most of them. You have taught your son well, Alma.’

‘Thank you.’

‘Actually, I’ll confess that I took him to task for visiting Isabel and told him that he was just like his father. He thought it was quite funny that you were once like him and that it made me so mad – as if it happened yesterday. He was able to convert me to the possibility that you just might have grown up a bit and become the prophet of God.’

Alma chuckled. ‘So that’s how you saw me?’

I laughed too. ‘I’m afraid your son looks so much as you did when I knew you that I took my anger out on him. I think he realized that if you could be that bad and repent, he could too.’

‘Let us hope so. Let us hope.’

‘Speaking of repentance, Alma, how can I possibly find the faith and courage to walk into Aaron’s home and care for his family?’

‘Do you love him?’

I sighed and confessed, ‘I find that I still do. After all, I waited fifteen years to marry him. I even refused a good man’s offer. Then, when I found that Aaron was married, I purposely stayed away.’

‘I meant, do you truly love him, in a way that seeks only his happiness?’

I thought about his question for a few minutes. ‘I stayed away for his sake. I don’t know if I can do this though. Perhaps I am selfish and will be jealous.’

‘Then you must draw upon the love of God to fill your heart.’

I swallowed. ‘Is it possible to love that much? I feel like Abraham, or Job.’

‘We must all face a test like that in our life. This will be yours. I’m sorry, Abigail, but this is for a wise purpose in the Lord that you do this. You must trust him.’

Hadn’t I faced enough tests? How could this one be asked of me?