Mosiah 20:21 - 20:26

Mosiah 20:21 For are not the words of Abinadi fulfilled, which he prophesied against us—and all this because we would not hearken unto the words of the Lord, and turn from our iniquities?

Gideon reminds Limhi of Abinadi’s prophecy that they would suffer because they would not repent of their wickedness.

Mosiah 20:22 And now let us pacify the king, and we fulfil the oath which we have made unto him; for it is better that we should be in bondage than that we should lose our lives; therefore, let us put a stop to the shedding of so much blood.

So Gideon advises that they convince the Lamanite king as to their assertion about the priests kidnapping their daughters to save their lives from the approaching army. He thought it was better to do this than die in battle.

Mosiah 20:23 And now Limhi told the king all the things concerning his father, and the priests that had fled into the wilderness, and attributed the carrying away of their daughters to them.

Limhi then tells the king that is was probably the renegade priests that kidnapped their daughters. That his people had nothing to do with it.

Mosiah 20:24 And it came to pass that the king was pacified towards his people; and he said unto them: Let us go forth to meet my people, without arms; and I swear unto you with an oath that my people shall not slay thy people.

The king is convinced of their explanation. He then says he will go before the Nephites and explain this to the approaching Lamanite army. The king guarantees that their will be no blood shed.

Mosiah 20:25 And it came to pass that they followed the king, and went forth without arms to meet the Lamanites. And it came to pass that they did meet the Lamanites; and the king of the Lamanites did bow himself down before them, and did plead in behalf of the people of Limhi.

The Nephites go forth with the king, but go unarmed. The king bows before the Lamanite army and gives them the explanation of why the kidnappings.

Mosiah 20:26 And when the Lamanites saw the people of Limhi, that they were without arms, they had compassion on them and were pacified towards them, and returned with their king in peace to their own land.

When the Lamanites see that the Nephites are unarmed and hear the explanation by their own king, they are pacified and everyone returns to their own homes.