166 Now King Limhi had sent, previous to the coming of Ammon, a small number of men to search for the land of Zarahemla; but they could not find it, and they were lost in the wilderness.
167 Nevertheless they did find a land which had been peopled; yea, a land which was covered with dry bones; yea, a land which had been peopled, and which had been destroyed;
168 And they having supposed it to be the land of Zarahemla, returned to the land of Nephi, having arrived in the borders of the land not many days before the coming of Ammon.
169 And they brought a record with them, even a record of the people whose bones they had found; and they were engraven on plates of ore.
170 And now Limhi was again filled with joy, on learning from the mouth of Ammon that King Mosiah had a gift from God, whereby he could interpret such engravings, yea, and Ammon also did rejoice.
171 Yet Ammon and his brethren were filled with sorrow, because so many of their brethren had been slain; and also that King Noah and his priests had caused the people to commit so many sins and iniquities against God;
172 And they also did mourn for the death of Abinadi; and also for the departure of Alma, and the people that went with him, who had formed a church of God through the strength and power of God, and faith on the words which had been spoken by Abinadi;
173 Yea, they did mourn for their departure, for they knew not whither they had fled.
174 Now they would have gladly joined with them, for they themselves had entered into a covenant with God, to serve him, and keep his commandments.
175 And now since the coming of Ammon, King Limhi had also entered into a covenant with God, and also many of his people, to serve him, and keep his commandments.
176 And it came to pass that King Limhi and many of his people were desirous to be baptized; but there was none in the land that had authority from God.
