AARON

            One of the sons of the Nephite King, Mosiah II, generally supposed to have been the eldest, as it is said that the sovereignty of the people rightly belonged to him on the death of his father, but he refused this great honor on purpose to fulfil a mission to the Lamanites, upon which he and his brothers had set their hearts. Aaron was born in the land of Zarahemla, probably not earlier than B. C. 125, as his father would then have been about thirty years old. During his youth he was wayward and uncontrollable, and joined with those who persecuted the people of God. In fact he and his brothers and the younger Alma were leaders among those who harassed the church. The conduct of the young princes in this regard cannot be ascribed to the corrupting influence of lives of pomp and luxury spent at their father's court, for that was a model of simplicity and frugality, and the king himself labored with his hands to lighten the burdens of the people. But it may more justly be attributed to the want of thought, to the self-conceit and stubbornness so frequently shown in the lives of the young, until maturer years and wider experience teach them humility and reverence. From this evil course of life Aaron and his associates were rescued by the direct interposition of Heaven. He was in the traveling company that was stopped on the way by the angel of the Lord, who, in tones of thunder, which caused the solid earth to tremble, reproved its members for their sins and commanded them to molest the saints no more. From this moment Aaron was a changed man, he gave to God and heaven his undivided life. Where he had done evil he sought to make amends and where he had incited to turbulency he became a peacemaker. Shortly afterwards he and his brothers commenced to labor as missionaries among the Nephites. They next determined to lay their lives on the altar of sacrifice and go up to the land of Nephi, into the midst of the Lamanites, and bear to them the message of God's condescension and love. From this seeming rash resolve most of their friends sought to dissuade the young princes. They pictured to them the perils of the venture, the hopelessness of the task. But it availed not. The Spirit of the Lord was burning within them, they were oppressed with the thought of the value of human souls that were perishing for lack of knowledge. The good king himself had scarcely the fervor of his sons, he hesitated to give his consent, for he doubted, as from past experience he had good cause to doubt, that they would be able to reclaim from their savage ways the benighted children of Laman. However, he inquired of the Lord. The answer was full of assurances of success, and of Divine protection for his sons. Thus strengthened he sent them forth with his blessing. But as he was growing old the question of who should succeed him on the Nephite throne filled his mind. He sent among the people to inquire who would be their choice. The people answered Aaron. But Aaron would not acept the crown, his mind was on other objects fully bent. So, lest he should ever change his mind and demand the kingly authority as his right, his father decided, with the consent of the people, to change the form of government of the nation from a monarchy to a republic; which change was made by unanimous consent. When the young men left Zarahemla (B. C. 91) they departed into the wilderness that divided the possessions of the Nephites from the Lamanites, and amidst its discouragements they almost lost heart, but were animated to renewed endeavor by Divine manifestations. When they reached the borders of the Lamanites the missionaries separated. Aaron journeyed towards a land called Jerusalem, in which was built a great city of the same name, peopled largely and controlled by Nephite apostates of the order of Nehor. Aaron entered into their synagogues and preached; he proclaimed the word wherever he had opportunity. But they would not accept it. Finding his efforts in their behalf useless, after a time he left them and went over to a village called Ani-Anti. There he found some of his brethren zealously ministering, but the people hardened their hearts against the gospel message. So they all departed and journeyed to the land of Middoni. Here again they preached to many, though but few believed. The hardened unbelievers treated the brethren with much cruelty, so that some of them fled, while the rest, among whom was Aaron, were taken and cast into prison, where they were abused with great inhumanity; their lives were preserved by the power of God alone. In prison they remained until they were delivered by Ammon, Aaron's brother, and king Lamoni. The latter had influence enough with Antiomno, the king of Middoni, to secure the release of the brethren. Some time after their release, Aaron left the land of Middoni and was led by the spirit to the land of Lehi-Nephi, where was the abode of the chief king over the Lamanites. Aaron and his brethren repaired to the palace, bowed before the king, told him who they were and offered to be his servants. To this he would not consent. He had already learned something of the gospel from Ammon, and now desired to hear more. At his request, Aaron explained to him many things relating to the nature of God and the plan of salvation, for, though he recognized the power and might of the Great Spirit, he was altogether ignorant of things concerning the Deity.

            These truths were gratefully received by the king, who besought Aaron to teach him how he might obtain the eternal life of which he spoke. Aaron instructed him to bow down before the Lord in prayer, and then, in faith, ask for the blessings he desired. The aged king did so. He prostrated himself on the ground and cried mightily to the Lord, promising to give away all his sins if he could know Him and be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day. So great was his emotion, that when he had finished his prayer he was struck as if he were dead. When the king thus fell his servants ran and told the queen what had happened. She at once came into the room where he lay, and seeing. Aaron and his brethren standing by she became very angry, as she supposed that they were the cause of the evil that had, in her estimation, befallen her husband. She, without hesitation, ordered the king's servants to take the brethren and slay them; but they dared not, for they feared the power which was in Aaron. The queen was also afraid, but she seemed to think that the best way to get rid of the trouble was to destroy those who brought it. As the king's servants refused to obey her command, she ordered them to go out into the streets and call upon the people to come in and kill Aaron and his companions. When Aaron saw the temper of the queen, he feared lest the multitude, in the hardness of their hearts, would raise a great commotion, and cause the hindering of the work of God, which had so auspiciously commenced. Therefore he put forth his hand and raised the monarch from the earth, and at the same time commanded him to stand. The king at once received his strength and stood upon his feet, at the sight of which the queen and her servants wondered greatly and were filled with fear.

            Then the king began to explain to them what he had learned with regard to God and the gospel, and he spoke with such great power that his whole household was converted. The multitude also that had gathered at the call of the queen were pacified by his words, and when he saw that their hearts were softened he caused that Aaron and his brethren should teach them the word of God. After the king was converted he sent a proclamation throughout the land forbidding any and all from persecuting Aaron and his fellow-missionaries, giving them liberty to preach anywhere they desired. Our readers may be sure that this privilege was not neglected. Nor was the result of their labors trifling, but glorious in the saving of many thousand souls; for unto the Lord were converted the people of the Lamanites who dwelt in the lands of Ishmael, Middoni, Shilom and Shemlon, and the cities of Nephi, Lemuel and Shimnilon; and they became a righteous, peaceful, God-serving people, and from faithful obedience to His laws they never fell away. But the various bodies of Nephite apostates who dwelt among the Lamanites universally rejected the gospel message, with the exception of one single Amalekite. The renegade Amalekites, Amulonites and others were not willing to be ruled by a Christian monarch. They had rejected Christianity altogether, and would not have it as the ruling power, either in Nephi or Zarahemla. With the old sophistries and falsehoods they raised a mutiny in the hearts of their associate Lamanites and urged them on to rebellion against the rightful king and his believing subjects. But the converted Lamanites made no preparations to resist them; they felt that in times past, with unholy hands, they had spilled blood as water on the land; blood that they could never atone for, but they would do it no more. Passive non-resistance for the future should be their policy, but the blood of a fellow-being they would never again shed, no matter how great the peril, how intense the aggravation. As a witness of the completeness of this resolution, they took their weapons of war and buried them deep in the earth with an oath and covenant that they would never dig them up again. Their integrity was soon put to the test, for the unconverted Lamanites, incited and led by the Nephite apostates, fell upon them, and, with sword and spear, massacred one thousand and five of their innocent, unresisting fellows. No opposition was offered, no vain struggling occurred, the victims calmly but resolutely bowed before the assassins' steel, and rejoiced in the opportunity of showing their devotion to God, even unto death. The sacrifice of so many of their unresisting brethren brought a deep change of feeling in many of the rude Lamanites; they refused to be any longer the murderers of their kindred, they strove to emulate so noble an example and more were added, that day, to the church, than those whose spirits had ascended to the Great White Throne, and whose blood smoked up to heaven as a testimony against traitors and apostates.

            The intriguing apostate bodies who hated the Nephites with a fiercer hatred than the Lamanites had done, not being able to incite the people to fresh atrocities against their Christian brethren, managed to get up a Nephite invasion. Its results were most disastrous to them, and while smarting under the shame of ignominious defeat, incited by the Amalekites, they again fell upon the unoffending people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi, as the Christian Lamanites were then called, and again stained their hands with the blood of unresisting innocence. It is probable that they would ultimately have destroyed the whole of this persecuted people, had not the latter, under the guidance of the heaven-inspired sons of Mosiah, left their homes and possessions, and undertaken an exodus northward. They threw themselves upon the generosity of the Nephites, who joyfully received them, and set apart the land of Jershon for their inheritance. After the return of the sons of Mosiah to the land of Zarahemla we have little account of Aaron, except incidental references to his virtues, nor do we know anything of his death. He was alive in the year B. C. 75, for in that year he accompanied Alma to the land of Antionum, on his mission to the Zoramites, and there labored with faithfulness and zeal. When that mission was ended he appears to have accompanied the rest of the missionaries to the land of Jershon, after which we hear no more of him or of his labors.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 7

 AARON

            A king of the Lamanites, who reigned in the first half of the fourth century A. D., and who figured in the last great war between that people and the Nephites. We have no account, in the sacred record, of who he was or how he became king. He is mentioned twice by name in the Book of Mormon. Once in the year A. D. 330, when he with an attacking army of 44,000 was defeated by Mormon with 42,000 men, and again an incidental statement is made in the second epistle of Mormon to his son Moroni, of the horrible fate of certain ones who had fled to the army of Aaron. As this last named circumstance appears to have taken place some considerable time after the battle above mentioned, it is presumable that he ruled his people for a lengthy period. It is only reasonable to judge that the king of such a people as the Lamanites then were, would be a type of the race—brutal, blood-thirsty and merciless.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 7 - 8

 AARON

            One of the royal race of the Jaredites. He was the son of Heth, a descendant of Jared. In the days of his grandfather, Hearthom, who was the reigning monarch, the kingdom was taken away from him and he was kept a prisoner all his days. His son Heth, his grandson Aaron, and Aaron's son Amnigaddah were also kept in captivity all their lives by the triumphant party. In the days of Aaron's great-grandson, Com, the kingdom was reconquered for the dynasty of which Aaron was a member. At a rough guess we should imagine that Aaron lived about a thousand years before Christ.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 8

 AARON, CITY OF

            When Alma was first cast out of Ammonihah he turned his face toward a city called Aaron (Alma viii:13). It is natural to suppose that Aaron was not far distant from Ammonihah; at any rate, not on the other side of the continent. Yet the only other time when a city called Aaron is referred to, it is spoken of as joining the land of Moroni, which was the frontier district in the extreme southeast of the lands possessed by the Nephites. Our only way out of this difficulty is to suggest that there were two cities called Aaron; not at all an unlikely thing when we reflect how important a personage Aaron, the son of Mosiah, was among his people. When chosen to be king he declined this great honor and the republic was established. It requires no stretch of the imagination to believe that a free and grateful people would name more than one city in honor of this self-denying prince.

            The only mention made of the first of these two cities is that Alma bent his way "towards the city which was called Aaron." (B. C. 82.) Of the second city of Aaron we learn that it was north of Moroni, on the Atlantic slope; between these two places the Nephites built (B. C. 72) a third city and called it Nephihah (Alma 50:14).

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 8

 AARON, BORDERS OF

            The only time that this place is mentioned is in Alma 50:14, when the building of the city of Nephihah is spoken of. It is stated that the Nephites also began a foundation for a city between the city of Moroni and the city of Aaron, joining the borders of Aaron and Moroni; and they called the name of the city or the land, Nephihah.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 9

 ABEL

            The son of Adam. He is mentioned once by name in the Book of Mormon (Helaman 6:27), when his murder by his brother Cain is referred to.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 9

 ABINADI

            A Nephite prophet, whom the Lord raised up in the land of Lehi-Nephi to reprove the wicked people of King Noah for their sins. As near as we can tell he delivered his prophecies about 150 B. C. At his first appearance he announced as the word of the Lord that if the people did not repent of their iniquities they should be brought into bondage and none should deliver them except the Lord, and He would be slow to hear their prayers in the days of their tribulations. The people did not repent, but sought the life of Abinadi, and his words were fulfilled in the days of Noah's son, Limhi. Two years later he reappeared in disguise, so that the people knew him not, and pronounced yet greater woes upon the unrepentant Noah and his subjects. Slavery of the most oppressive kind, famine, pestilence and death were to be their lot, and but a few years passed before Abinadi's prophecies were fulfilled. For his bold denunciations of their abominations he was taken by the priests of the king, with whom he had a long controversy on the principle of the atonement and other laws of God, which ended in his being condemned to death. In accordance with this sentence he was burned at the stake in the City of Lehi-Nephi. One man only, Alma the elder, of whom we have record, pleaded with Noah in behalf of Abinadi, and this so incensed the sin-degraded king that he sought to take Alma's life. Alma, however, escaped, and in his place of retreat made a record of the teachings and acts of Abinadi, and to that record we are indebted for some of the most precious gospel teachings in the Book of Mormon.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 9 - 10

 ABINADOM

            A Nephite prophet and historian, who lived in the third century before Christ. He received the plates of Nephi from his father, Chemish, who was a descendant of Jacob, the brother of Nephi, and at his death, which occurred in the days of the first Mosiah, his son Amaleki took charge of them. Either he or his son conveyed the sacred records from the land of Nephi to Zarahemla, in the great migration of the Nephites under Mosiah, but the record does not show whether he died in the land of Nephi before this movement took place or after. His record is a very short one. From it we learn that he was a warrior, and had seen many wars between the Nephites and Lamanites, and that in those wars he, with his own sword, had taken the lives of many of the enemy in the defense of his brethren. These disastrous wars were undoubtedly one of the causes that led to the removal of the righteous portion of the Nephites from Nephi to Zarahemla. Abinadom concludes his brief record with the following statement: "And I know of no revelation, save that which has been written, neither prophecy; wherefore, that which is sufficient is written. And I make an end."

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 10 - 11

 ABISH

            A Lamanite woman of the land of Ishmael, who was a servant-maid to the queen of King Lamoni, at the time that Ammon, the son of Mosiah, carried the gospel to that people. (B. C. 91). Abish herself had been converted to the Lord many years previously through a remarkable vision which had been granted to her father, but of this conversion she had never spoken. When Lamoni and all his court, including Ammon, were so overcome by the power of God that they fell to the earth, Abish understood by what power they were affected. In the hope of convincing the people of the divinity of Ammon's message, she joyously ran from house to house and told all she met what had happened. While she was thus engaged a multitude gathered at the palace. They viewed with many conflicting emotions the monarch, his wife, and retainers all lying as if dead, with Ammon, the Nephite, also lying in their midst. A great dispute arose; some argued for good, some for evil, and the contention would doubtless have ended in bloodshed had not Abish returned. She was greatly grieved at the turn matters had taken. In the hope of raising the queen from the ground Abish took her by the hand. No sooner did she do so than the queen revived and arose. The latter uttered many expressions of love and gratitude to the Savior and pleaded for His mercy for her subjects. She next took her husband by the hand, when he arose also, and seeing the contention he rebuked the people and began to teach them the truths of the Gospel. Here commenced the great work of conversion among the Lamanites which eventually terminated in the salvation of many thousand souls. Abish is mentioned in the book of Mormon only in connection with this incident.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 11

 ABLOM

            A place on the Atlantic seaboard of the Northern Continent, east of the hill Cumorah. The Lord in a dream warned Omer, king of the Jaredites, to flee from his native land, at the time his kingdom was overthrown by Akish and his friends. This he did, and after a long journey settled at Ablom. Nimrah, a son of Akish, with a number of adherents, afterwards joined Omer at Ablom. After many years Omer was restored to his kingdom and returned to his own land.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 11

 ABRAHAM

            The father of the faithful. As in the Bible so in the Book of Mormon, God is frequently spoken of as the God of Abraham. Most of the references to Abraham in the latter book are doctrinal and but few historical; mention is, however, made of his paying tithes to Melchizedek.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 11

 ADAM

            The great father of the human family. His name is mentioned about two dozen times in the Book of Mormon; almost always in connection with the creation, or with the doctrine of the fall and the atonement.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 11 - 12

 AGOSH, PLAINS OF

            A place, locality unknown, in North America, where a great battle was fought in the final war among the Jaredites. The commanders of the contending armies were Coriantumr and Lib. After a victory by the latter, in the wilderness of Akish, he pursued Coriantumr as far as the plains of Agosh, when another battle was fought in which Coriantumr was victorious and Lib was slain. Shiz, the brother of Lib, assumed command in the place of his brother and attacked and defeated Coriantumr. Probably about B. C. 600; but this is only conjectural.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 12

 AHA

            A Nephite military officer of the days of the republic. He was the son of Zoram and brother of Lehi. He accompanied his father and brother when they went to Alma, the younger, to inquire the will of the Lord with regard to what course the Nephite army should take in the pursuit of the Lamanites who had destroyed the city of Ammonihah (B. C. 81). Having received the word of the Lord, Zoram and his two sons proceeded to carry it out. They followed and overtook the Lamanites in the great wilderness south of Manti and east of the upper waters of the river Sidon. Here a severe battle took place, which ended in the Lamanite forces being scattered and driven into the wilderness; while all the Nephite captives were delivered and taken back to their own lands.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 12

 AHAH

            A wicked king of the Jaredites, who reigned in the latter days of that nation. His father's name was Seth. Seth, owing to internal commotions, was brought into captivity and thus remained all his life. But Ahah obtained the kingdom, and reigned over the people until his death. He did all manner of iniquity by which he caused the shedding of much blood, but providentially his reign was a short one. He was succeeded on the throne by his son Etham.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 12

 AHAZ

            The eleventh king of Judah. His name appears in the Book of Mormon only in quotations from the 7th and 14th chapters of Isaiah. (II Nephi, chapters 17 and 24).

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 12

 AIATH

            A place named by Isaiah (10:28), and quoted in II Nephi 20:28, Possibly another name for Ai.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 13

 AKISH

            One of the most subtle and cruel of the early Jaredites. Nothing more is known of his descent than that he was the son of Kimnor. The history of Akish is one with which are associated deeds of cruelty, treachery and iniquity that are scarcely paralleled in the annals of any nation. When the Jaredites first reached this continent they were a righteous, God-fearing, though somewhat unstable people. They, however, made one great mistake, they desired to be ruled by a king. Their prophet-leaders told them that this thing would lead to captivity, but they insisted, and Orihah, the youngest son of Jared, was chosen as their first monarch. The words of their prophets were quickly fulfilled, and bloodshed and internal commotions soon disgraced the history of this favored people. Orihah was succeeded by Kib, who was dethroned by Corihor, but afterwards restored. In the succeeding reign, that of Shule, the kingdom was rent in twain, but when he died he was succeeded by his son Omer, who, we have reason to believe, was a good man. The example of the kings and princes had thus far, as a rule, been pernicious, and tended to encourage the people in lives of wickedness.

            Omer had a son named Jared, an ambitious, unscrupulous man. He rebelled against his father and by his flatteries induced half the people to join his standard. He established himself in a land named Heth, and when he felt sufficiently strong he gave battle to and defeated the forces of his father, whom he took prisoner and held in captivity; and, it is said, Omer remained in this condition half his days. So long, indeed, was the time that Jared kept him prisoner that sons begotten by him during his captivity grew up to manhood before he was released. Two of these young men, named Esrom and Coriantumr, became very angry at the way their father was treated, and they raised an army and attacked their brother Jared by night. This attack appears to have been an utter surprise to Jared, for his army was entirely destroyed, and he himself would have been slain had he not humbly pleaded with his brothers that his life might be spared, he promising that he would surrender the kingdom to his father. On this condition his life was granted him.

            Now Jared, though he had made this promise when his life was in peril, still longed for the glories and power of the kingly authority; and his sorrow and unrest could not be hid from those near him. Among those who noticed his deep-seated grief was a daughter who was exceeding fair, and was apparently as unscrupulous as her father. Whether it was because she really had affection for her father, or, like him, languished for the pomp and magnificence of the court life she no longer possessed that caused her to submit to him a plan by which he might regain the kingdom, cannot be told; perhaps, also, she loved the man whom she suggested as the instrument to be used in the fulfillment of her ambition—possibily all three, for our motives are seldom single; our actions, in other words, are generally the result of a combination of motives.

            The young lady's plan was this : She reminded her father that when their ancestors came across the great waters they brought with them records of the doings of mankind in the ages before the flood. And in those records was an account of how men by secret plans and combinations obtained kingdoms and great glory. She suggested that her father acquire a knowledge of these unholy methods and use them to regain the throne. She further proposed that he send for a friend of Omer's named Akish, the son of Kimnor, and she, being graceful as well as beautiful, would dance so entrancingly before him that he would desire her to wife. If she did not love Akish, she simply sold herself to gratify her father's and possibly her own ambition.

            Her advice was listened to, her suggestions carried out. The old oaths and bloody mysteries were searched out, the plan laid, Akish invited, the suggestive dance danced, Akish's passions inflamed and the maiden asked in marriage. The proposal was received with favor, but terrible conditions were attached, such that would have appalled any honorable man. It was that Akish should obtain for Jared the head of his father, the king, and to enable him to carry out this murderous design Jared proposed that he administer to his friends the old oaths that had come down from the days of Cain, the first murderer.

            Akish accepted this terrible responsibility. He gathered his associates at the house of Jared and there made them all swear by the God of heaven, and by the heavens, by the earth and by their heads, that whoso should vary from what he desired should lose his head, and whoso should divulge whatever he made known should lose his life. He then submitted his plans to them, which they accepted. The plot was so far successful that they overthrew the kingdom of Omer, but did not succeed in obtaining his head. For the Lord was merciful to Omer and warned him to depart out of the land. So taking those of his family who were faithful to him he traveled for a great distance until he reached the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. There he and his companions tarried until the course of events permitted him to return.

            Omer being driven from his kingdom, Jared was anointed king, and his daughter was given to Akish to wife. But this did not satisfy Akish; he had learned the power of these secret combinations, and now determined to use them for his own ends. He aspired to the throne, and made up his mind to murder his father-in-law. So he assembled his followers, instructed them in his wishes, and Jared was slain by them as he sat on his throne, giving audience to the people; a case of poetical retribution which, though often found in fiction, is seldom met with in real life. Akish was now made king, and under his cruel rule wickedness became almost universal; the secret societies by which he obtained power had corrupted the hearts of all the people. As may be well supposed, with such a condition of society his throne was not a stable one. He became jealous of one of his sons. What cause, if any, he had therefor, we are not told, but he shut him up in prison and slowly starved him to death. This cruel act greatly incensed another of Jared's sons, named Nimrah, and he, gathering a few followers, fled to the land where Omer dwelt.

            Now Akish had other sons, and though they had sworn to support him in all his doings, they were not true to their oaths. They found that the hearts of the Jaredites were consumed with the love of gain, and they bribed the greater portion of the people to join them in a revolt against their father. So corrupt had the people now become that their extinction appears to have been the only remedy; they were past repentance.

            A war of the most horrible character broke out, which lasted several years, and ended only when nearly every soul was slain. Of the kingdom of Akish, for which he had sinned so much, there remained but thirty souls, all the rest—men, women and children—had been swept by bloody hands into untimely graves. The people of Akish having been thus destroyed, Omer, with his friends, returned from his captivity, and reigned over the feeble remnant of a wasted people.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 16 - 17

 AKISH, WILDERNESS OF

            A place in North America, apparently not far from the Atlantic coast. Here a severe battle was fought in the last great war which ended in the extinction of the Jaredite race. The conflict was between the armies of Gilead and Coriantumr in which many thousands were slain. It appears to have been indecisive, as Gilead remained in the wilderness and Coriantumr lay siege thereto. But one night Gilead unexpectedly sallied forth and slew a part of the army of his enemy, they being drunken. This, for the time being, gave him the advantage. In a later campaign, after Gilead had been assassinated, a battle was fought between Coriantumr and Lib in which the latter was victorious, and the former fled to the wilderness of Akish, but being pursued by Lib, he continued his retreat to the plains of Agosh where another desperate conflict occurred.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 17

 ALMA, THE ELDER

            was an Israelite of the tribe of Manasseh, a direct descendant of Nephi, the son of Lehi. He was born in the land of Lehi-Nephi, or a region contiguous, 173 years before the advent of the Redeemer, when Zeniff was king in that portion of the South American Continent. He is first introduced to the readers of the Book of Mormon shortly before the martyrdom of the prophet Abinadi, as a young man associated with the apostate and iniquitous priesthood of king Noah, the son of Zeniff. Unlike his soul-seared associates, his heart was pricked by the warnings and teachings of Abinadi, for he knew that his denunciations of the prevailing wickedness were true. Inspired with this knowledge, he very courageously went to the tyrant Noah, and pleaded for the prophet's life. His appeal in behalf of the devoted servant of the Lord was ineffectual; the infuriated and besotted king would not hearken to Alma's appeal for justice and mercy, but on the contrary, he ordered the young priest to be cast out from the midst of the people, and when Alma fled from his anger, he sent his servants to slay him. Alma, however, successfully hid from his pursuers, and, during his concealment, wrote the words he had heard Abinadi speak, which teachings now form one of the most important of the doctrinal portions of the Book of Mormon.

            The power, the importance, the efficiency of Abinadi's teachings had sunk deep in the heart of Alma; he not only realized their truth, but he comprehended their saving value. The first lesson they impressed upon his mind was the necessity of his immediate and thorough repentance, combined with unfaltering faith in the Savior, who was to come to redeem mankind. In much tribulation he sought the Lord with all his powers and the Great Father vouchsafed to him an abundant, soulsatisfying answer. From this time Alma began to preach privately to the people the words of Gospel truth. To do this he received power from on high. We have no account of the time of his ordination, whether when a lad he had received the holy priesthood under the hands of some one of God's servants, before the days that Noah led his people into iniquity and corrupted the priesthood, or, whether at this time he was ministered to by messengers from Heaven. Perhaps both; but the time and place is but a secondary consideration, the important fact remains, that he was commissioned by God to officiate in His name, which commission he ever after magnified to the salvation of his fellow-men. Alma's preaching of God's holy word was not without fruit. Many received the truth with joy. These gathered to a convenient spot on the borders of the wilderness, but not far from their city. This place was called Mormon. It was admirably suited for a hiding place, having formerly been infested by ravenous beasts, and was dreaded and avoided by the people. Near by was a thicket of small trees, in which the Gospel believers could hide should they be pursued by the king's servants; here also was a fountain of pure water, most excellently adapted for the purposes of baptism. Here, in the midst of the luxuriance of tropical vegetation, and by the side of the inviting stream, did Alma proclaim the principles of everlasting life; here the people entered into covenant to serve the Great Father of all; here were the repentant believers baptized unto Christ, for the remission of sins, and here was the Church of the First Born organized, the holy priesthood conferred, and the work of God founded in power.

            Alma and another servant of the Lord, named Helam, were the first to enter the water, and when there, Alma lifted his voice in prayer and besought the Lord for His Holy Spirit. This blessing having been bestowed, he proceeded with the sacred ordinance. Addressing his companion, he said, "Helam, I baptize thee, having authority from the Almighty God, as a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve Him until you are dead as to the mortal body; and may the Spirit of the Lord be poured out upon you; and may He grant unto you eternal life, through the redemption of Christ whom He has prepared from the foundation of the world." Alma having said these words, both he and Helam were buried in the water, whence they came forth rejoicing, being filled with the Holy Spirit. Others, to the number of two hundred and four souls, followed Helam into the waters of baptism, but in all these cases Alma did not again bury himself beneath the liquid wave, but only the repentant believers. From this time we may date the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ in that land, and henceforth its members assembled for worship and testimony once a week.

            Notwithstanding the care and circumspection with which the members of the Church acted, Noah soon discovered that there was some secret movement among his subjects, and by the help of his spies he discovered what was taking place at Mormon. Making the tyrant's usual excuse, that the Christians were in rebellion against him, he sent his armies to capture and destroy them. But a greater than he stretched forth His arm to preserve His people. The Lord warned Alma of the king's intentions, and in obedience to the Divine direction, he assembled his people, some 450 souls, gathered his flocks and herds, loaded up his grain, provisions and other supplies, and departed into the untrodden wilderness.

            Being strengthened by the Lord, notwithstanding that they were impeded by their flocks and families, the pilgrims traveled with sufficient rapidity to escape the pursuing forces of King Noah, who were reluctantly compelled to return to the land of Nephi without having accomplished the object of the expedition. At the end of eight days Alma's company ceased their flight, and settled in a very beautiful and pleasant land where there was an abundant supply of pure water. We have no direct information with regard to the course taken by this colony, but it is evident, from the details of their later history, that the new settlement lay somewhere between the lands of Nephi and Zarahemla, though possibly somewhat aside from the most direct route. We think it far from improbable that it was situated at the head waters of some one of the numerous tributaries to the Amazon that take their rise on the eastern slopes of the Andes.

            The colonists, whose industry is especially referred to by the inspired historian, immediately set to work to till the soil and build a city. The city, with the surrounding territory, they named the city and land of Helam. Now that they were established as a separate people, independent of both Lamanite and Nephite princes, they desired a form of temporal government with Alma as their king. This honor he declined. He rehearsed to them the history of their fathers; he pictured to them the infamies of King Noah's reign; he showed them how a wicked ruler could lead his subjects into all manner of evil, and how such things led to bondage; and, on the other hand, how much better it was to have the Lord as their King and Ruler, and to be guided by His servants under His inspiration. This counsel the people wisely accepted. Alma, though not bearing the title of king, acted as their leader, as their high priest and prophet, and as the mouthpiece of God to them whenever His holy word was graciously given them. In this happy state the people of Helam continued for some years, the Lord greatly prospering them and crowning their labors with abundant increase.

            How long these blissful days lasted is not defined in the sacred record of the Book of Mormon; but as the Lord chastens those whom He loves, so, after a time, He permitted the Lamanites to discover their secluded and happy home, and to bring them into bondage.

            It so happened that a Lamanite army corps (that had been pursuing a body of fugitive Nephites under Limhi, the son of Noah, who had broken away from their bondage in the land of Nephi,) lost themselves in the wilderness. While traveling hither and thither, not knowing which way to go, they came across a body of men who had once been the priests of King Noah, but who had fled from the face of their fellows to escape the just indignation their continued iniquities had aroused. These priests, at the instigation of Amulon, their leader, joined the Lamanite troops, and unitedly endeavored to get back to the land of Nephi. While thus engaged, they wandered near the city of Helam.

            When the people of Alma first perceived the approach of this body of men, they were occupied in tilling the soil around their city, into which they immediately fled in great fear. In this perilous hour the faith and courage of Alma were conspicuous. He gathered his people around him, called upon them to cast aside their unsaintly fears, and to remember the God who had ever delivered those who trusted in Him. The words of their leader had the desired effect; the people silenced their fears and called mightily upon the Lord to soften the hearts of the Lamanites that they might spare their lives and those of their wives and little ones. Then, with the assurance in their hearts that God would hearken unto their prayers, Alma and his brethren went forth out of their city and delivered themselves up to their former foes.

            The Lamanites were in a dilemma, therefore they were profuse in promises. They were willing to grant the people of Helam their lives and liberty if they would show them the way to the land of Nephi. Having obtained this information and reached home in safety, they broke their promises and made Amulon king over a wide district of country, including the land of Helam.

            Alma and Amulon had known each other in the days when they both belonged to King Noah's priesthood, and with the venom so often conspicuous in apostates, the latter soon commenced to persecute those who were faithful to the Lord. He placed taskmasters over them, he imposed inhuman burdens upon them, and otherwise afflicted them grievously.

            In their affliction the people of Alma cried unremittingly to Heaven for deliverance, but even their prayers were an annoyance to their task-masters, and they were forbidden to lift up their voices in supplication to the Lord; but the tyrants could not prevent them from pouring out heir hearts to Him who knoweth the inmost thoughs of all men. He answered in His own way; He did not bring them immediate deliverance, but He strengthened their backs to bear the heavy burdens placed upon them, and, strong in the faith of their ultimate release from this bondage, they toiled on with cheerfulness and patience.

            In His due time the Lord delivered them. Having revealed His intentions to Alma, that the people might make ready, He caused a deep sleep to come upon the Lamanite guards and task-masters. The hour to strike for liberty had arrived, but it was obtained at a heavy cost, that of their homes and possessions. Under the guidance of Alma they departed into the wilderness. At eventide they rested in a beautiful valley which they called Alma; but they did not tarry there. The next day they pushed further into the wilderness, and continued their journey until they arrived at the land of Zarahemla, which they reached in twelve days' travel from the valley of Alma. Their arrival amongst their Nephite kindred was the occasion of great joy both to them and to the people of King Mosiah, which joy was intensified by the fact that Limhi and his subjects had also arrived in safety at the home of their forefathers a short time previously, thus uniting all the Nephite people (except the few apostates with Amulon) in one land and under one king.

            Alma and his people must have dwelt in the land of Helam quite a number of years, as he is called a young man at the time of Abinadi's martyrdom, and at the time he led his people into the land of Zarahemla he was more than fifty years old, possibly several years older.

            On the arrival of Alma in the land of Zarahemla, King Mosiah gave him charge of the spiritual concerns of the Nephites. He became the high priest to the whole nation. In this capacity he gathered the people together, and in words of power and plainness he reminded them of their duties to Heaven. Nor had he unwilling hearers; numbers hearkened to his words, renewed their covenants with God, went down into the waters of baptism, and recommenced a life of godliness and faith. From place to place Alma bent his way, preaching, counseling, reproving, comforting, instructing, as the Holy Spirit led. Through these labors seven churches, or rather seven branches of the Church, were established in the land of Zarahemla, while great prosperity attended the faithful. As years rolled by, the hearts of those who loved the Lord were pained by the unbelief and wickedness of the rising generation. Many of these not only rejected the truth themselves, but persecuted, and reviled those who were righteous. This unholy crusade received great strength and assumed great effrontery owing to the fact that the four sons of King Mosiah, and the son of the high priest Alma, were their ringleaders. Vain were the exhortations of these holy men to their wayward sons; they rebelled against their fathers' admonitions and set their authority at defiance. Great was Alma's grief. The Lord of hosts was his only resource. In much sorrow, but with much faith, he earnestly and unceasingly prayed for his loved but rebellious son. The Lord heard His faithful servant's petitions, sent His angel to stay the young man's mad career and bring him to a knowledge of the truth. There, overpowered by the presence and message of the angel, he was struck dumb and paralyzed. When the news of this visitation reached his father, he was greatly rejoiced, for he knew it was the power of God. He gathered his people to witness the miracle, and assembled the priests that they might join him in prayer and fasting for his son's perfect restoration. Their prayers were heard; not only were the natural powers of the body restored, but Alma became a changed man, and from thenceforth was a valiant soldier of the cross—a help, a comfort, and a joy to his father, who was now beginning to feel the effects of advancing years.

            Before his death, Alma who had ordained his son a high priest, gave the latter charge concerning all the affairs of the Church, and then, full of years and honor, he departed this life. His death took place (B. C. 91) when he was eighty-two years old, five hundred and nine years having passed from the time Lehi and his family left Jerusalem.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 24 - 25

 ALMA, THE YOUNGER

            was born either in the land of Mormon, when his devout and intrepid father was there organizing the Church of Christ, or after the little colony of Christians had removed to the land of Helam. From a casual observation made in one of his discourses, we are inclined to think it was in the latter place. With his father he came to the land of Zarahemla, and there, as the son of the presiding high priest of the entire Church, he became the associate and companion of the sons of the king. Their course was one too often pursued by the children of the great. They took pleasure in evil-doing; they had no faith in the revelations of God, while they ridiculed, mocked and persecuted those who had. We can well understand the anxiety, the distress, the sorrow this course caused their God-fearing parents; we can realize how frequent and how fervent were the prayers offered by the king, the high priest, and the people for those misguided youths. And their prayers prevailed before God.

            It came to pass that as Alma and the sons of King Mosiah were going about to destroy the Church and to lead astray the people of the Lord, that an angel descended in a cloud and stopped them on the way. When he spoke his voice was as thunder, and caused the whole earth to tremble beneath their feet. Naturally this manifestation of the power of God spread terror and dismay in the hearts of those who witnessed it; simultaneously they fell to the ground, and so confused and terrified were they that they failed to understand the words of the holy messenger. "Arise, Alma, and stand forth," he cried; and when Alma arose his eyes were open to see who stood before him. "Why persecutest thou the Church of God?" he was asked, "for the Lord hath said, This is my Church, and I will establish it; and nothing shall overthrow it, save it is the transgression of my people. If thou wilt of thyself be destroyed, seek no more to destroy the Chunch of God." Besides this, the angel spoke to him of his father's fervent prayers in his behalf, and that because of those prayers of faith he was sent to convince him of the power of God. He also recounted to him the captivity of his fathers in the lands of Helam and Nephi, and of their miraculous deliverance therefrom, but Alma heard none of these latter sayings, for the terrors of the first salutation had overpowered him.

            Alma, bereft of the presence of the angel, dismayed and soul-stricken, sank to the ground. When his companions gathered around him, they found he could not move, neither could he speak; outwardly he was dead to the world; but the torments of the damned had taken hold of his soul, and in the most bitter pain and mental anguish he lay racked with the remembrance of all his past sins. The thought of standing before the bar of God to be judged for his iniquities overwhelmed him with horror; he would have rejoiced in annihilation; he desired to become extinct, both body and soul, without being brought before his abused Creator. Thus he continued for three days and three nights to suffer the pains of hell, which to his tortured conscience must have seemed an eternity.

            When his companions found that he could neither speak nor move, they carried him to his father, and related to him all that had happened. Strange as it must have seemed to them, the elder Alma's heart was filled with joy and praise when he looked upon the body of his much-loved son, for he realized it was God's power that had wrought all this, and that his longcontinued prayers had been answered. In his joy he gathered the people to witness this mighty manifestation of the goodness and might of Jehovah. He assembled the priests, sought their co-operation, and unitedly, in God's own way, they prayed and fasted for the stricken youth. For two days they continued their supplications, at the end of which time Alma stood upon his feet and spoke. He comforted them by declaring, "I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit."

            In later years Alma, in relating to his son Helaman the details of his conversion, thus describes the causes that led him to bear this testimony. He says: "Behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world. Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart, O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who art in the gall of bitterness, and art encircled about by the everlasting chains of death. And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more. And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain : yea, I say unto you, my son, there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as my pain. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy; yea, methought I saw, even as our father Lehi saw, God sitting upon His throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels, in the attitude of singing and praising their God; yea, and my soul did long to be there."

            From that time to the end of his mortal career, Alma labored without ceasing to bring souls to Christ, and to guide his fellow men in the paths of salvation.

            We have now to present Alma as the foremost man of his age and nation, the presiding high priest and chief judge of a mighty people; a great prophet, filled with the spirit of his calling; an unceasing missionary, an undaunted soldier of the cross, a lucid expounder of the principles of the everlasting Gospel; a proficient organizer of men, a distinguished warrior and a triumphant general. While in his conversion, extended missionary journeyings, and elaborate discourses on saving truths, we are reminded of Saul of Tarsus, recollections of Joshua, the son of Nun, are vividly brought before us when we consider him as the great leader and prophet of his people, and the victorious commander-in-chief of their armies.

            The change in the life of Alma brought down upon him the persecutions of the wicked, for others treated him as he before-time had treated the Saints. But in none of these things was he daunted or dismayed, for he had joy in preaching the word, and in the conversion of many from their ungodliness. So conspicuous as a champion of the cause of God did he become, that Mosiah considered him the most proper person to whom to confide the custody of the sacred plates, and to act as the recorder of the nation's doings and progress; still more, when Aaron, the son of Mosiah, declined to succeed his father on the Nephite throne, and it was wisely determined by the people that they would be ruled by judges for the future, Alma was chosen by the united voice of his countrymen to be their first chief judge. He was also their presiding high priest, he having been consecrated to this exalted position by his father, who, shortly before his death, gave him charge of the affairs of the Church throughout all the land. (B. C. 91.)

            Five hundred and nine years had now passed away since Lehi left Jerusalem, during which time the Nephites had been ruled by kings, the successors of the first Nephi. A wonderful but bloodless revolution now took place—the monarchy was merged into a republic; but so wise had been the steps taken by Mosiah, so equitably had he arranged the laws, that the change was made without popular tumult or disorder in the affairs of the state. Indeed the change was hailed with unbounded satisfaction by the people, who greatly rejoiced in the more extended liberties now guaranteed to them. In Alma, as their first chief judge, they had a man admirably adapted for the situation; he had the confidence of the people, inasmuch as he was the Lord's mouthpiece to them, besides his worth and abilities claimed their trust and respect; he was a man of great talent, courage, faith and energy, an unwearied worker for good, and, as a judge judged righteous judgment in the midst of the people. Still his position was not one of unmixed delights—apostates from the Church, pride and unbelief in its members, assaults and invasions from the national enemies, all combined to require his undiminished energies and undaunted faith. But above and beyond all, as compensation for these trials and annoyances, he had the right to receive the word of the Lord, which was given to him as he needed or his people inquired.

            The first year of Alma's judgeship was troubled by the apostasy of Nehor, a man of many personal attractions and great persuasiveness of manner, who went about among the people preaching a kind of universalism—that all men should be saved; he also established priestcraft, making a lucrative business of spreading his pernicious ideas. His success in turning the hearts of the people was unfortunately quite extensive, and the cause of many of the troubles that afterwards afflicted the Nephites. The individual career of Nehor, however, was short; he met an aged servant of the Lord named Gideon, and because the latter would not accept his dogmas, but withstood him with the words of God, Nehor drew his sword and slew the venerable disciple. For this offense he was brought before Alma, and, being tried by the law of the land, was found guilty and condemned to death.

            Notwithstanding the development of those follies, and departures from the strictness of Gospel law apparently incidental to great worldly prosperity, there was continued peace in the land until the fifth year of Alma's judgeship, when a great division took place among the people, owing to the more corrupt portion wishing to restore the monarchy, and make a man after their own heart, named Amlici, king. The movement grew to so much importance that it was referred to the decision of the whole people, who gathered in large bodies all over the land, and expressed their wishes for or against Amlici's elevation to the throne in the way prescribed by the law. The result was that Amlici's ambitious schemes were defeated by the voice of the majority, and the liberties of the republic were preserved.

            This should have ended the matter, but it did not; the turbulent minority, incited by Amlici, would not accept this constitutional decision. They assembled and crowned their favorite as king of the Nephites, and he at once began to prepare for war, that he might force the rest of the people to assent to his government. Nor was Alma idle; he also made ready for the impending contest. He gathered his people and armed them with all the weapons known to Nephite warfare. The two armies met near a hill called Amnihu, on the east bank of the river Sidon. There a bloody battle followed, in which Amlici's forces were disastrously defeated with a loss of 12,532 men, while the victors had to mourn the loss of 6,562 warriors slain. After pursuing the defeated monarchists as far as he was able, Alma rested his troops in the valley of Gideon. He there took the precaution to send out four officers with their companies to watch the movements and learn the intentions of the retreating foe. These officers were named Zeram, Amnor, Manti and Limher. On the morrow these scouts returned in great haste, and reported that the Amlicites had joined a vast host of Lamanites in the land of Minon, where unitedly they were slaying the Nephite population and ravaging their possessions; at the same time they were pushing rapidly towards the Nephite capital with the intent of capturing it before Alma's army could return. Alma at once headed his troops for Zarahemla, and with all haste marched towards it. He reached the crossing of the Sidon without meeting the enemy, but while attempting to pass to the western bank he was confronted by the allied armies. A terrible battle ensued; the Nephites were taken somewhat at a disadvantage, but being men of faith, they fervently sought Heaven's aid, and in the increased fervor this faith inspired, they advanced to the combat. With Alma at their head, the advance-guard forded the river and broke upon the enemy who stood awaiting them. By the fury of their charge they drove in the ranks of the enemy, and as they pushed onward they cleared the ground by throwing the bodies of their fallen foes into the Sidon, thus making an opening for the main body to obtain a foothold. In this charge Alma met Amlici face to face, and they fought desperately. In the midst of this hand-to-hand combat Alma lifted his heart on high and prayed for renewed strength that he might not be overpowered but live to do more good to his people. His prayers were answered and thereby he gained new vigor to battle with and eventually slay Amlici. Amlici slain, Alma led the attack to where the king of the Lamanites fought. But that monarch retired before the impetuous valor of the high priest and commanded his guards to close in upon his assailant. The order was promptly obeyed but it did not succeed. Alma and his guards bore down upon them with such fury that the few of the monarch's warriors who escaped made a hasty retreat. Pushing steadily on, Alma kept driving the allies before him until his whole army had crossed the Sidon. There the enemy, no longer able to meet his well-ordered advance, broke in all directions and retreated into the wilderness that lay to the north and west. They were hotly pursued by the Nephites as long as the latter's strength permitted and were met on all quarters by patriots rallying to the call of the commonwealth who slew them by thousands. A remnant eventually reached that part of the wildnerness known as Hermounts. There many died of their wounds and were devoured by the wild beasts and vultures with which that region abounded.

            To the Nephites was left the sad task of burying the unnumbered dead, many of whom were women and children who had become victims to the ravages of the foe.

            A few days after this decisive battle, another invading Lamanite army was reported. This one advanced along the east bank of the Sidon. It appears to have been the plan of their military commanders to invade the Nephite territory with two separate armies, both traveling northward toward the city of Zarahemla, but on opposite sides of the Sidon. That advancing on the west side moved the most rapidly, and was met, conquered and dispersed by Alma, while the other afterwards met the same fate at the hands of one of his lieutenants, Alma himself having been too seriously wounded in one of the preceding battles to permit him to lead his troops in person.

            The great losses sustained by the Nephites in war, not of warriors alone, but of women and children, together with the vast amount of their property destroyed had the effect of humbling them and softening their wayward hearts, so that many thousands, during the next few years, were added to the Church by baptism. But the recollection of their former disasters was gradually worn away by time and prosperity. Three years later we find great inequality in the Church—some poor and some rich, the more powerful abusing and oppressing their weaker brethren. This course proved a great stumbling-block to those who were not numbered with the Church, as well as being the cause of much sorrow and ill-feeling among its members. Finding that no man could properly attend to the duties of his many offices, Alma determined to resign the chief judgeship, and devote his entire time to his duties as the earthly head of the Church. Preparatory to his resignation, he selected one of the leading elders, named Nephihah, to be his successor as chief judge. This choice was confirmed by the people. (B. C. 83.)

            The cares of the state having thus been removed from his shoulders, Alma commenced his ministerial labors at Zarahemla, the chief city of the nation, and thence proceeded throughout the land. As often happens in other nations, the capital was the center of pride, vanity, envy, hypocrisy and class distinctions. These evils Alma severely rebuked, at the same time he guided the minds of the people to the contemplation and understanding of the beauties and saving powers of redemption's wondrous plan, whilst he exhorted all to become members of Christ's holy Church. His call was heeded by many; the Church was set in order; the unworthy were disfellowshiped; elders, priests and other officers were ordained to preside and watch over the Saints. This being accomplished, Alma took his journey eastward, across the river Sidon, to the city of Gideon, where he happily found the Church in a prosperous condition. Alma's teachings to this people were full of prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah, which show how clearly he and his faithful fellow servants understood the details of the advent and life of the promised Redeemer. Having established the Church in Gideon, Alma returned to Zarahemla to rest and recruit for a short time before visiting other portions of the land.

            At the commencement of the next year (B. C. 82), Alma turned his face westward. He first visited the land of Melek, where his labors were crowned with abundant blessings. Having satisfied himself with the good that he had accomplished, he "traveled three days' journey on the north of the land of Melek," to a great and corrupt city called Ammonihah. Here he found a godless people, filled with the falsehoods of Nehor, and living in the committal of all manner of abominations without repentance, because they cherished the flattering lie as the foundation of their creed, that all men would be saved. The city was in the hands of a corrupt clique of judges and lawyers, who stirred up sedition, tumult and rioting, that they might make money out of the suits that followed such disturbances. Further than this, they were secretly plotting to overthrow the government, and rob the people of their highly prized liberties. Among such a people Alma labored in vain, no one would listen, none would obey, none offered him rest and food, but scorn and mockery were his reward, and he was spat upon, maltreated and cast out of the city for his pains. Weary in body and sick at heart because of the iniquity of the people, after many fruitless efforts, fervent prayers and long fastings, Alma left the city to seek some other people more worthy of salvation's priceless gifts. He bent his way towards the city of Aaron; but as he journeyed thitherward, an angel of the Lord (that same angel that beforetime had been the agent in his conversion to God,) stood before him and blessed him. He told him to lift up his heart and rejoice, for because of his faithfulness he had great cause to do so. The angel then directed Alma to return to the sin-cursed city he had just left, and proclaim unto its godless citizens the awful message that "Except they repent the Lord will destroy them."

            Speedily the prophet obeyed the angel's words. By another road he drew near the doomed city, which he entered by its south gate. As he passed in he was an hungered, and asked a man whom he met, "Will you give an humble servant of God something to eat?" With joy the man took him to his home and fed, clothed and lodged him. Furthermore, Amulek, for such was his name, told Alma that he also had received a visit from a holy angel, who had informed him of the high priest's coming and directed him to receive him into his house. And Alma blessed Amulek and all his household, and tarried and recruited under the generous hospitality which his home afforded. But his rest was not to be a lengthened one; the people waxed stronger in sin; the cup of their iniquity was nearly full. "Go," came the word of the Lord, "Go forth, and take with thee my servant Amulek, and prophesy unto his people, saying, Repent ye, for thus said the Lord, except ye repent I will visit this people in mine anger; yea, I will not turn my fierce anger away." Filled with the Holy Ghost, these servants of Israel's God went forth and valiantly delivered their terrible message. From place to place they went, raising their Jonah-like cry. The heathen Ninevehites hearkened and repented; the sin-stained Israelites of Ammonihah laughed, scorned, mocked and turned contemptuously away. A few indeed received the word, but that only increased the anger of the majority, who, led and egged on by their still more depraved rulers and teachers, persecuted the prophets and martyred the believers.

            The account given of the teachings of Alma and Amulek, their disputations with Zeezrom and other lawyers and rulers in Ammonihah, is given at length in the Book of Mormon, and, in consequence thereof, we have handed down to us some of the plainest, yet profoundest teachings on the atonement, the resurrection, the powers of the priesthood, etc., that are to be had among mankind. We cannot follow them here through all the varied incidents that led to the final catastrophe. Faithfully the prophets warned Ammonihah of its approaching desolation; scornfully and incredulously the hardened people hurled back their words of warning with defiance. The few that believed, of which the crafty, hair-splitting Zeezrom was the most notable example, were cast out of the city, while Alma and Amulek were bound with strong cords, and, under false accusations of having reviled the laws, they were cast into prison. Having consigned Alma and his companion to a prison cell, the infuriated people hunted up the wives and the little ones of the believers whom they had cast out, with such as had accepted the truth who still remained in the city, and, gathering them in a body, they burned them in one great martyr's fire. Into the flames they also cast the records that contained the holy Scriptures, as though they imagined in their blind fury that they could thereby destroy the truths that were so odious to them. In the refinement of their devilish cruelty they brought Alma and Amulek to the place of martyrdom, that they might be witnesses of the agonies of the suffering innocents, and listen to the crackling and the roaring of the flames. With jeers with mouthings and derisive gestures, they called upon the prophets to rescue their dying converts. Amulek's noble heart was pained beyond endurance; he besought Alma to exercise the power of God that was in them, and to save the victims from the consuming flames. But Alma replied, "The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand, for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto Himself in glory; and He doth suffer that the people may do this thing, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which He shall exercise upon them in His wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them at the last day." Then Amulek said, "Perhaps they will burn us also." To which Alma responded, "Be it according to the will of the Lord. But, behold, our work is not finished; therefore they burn us not."

            When the fire had burned low, and the precious fuel of human bodies and sacred records was consumed the chief judge of the city came to the two prophets as they stood bound, and mocked them. He smote them on the cheek, and sneeringly asked them if they would preach again that his people should be cast into a lake of fire and brimstone, seeing that they had no power to save those who had been burned, neither had God exercised His power in their behalf. But neither answered him a word. Then he smote them again and remanded them to prison.

            After they had been confined three days, they were visited by many judges and lawyers, priests and teachers, after the order of Nehor, who came to exult in the misery of their prisoners. They cross-questioned and badgered them, but neither would reply. They came again the next day, and went through the same performance. They mocked at, they smote, they spat upon the two disciples. They tantalized them with out-rageous and blasphemous questions, such as the nature of their peculiar faith inspired. Patiently and silently all this was borne; day after day was it repeated; harder and harder grew the hearts of the Ammonihahites towards their prisoners; fiercer and stronger grew their hatred. They stripped Alma and Amulek of their clothes, and, when naked, bound them with strong ropes. They withheld food and drink from them, and in various ways they tortured their bodies, and sought to aggravate, tantalize and harrow up their minds. On the 12th day of the tenth month of the tenth year of the Judges (B. C. 82), the chief judge and his followers again went to the prison. According to his usual custom he smote the brethren, saying as he did so, "If ye have the power of God, deliver yourselves from these bonds, and then we will believe that the Lord will destroy this people according to your words." This impious challenge the crowd one by one repeated as they passed by the prophets, and smote them in imitation of their leader. Thus each individual assumed the responsibility of the defiance cast at the Almighty, and virtually said, "Our blood be upon our own heads." The hour of God's power had now come—the challenge had been accepted. The prophets in the majesty of their calling, rose to their feet; they were endowed with the strength of Jehovah; like burned thread the cords that bound them were snapped asunder, and they stood free and unshackled before the terror-stricken mob. To rush from the prison was the first impulse of the God-defying followers of Nehor; in their fear all else was forgotten, some fell to the earth, others, impelled by the mob behind, stumbled and fell over their prostrate bodies, until they became one confused, inextricable mass, blocking each other's way, struggling, yelling, cursing, pleading, fighting; frantically, but vainly, endeavoring to reach the outer gate. At this moment of supreme horror an earthquake rent the prison walls; they trembled, then tottered, then fell on the struggling mass of humanity below, burying in one vast, unconsecrated grave, rulers and judges, lawyers and officers, priests and teachers. Not one was left of all the impious mob, who a few moments before defied Heaven and challenged Jehovah's might. Alma and Amulek stood in the midst of the ruins unhurt. Straightway they left the scene of desolation and went into the city. Here the horrified people fled from them as a herd of goats flee from before two young lions.

            Alma and Amulek, being so commanded, left the doomed city and passed over to the land of Sidom. Here they found the Saints who had been cast out of Ammonihah. To them they told the sad, though glorious story of their martyred kin, and with many words of wisdom and consolation they encouraged them to lives of devotion to Christ. Here also they found Zeezrom, the lawyer, racked in spirit with the recollection of his former infamies, and tortured in body by the heats of a burning fever. At his request the two servants of the Most High visited him. They found he had repented in much tribulation for the past, and that faith had developed in his heart. Alma then exercised the power of his calling. Appealing to Heaven, he cried, "O Lord, our God, have mercy on this man, and heal him according to his faith, which is in Christ." Zeezrom thereupon leaped upon his feet; his fever had left; he was made whole by the grace of God, whilst the people wondered and were astonished at this manifestation of God's goodness. Zeezrom was then baptized by Alma, and became a zealous, faithful advocate of divine law.

            The more complete organization of the Church in Sidom was the next work accomplished by Alma, which, having been satisfactorily attended to, and the proper officers of the priesthood having been ordained and appointed, Alma, accompanied by his faithful friend Amulek, returned to his home in Zarahemla.

            Next year Amonihah was destroyed. Less than four months had elapsed since the two inspired followers of the Lamb left it to its fate, when the Lamanites fell upon it like a whirlwind in its suddenness, and as an avalanche in its utter desolation. For one day the fierce flames consumed the walls and towers of Ammonihah. The great city was no more; the word of the Lord had been fully accomplished; not one of its children remained. A desolation and a desert remained where dogs, vultures and wild beasts struggled for the carcasses of the slain. Having resigned the office of chief judge, Alma no longer led the armies of Nephi. A righteous man named Zoram was their commander. Without delay he gathered his forces, and prepared to meet the invading Lamanites. Knowing that Alma was the mouthpiece of God, he and his two sons went to the high priest, and inquired how the campaign should be conducted. That word was given, its instructions were carried out, victory perched upon the Nephite banners, and the Lamanites, utterly routed, retreated to their own lands, and there was continued peace throughout the continent for three years.

            During this period of peace, Alma and his fellow priesthood preached God's holy word in the power and demonstration of the Spirit, and with much success. Great prosperity came to the Church throughout all the lands of the Nephites. At this happy time "there was no inequality among them, the Lord did pour out His Spirit on all the face of the land," as Alma supposed, to prepare the hearts of His people for the coming of Christ. With this object full in view, he labored and rejoiced, preached, blessed and prophesied, never tiring in his energies, and feeling sorrowful only because of the hard-heartedness and spiritual blindness of some of the people. In one most glorious event he had unspeakable joy: The companions of his youth, the sons of King Mosiah, returned from a fourteen years' mission among the Lamanites, during which time, after many sore trials and great tribulation, they, by the grace of the Father, had brought many thousands of that benighted race to a knowledge of the principles of the everlasting Gospel.

            Alma was traveling south on one of his missionary journeys from the land of Zarahemla to the land of Manti, when he met Ammon and his brethren coming from the land of Nephi. On hearing the story of their mission, he at once returned home with them to Zarahemla. Here the condition of affairs among the Lamanites was rehearsed to the chief judge, who laid the whole subject before the people, so that whatever was done in relation to the Chrsitian Lamanites, might be done by common consent. The Nephites decided to give the land of Jershon (which lay south of the land Bountiful) to these people for an inheritance. With this cheering news Ammon, accompanied by Alma, returned into the southern wilderness, to the place where his people were awaiting the decision of the Nephites. Here they were ministered to and comforted by Alma and others, after which they resumed their march to the land designated for their future abode.

            We pass over the next few years of Alma's life, during which period he was laboring with his usual zeal and devotion, to the latter portion of the seventeenth year of the judges (B. C. 75). It was then that Korihor, the anti-Christ, appeared. His pernicious doctrines savor much of certain classes of modern religious delusion, but his main arguments were directed against the advent and atonement of the Redeemer. From land to land he journeyed among the Nephites, spreading his false theories and notions. But as he claimed that as he taught so he believed, the law could not touch him, for it was strictly forbidden in the Nephite constitution that any one should be punished on account of his belief; freedom of conscience was guaranteed to all. At last, not knowing what to do with him, as he was fomenting dissension and endangering the peace of the community, the local officers sent him to Alma and the chief judge, for them to decide in the matter. When brought before these officers he continued, with great swelling words of blasphemy, to ridicule the holy principles of the Gospel, and to revile the servants of God, falsely accusing them, among other things, of glutting themselves out of the labors of the people. In Alma's answer to this charge we have a pleasing insight into his private life. He said: "Thou knowest that we do not glut ourselves upon the labors of this people, for behold, I have labored, even from the commencement of the reign of the judges until now, with mine own hands for my support, notwithstanding my many travels around about the land to declare the word of God unto my people; and notwithstanding the many labors I have performed in the Church, I have not so much as received even one senine for my labor; neither has any of my brethren, save it were in the judgment seat, and then we have received only according to law for our time."

            Korihor continued to withstand the prophet, until, in compliance with his impious importunities, a sign was given him—a most unwelcome and unexpected sign to him—he was struck dumb by the power of God. He was cast out from the face of society, a wanderer and a vagabond, begging from door to door for bread to sustain life. While thus dragging out a miserable existence, he was run over and trodden to death in a city of the Zoramites.

            The Zoramites were a dangerous body of dissenters, who also taught that there should be no Christ. They deluded themselves with the idea that they were the peculiar objects of Heaven's favor, born to be saved, predestined to eternal glory, while the rest of the world were the rejected: the foreordained damned. This consoling creed, to the corrupt and crime-stained, was rapidly growing and gaining influence at the time of Korihor's death, and became the next object of Alma's ever-watchful care. Accompanied by Amulek, Zeezrom, three of the sons of King Mosiah, and two of his own sons, he went over to the regions inhabited by these apostates. This mission was one of the most important of his life, and, like that to Ammonihah, was but partially succesful. As soon as Alma discovered the gross iniquity of this people, and the peculiarities of their forms of worship, he held a council meeting with his fellow-missionaries, and having prayed fervently to the Lord, "he clapped his hands upon all who were with him. And, behold, as he clapped his hands upon them, they were filled with the Holy Ghost. And after that they did separate themselves one from another; taking no thought for themselves what they should eat, or what they should drink, or what they should put on." And in all these things the Lord provided for them. The missionaries labored diligently; they visited the people in their homes; they preached in their synagogues; they proclaimed the truth in their streets; but the flattering errors of their false faith had so thoroughly taken possession of them that they rejected the truth, and persecuted and even attempted to slay some of Alma's companions. However, this rejection was not universal; a number of the poorer and more humble Zoramites accepted the Divine message, in consequence of which they were shortly after driven from their homes and out of their country by their more numerous, more influential, and also more corrupt fellow-citizens.

            When Alma and his associates had done all the good that seemed to them practicable, they retired to the land of Jershon, where the Ammonites dwelt; thither the believing Zoramites followed when they were expatriated by their fellow-countrymen. In Jershon they were kindly received by its inhabitants and welcomed as brethren. Here Alma again administered to them. Having done this, he and most of his co-laborers returned to Zarahemla.

            Alma was now growing old. Notwithstanding his unceasing efforts and fervent prayers, the Nephites were again backsliding into iniquity. To every Nephite city, and to every Nephite land he went or sent, to revive the Gospel fires in the souls of the inhabitants. But many became offended because of the strictness of the Gospel's laws, which forbade not only sin itself, but the very appearance of sin. As this feeling grew, Alma's heart became exceedingly sorrowful and he mourned the depravity of his people. Like many of the ancient patriarchs, when they felt that their mortal career was drawing to a close, he called his sons to him and gave them his last charge and blessing; speaking to each as the spirit of instruction and prophecy inspired. To Helaman his eldest, he transferred the custody of the sacred plates, with many words of warning and caution regarding them. With hearts strengthened and renewed by the inspiration of his fervent admonitions, his sons went forth among the people; nor could Alma himself rest while there was a soul to save or a wrong to make right. He also went forth once again, in the spirit of his holy calling, and raised his voice in advocacy of the principles of the everlasting Gospel.

            Another bloody war now commenced, one that before its close drew out the whole strength of both Nephite and Lamanite. The youthful, but brilliant and God-fearing Moroni took charge of the armies of Nephi. He, not willing to trust to his own powers, sent for Alma for the Divine word to direct his movements. As was his wont, the high priest was favored with the revelation of Heaven's will, which being conveyed to Moroni, was in faith implicitly followed. We need not enter into the details of the terrible battle that ensued; victory crowned the inspired general's efforts, and with the account of this battle the record of Alma closes.

            It was in the nineteenth year of the Judges (B. C. 73), that Alma took his beloved son, Helaman, and after having discovered through divers questions, the strength and integrity of his faith, he prophesied to him of many important events which should transpire in the distant future, especially with regard to the destruction of the Nephites. This propecy he commanded him to record on the plates, but not to reveal to any one. Alma then blessed Helaman, also his other sons; indeed he blessed all who should stand firm in the truth of Christ from that time forth Shortly after this he departed out of the land of Zarahemla, as if to go to the land of Melek, and was never heard of more. Of his death and burial no men were witnesses. Then the saying went abroad throughout the Church that the Lord had taken him, as He beforetime had taken Moses. This event occurred exactly one hundred years from the time of the elder Alma's birth.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 44

 ALMA, VALLEY OF

            A valley one day's travel north of the City of Helam on the road to Zarahemla. When the people of Alma escaped from the Lamanites in the land of Helam they pitched their tents in this valley and gave unto it this name, because Alma (the elder) was their leader. Here they all—men, women and children—poured out their thanks to God for their deliverance. But they were not permitted to tarry in this valley. The Lord commanded Alma to hasten and depart, for their Lamanite oppressors were pursuing them, but that He would here stop them. After twelve days' journey from this place Alma and his people reached the land of Zarahemla.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 44

 AMALEKI

(Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 44)

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 44

 AMALEKI

            The son of Abinadom and a descendant of Jacob, the son of Lehi. He was one of the custodians of the sacred records of the Nephites, and was born in the days of the first Mosiah, but whether in the land of Nephi or of Zarahemla does not appear. If in Nephi then he transported the plates from that land to Zarahemla in the great migration of the Nephites under Mosiah, and it is quite likely that he did so, for it is he that gives the account of this vast movement. Having no children, at his death he transferred the holy things of which he had charge to King Benjamin. He lived about B. C. 200.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 44 - 45

 AMALEKI

            A descendant of Zarahemla, and one of the brothers of Ammon, the leader of the company of sixteen picked men who, by King Mosiah's permission, visited the land of Lehi-Nephi (B. C. 122) to discover what had become of the company of Nephite colonists who had returned there, under the leadership of Zeniff, during the reign of the first Mosiah, as near as can be told some 75 or 80 years previously. Amaleki, with two other brothers of Ammon (Helem and Hem), was chosen by Ammon, when they approached the city of Lehi-Nephi, to go with him in advance of the rest of the company and find out how matters stood in that region. They were captured by the guards of King Limhi and cast into prison, but were liberated two days afterwards when it was found that they were Nephites.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 45

 AMALEKITES

            A sect of Nephite apostates whose origin is not given. Many of them were after the order of Nehor. Very early in the days of the republic they had affiliated with the Lamanites and with them built a large city, not far from the waters of Mormon, which they called Jerusalem. They were exceedingly crafty and hard-hearted, and in all the ministrations of the sons of Mosiah among them only one was converted. They led in the massacres of the Christian Lamanites or people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi; and in later years the Lamanite generals were in the habit of placing them in high command in their armies, because of their greater force of character, their intense hatred to their former brethren, and their more wicked and murderous disposition. In the sacred record they are generally associated with the Zoramites and Amulonites.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 45

 AMALICKIAH

            A Nephite traitor and apostate in the days of the Republic, and afterwards king of the Lamanites. He was descended from Zoram, the servant of Laban.

            We judge from the conspicuous military ability shown by Amalickiah that his early training was that of a soldier, as no one would be more likely to be chosen by the disaffected monarchists as their leader than a brilliant and ambitious officer in the national army. It appears that in the nineteenth year of the Judges (B. C. 73), one of those frequently ocurring outbreaks in favor of a change in the form of the Nephite government took place. The hallowed glories of Mosiah's reign were still bright in the hearts of many, while others, by ambition led, intrigued for the restoration of the kingly power, that they might find place and profit at the court. The plan for a revolution was laid, the king-men gathered in armed array and Amalickiah was chosen as their general; but they were disappointed, the masses did not join their standard in the expected numbers. On the other hand, Moroni, the Nephite commander, gathered so great a force for the defense of the commonwealth, that retreat was considered the better part of wisdom; but his followers being out-generaled by Moroni, Amalickiah fled to the court of the king of the Lamanites.

            The king received him with much honor. It is altogether probable that the monarch also was of an apostate family. Seven or eight years previously the Christian Lamanites with the king at their head, had been ruthlessly driven from their homes by their unbelieving felow countrymen, led by members of the various Nephite apostate orders, who had taken up their residence amongst the Lamanites. A leader of one of these sects would naturally work his way to the throne when the rightful king and his family sought refuge in the land of Zarahemla. What makes this idea more probable is that Amalickiah afterwards married the widowed queen, a thing he was much more likely to do if she were a fair Nephite, than a darkskinned daughter of Laman. On the first favorable opportunity Amalickiah commenced to rekindle the fires of hatred in the bosoms of the Lamanites toward his former friends. At first he was not successful; the recollection of their recent defeats was too fresh in the memory of the multitude. The king issued a war proclamation, but it was disregarded. Much as his subjects feared the imperial power, they dreaded a renewal of war more. Many gathered to resist the royal mandate. The king, unused to such objections, raised an army to quell the advocates of peace, and placed it under the command of the ambitious Amalickiah.

            The peace-men had chosen an officer named Lehonti for their king and leader, and he had assembled his followers at a mountain called Antipas. Thither Amalickiah marched, but with no intention of provoking a conflict; he was working for the good feelings of the entire Lamanite people. On his arrival he entered into a secret correspondence with Lehonti, in which he agreed to surrender his forces on condition that he should be appointed second in command of the united armies. The plan succeeded. Amalickiah surrendered to Lehonti and assumed the second position. Lehonti now stood in the way of his ambition; it was but a little thing to remove him: he died by slow poison administered by Amalickiah's direction.

            Amalickiah now assumed supreme command, and at the head of his forces marched towards the Lamanite capital. The king, supposing that the approaching hosts had been raised to carry the war into Zarahemla, came out of the royal city to greet and congratulate him. As the monarch drew near he was treacherously slain by some of the creatures of the subtle general, who at the same time raised the hue and cry that the king's own servants were the authors of the vile deed. Amalickiah assumed all the airs of grief, affliction and righteous indignation that he thought would best suit his purpose. He next made apparently desperate, but purposely ineffectual, efforts to capture those who were charged with the crime, and so adroitly did he carry out his schemes, that before long he gained the affections of the queen, whom he married, and was recognized by the Lamanites as their king.

            Amalickiah now cherished the stupendous design of subjugating the Nephites and ruling singly and alone from ocean to ocean. To accomplish this iniquitous purpose, he dispatched emissaries in all directions, whose mission was to stir up the angry passions of the populace against the Nephites. When this base object was sufficiently accomplished, and the deluded people had become clamorous for war, he raised an immense army, armed and equipped with an excellence never before known among the Lamanites. This force he placed under the command of Zoramite officers, and ordered its advance into the western possessions of the Nephites, Ammonihah and Noah.

            This war was a disastrous one to the Lamanites. It failed in all its objects, and cost them many lives. Great was the anger of Amalickiah at this miscarriage of his schemes; he cursed God and swore he would yet drink the blood of Moroni. But it was not until B. C. 67 that he was able to carry out his ambitious projects. He then commenced an invasion of the country of the Nephites with an army which, for equipment and discipline, had never been equalled in the annals of the Lamanites. While other officers commanded in the west and south he personally led the troops intended for the subjugation of the Nephite Atlantic provinces. In this invasion he was eminently successful; for he had chosen a time for his operations when the Nephite commonwealth was rent by internal dissensions, another uprising having taken place in favor of a monarchy. One after another Amalickiah's forces captured the Nephite cities of Moroni, Nephihah, Lehi, Gid, Morianton, Omner, Mulek, and others along the coast, until toward the close of the year he reached the borders of the land Bountiful, driving the forces of the republic before him. At this point he was met by Teancum and a corps of veterans renowned for their courage, skill and discipline. The Lamanite leader endeavored to force his way to the Isthmus, with the intention of occupying the northern continent. In this he was foiled, for the trained valor of Teancum's warriors was too much for that of Amalickiah's half-savage hordes. All day the fight lasted, and at night the worn-out soldiers of the two armies camped close together, the Lamanites on the sea-beach, and the Nephites on the borders of the land Bountiful.

            It was the last night of the old year, according to Nephite reckoning. The great heat and the terrible efforts of the day had overcome both officers and men. The murmur of the Atlantic's waves sounded a soft lullaby in the ears of Amalickiah and his hosts, who, for the first time during the campaign, had suffered a check in their triumphal march. Even Amalickiah slept; but not so with Teancum; he determined by one desperate stroke to put an end to the war; or, if not that, at least to slay the cause of it. Taking one servant with him, he secretly stole out of his own camp into that of the enemy. A death-like silence reigned in both. Cautiously and unobserved he searched out the royal tent. There lay the foe, there lay his guards, all overcome with resistless fatigue. To draw his javelin, thrust it into the king's heart and then flee was but the work of a moment, and so adroitly did he fulfil his purpose that Amalickiah died without a struggle or a cry, and it was not until the morning that his guards discovered that the hosts of Laman were without a head. His warriors then hastily retreated to the fortified city of Mulek.

            Amalickiah was succeeded on the Lamanitish throne by his brother Ammoron, who continued the war with unrelenting vindictiveness.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 49 - 50

 AMALICKIAHITES

            The followers of Amalickiah in his efforts to destroy the Church, to uproot the Nephite commonwealth and establish a monarchy in its stead. Their leader, finding that they were as numerous as those who wished to maintain the republic, and that many of them doubted the justness of their cause, lead those who would follow him towards the land of Nephi, with the intention of joining the Lamanites. Moroni, the general of the Nephites, by rapid marches, reached the wilderness, where he intercepted them in their flight, when Amalickiah and a few others escaped to the Lamanites, while the great majority were taken prisoners and carried back to Zarahemla. The Amalickiahites were then given the opportunity to make covenant to sustain the cause of liberty or be put to death. There were but very few who denied the covenant of freedom. (B. C. 73).

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 50

 AMARON

            A Nephite prophet, son of Omni, and a descendant of Jacob, the younger brother of Nephi. He resided in the land of Nephi, in the third and fourth centuries before Christ. Amaron received the plates of Nephi from his father, and held them from the two hundred and eighty-third to the three hundred and twenty-first year of the Nephite annals, when he transferred them to his brother Chemish. Owing to the increasing wickedness of the Nephite people, the Lord, during Amaron's days, visited them in great judgment, so that the more wicked part were destroyed, but he spared the righteous and delivered them out of the hands of their enemies. Of Amaron's private character the sacred record is silent.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 50

 AMGID

            A king of the Jaradites, of the dynasty that overthrew the reigning monarch in the days of Hearthom. In Amgid's days a descendant of Hearthom named Com, having first drawn away half the kingdom, after a lapse of forty-two years went to war with Amgid for the other half. The war lasted many years and ended in Com obtaining power over the remainder of the kingdom.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 50

 AMINADAB

            A Nephite who, in early life be longed to the Church of God. From it he turned away, went over to the Lamanites and took up his residence in the city of Lehi-Nephi, where he dwelt B. C. 30.

            When the two prophets, Nephi and Lehi, the sons of Helaman, came into the land of Nephi and were there cast into prison, God made use of Aminadab as an instrument in explaining the meaning of the glorious manifestations of His power that then took place. We may therefore infer that Aminadab was not radically a bad man. Whether he was in the prison as an officer, a prisoner, or a stranger led thither by curiosity or by sympathy for the two Nephites, is not explained, but we find him there when the earth shook, when the voice of God was heard from heaven, and the other wonderful and awful manifestations of His presence occurred. Aminadab was apparently the first who was permitted to notice that the faces of the prophets shone with the glory of God, and that they were conversing with angelic beings. To this he drew the attention of the multitude, and when they inquired what these things meant he had faith and intelligence sufficient to explain the situation to them, and to instruct them in what they should do to escape the terrible cloud of darkness that overspread them. Further, he instructed them in the principles of faith in the coming Redeemer and of repentance for past misdeeds. It is not unreasonable to suppose that Aminadab was among those who went forth from the prison bearing joyous testimony to what they had seen and heard, through which testimony thousands were brought to a knowledge of, and obedience to the Gospel, and that Aminadab himself again yielded obedience to its laws and remained faithful thereto to the end.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 51

 AMINADI

            A Nephite, one of the progenitors of the prophet Amulek. We have no record of the time that he lived, but it must have been in the land of Nephi before the Nephites migrated to Zarahemla, as he was at least four generations separated from Amulek. All that is known of him is that he interpreted certain writings written by the finger of God, on the wall of the temple, from which we may conclude that he was a righteous man, probably one holding the holy priesthood.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 51 - 52

 AMLICI

            The first Nephite, in the days of the Judges, who sought to overturn the republic and establish a monarchy (B. C. 86). Amlici's ambition was to be king of the Nephites, but the people having rejected his pretensions by their votes, his followers consecrated him king. He then raised an army to sustain his claims. A battle was fought near the hill Amnihu, on the east of the river Sidon, between his forces and those of the Nephites, commanded by Alma, the younger. The battle was a hotly contested one, in which twelve thousand five hundred and thirty-two Amlicites and six thousand five hundred and sixty-two Nephites were slain. The next day the defeated Amlicites joined a body of invading Lamanites in the land Minon, where they unitedly ravaged the country. Alma's troops followed the invaders and met them at one of the crossings of the river Sidon. Another desperate battle ensued, during which Alma met Amlici in single combat and slew him. Amlici's followers were defeated and most of them fled to a portion of the northwest wilderness, known as Hermounts, where many died and were devoured by wild beasts. Amlici is represented as being a very cunning and worldly-wise man, and as belonging to the order of Nehor.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 52

 AMLICITES

            The followers of Amlici. After their dispersion, and their flight to Hermounts, they are no more referred to by the Nephite historians. In fulfilment of the word of the Lord to Nephi, that those who fought against him and his seed should have a mark put upon them, they marked themselves with red on their foreheads as did the Lamanites, but they did not shave their heads as did that race. Of course they did not realize they were fulfilling prophecy when they thus acted or they would not have done so, as it was not their intention to fulfill the words of those from whom they had seceded.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 52 - 53

 AMMAH

            A Christian Nephite elder who accompanied the four sons of Mosiah (B. C. 91) in their mission to the Lamanites. We first read of him preaching to the inhabitants of the village of Ani-Anti, and when rejected by them he, with Aaron and others, went over to the land of Middoni, where he was cast into prison, and with his fellow-laborers suffered all the indignities and hardships there inflicted upon those devoted servants of God. After many days' imprisonment they were delivered through the instrumentality of Ammon and King Lamoni. When the various missionaries recommenced their labors, the regions in which certain ones labored are stated, but no further mention is made of Ammah or his ministrations; yet there is no doubt but that he continued his faithful labors unto the end of this lengthy and most important mission.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 53

 AMMARON

            was the son of Amos the elder, a descendant of Alma and Nephi. He received the sacred records from his brother Amos, the younger (A. D. 306). Owing to the increasing depravity and vileness of the Nephites, he was constrained by the Holy Ghost to hide up all the sacred things which had been handed down from generation to generation (A. D. 321 ). The place where he hid them is said to have been in the land Antum, in a hill "which shall be called Shim." After he had hidden them up he informed Mormon, then a child ten years old, of what he had done, and placed the buried treasures in his charge. He instructed Mormon to go when he was about twenty-four years old, to the hill where they were hidden and take the plates of Nephi and record thereon what he had observed "concerning the people." The remainder of the records, etc., he was to leave where they were. After this we have no information of Ammaron's life. He must have been a very old man, as his father Amos died 126 years before the time that he buried the sacred engravings.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 53 - 54

 AMMON

            A descendant of Zarahemla, (either his son or grandson), who led a party of sixteen picked men from Zarahemla to Lehi-Nephi in the reign of Mosiah II, in the endeavor to discover what had become of the people of Zeniff. They were unacquainted with the road and wandered for forty days in the wilderness before they reached their destination. Ammon then chose three companions, Amaleki, Helem and Hem, to go forward and reconnoiter. They were discovered by King Limhi and his guards when near the city and cast into prison, being mistaken for the apostate priests of King Noah. After two days they were again brought before the king, when mutual explanations ensued and Ammon to his joy found that he had reached those for whom he was in search. But Limhi's people were in great distress, and in bondage to the Lamanites. The next day Limhi assembled his people at the temple, that they might all hear of the prosperity of their brethren in Zarahemla, at the recital of which they greatly rejoiced. Limhi and his people also wished to make covenant with God by baptism, but there was no one among them authorized to administer this ordinance, and Ammon would not, considering himself an unworthy servant. Their next study was to escape from their Lamanitish task-masters, which they shortly afterwards effected with the aid of Ammon and Gideon; Ammon and his brethren guiding them through the wilderness to the land of Zarahemla (B. C. 112).

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 54

 AMMON

            The most conspicuous of the sons of King Mosiah, and the ruling spirit in the great mission undertaken by them to convert the Lamanites.

            Ammon was born in the land of Zarahemla, probably about 120 B. C. Like his brothers, he was, in early life, headstrong and disobedient, and a persecutor of the Saints. He was brought to an understanding of his perilous position by the intervention of an angel of the Lord, who appeared to a company of young men who were going about molesting the members of the Church of Christ, among whom were Alma, the younger, and Mosiah's four sons. This heavenly manifestation had the effect of entirely changing the course of life of these young men. From this time they bent all the energies of their youth, and the experience of their riper years, to the reparation of the wrongs that they had done, and to the spread of the principles of the Gospel. First, they ministered among the Nephites in the land of Zarahemla, and then determined on the more hazardous task of carrying those same truths to the benighted Lamanites in the land of Nephi. At first there was much opposition to this venture, but Mosiah, their father, having received by revelation assurances of Divine protection, the young men started on their perilous journey (B. C. 91) into the southern wilderness.

            They carried with them their bows and arrows and other weapons, not to wage war, but to kill game for their food in the wilderness. Their journey was a tedious one; they lost their way and almost lost heart, and indeed were on the point of returning when they received Divine assurance of their ultimate success. Nerved by this assurance, and with much fasting and prayer, they continued their wanderings, and before long reached the borders of the Lamanites. Commending themselves to God they there separated, each one trusting to the Lord to guide him to the place where he could best accomplish the purposes of Heaven.

            Ammon entered the Lamanite territory at a land called Ishmael. Here Lamoni was the chief ruler, under his father, who was king of all the Lamanites. Ammon was no sooner discovered than he was taken, bound with cords and conducted into the presence of Lamoni. It was the custom of the Lamanites to so use every Nephite they captured, and it rested with the whim of the king whether the captive be slain, imprisoned or sent out of the country. The king's will and pleasure appear to have been the only law on such matters.

            Through God's grace, Ammon found favor in the eyes of Lamoni, and, learning that it was his desire to reside among the Lamanites, the king offered him one of his daughters to wife. Ammon courteously declined this intended honor and begged to be accepted as one of the king's servants, which arrangement pleased Lamoni, and Ammon was placed in that part of the royal household that had charge of the monarch's flocks and herds. Lamoni was rich in livestock, probably the result of the taxation of the people, but even the king's property was not secure from theft. Maurading bands would watch for his numerous cattle as they approached their watering places. Then with yell and prolonged shout they would stampede the herds and drive away all they could, beyond the reach of the king's servants. These would gather up what few animals, if any, they found, and return to the king in the full expectancy of being made to pay for the loss by the forfeit of their lives. They were seldom disappointed, for Lamoni or some of his predecessors had established a somewhat unique criminal code with regard to stealing the royal cattle. They had adopted the idea that it was easier and cheaper to make the herdsmen responsible for the losses and punish them therefor, than to hunt out and capture the thieves. It had at least one virtue, it prevented collusion between the robbers and the servants; but it produced much dissatisfaction among Lamoni's subjects.

            On the third day of Ammon's service, one of these raids was made on the king's catle as they were being taken to the waters of Sebus, the common watering place. The cattle fled in all directions, and the dispirited servants, with the fear of death before their eyes, sat down and wept instead of attempting to stay them. Ammon perceived that this was his opportunity. He first reasoned with the servants, then encouraged them, and having sufficiently aroused their feelings, he led them in the attempt to head off the flying herds. With much exertion they succeeded. The cattle were all gathered, but the robbers still waited at the watering place to renew the attack when they drew near enough. Ammon perceiving this, placed the servants at various points on the outside of the flocks and he himself went forward to contend with the robbers. Though they were many, he knew he was more powerful than them all, for God was with him. The idea of one man withstanding so many was supremely ridiculous to the robbers. But as one after another fell before his unerring aim, they were astonished, and dreaded him as something more than human. Enraged at the loss of six of their number, they rushed upon him in a body, determined to crush him with their clubs. Ammon, undaunted, drew his sword and awaited the onslaught. Their leader fell dead at his feet, and as one after another raised their clubs, Ammon struck off their arms until none dared to approach him, but instead retreated afar off.

            It was a strange procession that returned to the palace. The fears of the herdsmen had been turned to joy, and they marched in triumph into the presence of the king, with the arms of the robbers as testimonials of the truth of the story of Ammon's prowess. Doubtless they did not diminish the telling points in the narrative; the numbers of the band, the courage and strength of the Nephite, were each dilated upon with the vividness of superstitious imagination. When the king had heard their marvelous story his heart was troubled, and he came to the conclusion that Ammon must be the Great Spirit, of whose existence he had an undefined idea. He trembled at the thought that perhaps this Spirit had come to punish him because of the number of his servants whom he had slain for permitting his cattle to be stolen.

            Notwithstanding his misgivings, Lamoni desired to see Ammon, who, acting as though nothing particular had happened, was preparing the king's horses and chariots, as the servants had been directed. When he entered the royal presence, the king was too much filled with emotion to speak. More than once Ammon called the king's attention to the fact that he stood before him, as he had been requested, and wished to know what were his commands. But he elicited no response. At last, perceiving the monarch's thoughts, he began to question Lamoni regarding sacred things, and afterwards to expound to him the principles of life and salvation. Lamoni listened and believed. He was conscience-stricken, and with all the strength of his new-born faith he humbly begged that the Lord would show that same mercy to him and to his people that he had shown to the Nephites. Overcome with the intensity of his feelings he sank to the earth as in a trance. In this state he was carried to his wife, who, with her children, anxiously watched over him for two days and two nights, awaiting his return to consciousness. There was great diversity of opinion among his retainers as to what troubled the king. Some said the power of the Great Spirit was upon him, others that an evil power possessed him, yet others asserted that he was dead, and with remarkable acuteness of smell affirmed, He stinketh. At the end of this time they had resolved to lay him away in the supulchre, when the queen sent for Ammon and pleaded with him in her husband's behalf. Ammon gave her the joyful assurance: He is not dead, but sleepth in God, and tomorrow he shall rise again. Then he asked, Believest thou this? She answered, I have no witness, save thy word and the word of our servants; nevertheless I believe it shall be according as thou hast said. Then Ammon blessed her, and told her that there had not been such great faith among all the people of the Nephites.

            So the queen lovingly continued her watch by the bedside of her husband until the appointed hour. Lamoni then arose, as Ammon had foretold. His soul was filled with heavenly joy. His first words were of praise to God, his next were blessings on his faithful wife, whose faith he felt or knew. He testified to the coming of the Redeemer, of whose greatness, glory, power, and mercy he had learned while in the spirit. His body was too weak for the realities of eternity that filled his heart. Again he sank, overpowered to the earth, and the same spirit overcame his wife also. Ammon's rejoicing heart swelled within him as he heard and witnesed these things; he fell upon his knees and poured out his soul in praise and thanksgiving, until he also could not contain the brightness of the glory, the completeness of the joy that overwhelmed him. Unconscious of all earthly things he sank beside the royal pair. The same spirit of unmeasured joy then fell upon all present, with the same results. There was but one exception, a Lamanitish woman, named Abish, who had been converted to the Lord many years before, but kept the secret in her own bosom. She comprehended the why and wherefore of this strange scene. She saw the workings of the Almighty through which the untutored minds of the Lamanites could be brought to an understanding of the plan of salvation. From house to house she went, calling the people to witness what had occurred in the palace. They gathered at her call, but as might naturally be expected, their impressions were very conflicting. Some said one thing, some another; some argued for good, some for evil; to some, Ammon was a god, to others, a demon. One man, whose brother was slain at the waters of Sebus, drew his sword and attempted to slay Ammon, but was struck dead by an unseen power before he could carry his rash intent into action. So fierce was the contention, so angry grew the controversy, that Abish, fearing greater trouble, by an inspiration took hold of the hand of the queen, who thereupon arose to her feet. The queen's first thought was of her husband. She took his hand and raised him up, and ere long all who had been reposing in the spirit stood upon their feet. The king, the queen, the servants, all rejoiced with joy unspeakable. They all bore testimony to God's abundant love and goodness, and some declared that holy angels had visited them. Still the contention was not entirely appeased until Lamoni stood forth and explained to them the Divine mysteries of which they were so ignorant. Many believed, others did not, but Ammon had the indescribable happiness of shortly after establishing a church to the Lord in the midst of the people of the land of Ishmael. Ammon's humility, faith and patience were bringing forth their fruit; while his soul gathered faith and strength in the fulfilment of the promises of the great Jehovah in answer to the pleadings of his faithful, loving father.

            When the church was satisfactorily established in the land of Ishmael, Lamoni arranged to pay a visit to his father, the great king in the land of Nephi, to whom he was desirous of introducing Ammon. However, the voice of the Lord warned His servant not to go, but instead thereof to proceed to the land of Middoni, where his brother Aaron and other missionaries were suffering in prison. When Lamoni heard of Ammon's intention, and the cause thereof, he decided to accompany him. He felt that he could be of service in delivering the prisoners, as Antiomno, the king of Middoni, was one of his special friends, and likely to grant any favor he might ask. They accordingly started on their errand of mercy, but on their way were surprised to meet Lamoni's father, who grew exceedingly angry when he found Ammon in the company of his son. All the hatred born and nurtured of false tradition boiled up in his breast. He listened impatiently to Lamoni's story of Ammon's visit and its fruits, and when it was finished he broke out in a torrent of abuse towards the Nephite "son of a liar," as he ungraciously styled him, and ordered Lamoni to slay him. Lamoni at once refused to become the murderer of his most loved friend, whereupon the old monarch, in the blind fury of his anger, turned upon his own son, and would have killed him if Ammon had not interposed. Little used to controversy, much less to direct opposition, the king was not softened by Ammon's interference. Savagely he turned upon him, but youth, strength, dexterity, and above all the protecting care of the Lord, were with Ammon, and he struck the king's sword arm so heavy a blow that it fell useless at his side. Realizing he was now in the power of the man he had so foully abused, he made abundant promises, even to half his kingdom, if his life were spared. This boon Ammon immediately granted, asking only favors for Lamoni and his own imprisoned brethren. The king, unused to such generosity and manly love, granted all his requests, and when he proceeded on his journey, his mind was filled with reflections regarding Ammon's courage and great love for his son. He was also troubled in his heart concerning certain expressions of Ammon on doctrinal points, which opened up ideas that were entirely new to his mind.

            Lamoni and Ammon continued their journey to Middoni, where, by God's grace, they found favor in the eyes of King Antiomno, and by his command the missionaries were released from the horrors of their prison house.

            After his release Aaron, with others, visited the old king. Their visit ended in his conversion, and the issuance of a royal proclamation granting full religious liberty to all dwelling within the borders of his dominions. This was followed by a rebellion of the unconverted Lamanites, egged on by Nephite apostates, resulting in two series of massacres of the Christian Lamanites, who unresistingly fell victims to the rage and hate of their unrepentant fellow countrymen. During this period the old king died and was succeeded by his son Anti-Nephi-Lehi as ruler of the Christian portion of the Lamanites.

            Ammon and his brethren were not willing to have the disciples continually harrassed and eventually exterminated; they judged that the Lord, having so thoroughly tried the faith of this devoted people, would provide some way of escape. Ammon counseled with the king, and it was thought better to forsake their all so far as worldly possessions were concerned, than to remain and sacrifice their lives. But first they would inquire of the Lord. Ammon did so and the Lord said, Get this people out of this land, that they perish not, for Satan has great hold of the hearts of the Amalekites, who do stir up the Lamanites to anger against their brethren to slay them; therefore get thee out of this land; and blessed are the people of this generation, for I will preserve them.

            The word of the Lord thus received was joyfully obeyed. The Ammonites gathered up their flocks and herds and departed into the wilderness that lay between the lands of Nephi and Zarahemla. There they rested while Ammon and his brethren went forward and treated with the Nephites in behalf of the persecuted hosts they had left behind. The people, by united voice, gladly welcomed their co-religionists and set apart the land of Jershon as their inheritance. Thither the Ammonites, with happy feet repaired (B. C. 77), and there Ammon established his home and became their local presiding High Priest.

            In later years we have occasional references to Ammon. In B. C. 75, Korihor, the Anti-Christ, endeavored to intrude his soul-destroying doctrines upon the people of Ammon. But they quickly took him, bound him, and carried him before Ammon, who expelled him beyond the borders of Jershon. Later in that same year he accompanied Alma in his memorable mission to the Zoramites in the land of Antionum, returning to his people in Jershon when that mission was ended. He afterwards accompanied Alma to the land of Zarahemla, after which we lose sight of him, as nothing is said of his further labors or death.

            Ammon was one of the greatest, most lovable characters of Nephite history. Full of zeal, faith, charity, distinteredness and love, yet withal a man of good judgment and great wisdom; he left a broad, bright mark in the history of his people, that lasted until the Messiah came and established more completely the perfect law of the Gospel.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 63

 AMMON, CHILDREN OF

            A people descended from Lot. They are mentioned but once in the Book of Mormon (II Nephi 21:14), in a quotation from the 11th chapter of Isaiah.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 63 - 64

 AMMONITES, or PEOPLE OF AMMON

            The Christian Lamanites or people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi. The name of Ammonites was given to them by the Nephites because Ammon was the chief instrument in their conversion. When they left their homes in the land of Nephi (B. C. 78) they settled, by permission of the Nephites, in the land of Jershon, which was considered a place of security for them, as it lay far to the north of their former homes, and the great body of the Nephite people inhabited the intervening regions. In Jershon, Ammon became their High Priest. About the year B. C. 76, they were visited by the Anti-Christ Korihor, but they gave no heed to his teachings, and he was, by Ammon's direction, removed beyond their borders. In the next year, many of the persecuted Zoramites found refuge in their territory, and for the protection and aid they afforded them they were threatened with war. To avoid being involved in this strife and being compelled to break their oaths of non-resistance, they moved into the land of Melek, and the armies of the Nephites occupied Jershon (B. C. 74). From time to time they received accessions to their numbers from Lamanite prisoners of war and others who preferred to remain with the Nephites. To them also the servants of the king of the Lamanites repaired in the days of Amalickiah when they were falsely charged with his murder. In later years (B. C. 46), numbers of them emigrated to the northern continent. The two thousand young men who fought so valiantly under Helaman (B. C. 65), in the lengthened war commenced by Amalickiah, were of this people. In process of time they became absorbed into the Nephite race.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 64

 AMMONIHAH

            The founder of the City of Ammonihah. We have no particulars of his life.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 64

 HAH, CITY OF

            A western city of the Nephites, situated in the same region as the cities of Melek, Noah, and Aaron. It was inhabited almost exclusively by the followers of Nehor, and was notorious for the wickedness of its inhabitants. In the year B. C. 82 it was visited by Alma, but his words were rejected. He left the city to minister elsewhere, but was commanded by an angel to return, which he did, and was entertained by one of its prominent citizens named Amulek. These two together proclaimed to the people of Ammonihah the word of the Lord and the terrible penalty that would follow its rejection. Their words were scorned, their warning ridiculed, and they were cast into prison, while the few that had believed were either driven out of the city, or burned at the stake. Alma and Amulek were ultimately delivered by the power of God, when the prison in which they were confined was destroyed by an earthquake, and all except themselves, who were therein, were killed. The two prophets then left the city. Next year, in accordance with the words of Alma, the Lamanites suddenly attacked and utterly destroyed the city by fire. All its people—babe and grandsire, matron and maid—were burned, as they had previously martyred those who believed in the Gospel message delivered by Alma and Amulek. Zeezrom, the lawyer, was a citizen of Ammonihah. After the place where Ammonihah stood had lain desolate for a number of years it was rebuilt and strongly fortified. In B. C. 73 the armies of the Lamanites came against it, but finding how strongly Moroni had fortified it, they retired without making an attack.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 64 - 65

 AMMONIHAH, LAND OF

            The country immediately surrounding the city of the same name. It lay between the river Sidon and the Pacific Ocean, but exactly where cannot be determined. It was called after a man named Ammonihah, who was the founder of the city. In the same region were Melek, Noah, and Aaron, and the great western wilderness. When Alma had made the three days' journey spoken of under head of Melek, he reached Ammonihah. From the text of the passage some conclude that Alma traveled northward from Melek, but to us it conveys the idea that the prophet journed three days westward along or near the northern boundary of that land. We are confirmed in this opinion by the statement made in another place regarding Ammonihah's proximity to that portion of the wilderness which ran along the sea shore (Alma xxii:27). In Alma (xvi:2), it is stated: The armies of the Lamanites had come in upon the wilderness side, into the borders of the land, even in to the city of Ammonihah. If Ammonihah had been situated three days' journey north of Melek, we suggest that it could not have been near that portion of the wilderness which the Lamanites so easily reached without discovery; for a march due north would have taken them close to, or actually through the lands of Minon, Noah, Melek and Zarahemla, the most thickly populated portions of the country; or, to have avoided these, they must have taken a circuitous route of immense length and great danger. Then, when they attempted to retire, their retreat, owing to their great distance from Nephi, would have most assuredly been cut off, as was the case with the Lamanite general Coriantumr under these conditions.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 65

 AMMONIHAHITES

            The people inhabiting the land and city of Ammonihah. They were utterly destroyed with their city by the invading hosts of the Lamanites (B. C. 82), in fulfilment of the word of the Lord through Alma and Amulek.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 65 - 66

 AMMORON

            A Nephite traitor and apostate. He was a descendant of Zoram, the servant of Laban, and the brother of Amalickiah, whom he succeeded on the Lamanite throne, (B. C. 66). He was slain by Teancum, the Nephite general, in the city of Moroni, and was succeeded by his son Tubaloth (B. C. 61).

            Ammoron is not mentioned until the death of his brother; then we are told he left the land of Zarahemla, repaired to the land of Nephi, informed the widowed queen of her loss, and gathered a vast host of men to continue the war, especially on the western border. He determined to carry on hostilities with unabated vigor, for a time taking personal command in the west; but he does not appear to have possessed the military skill and genius of his brother, for during his reign the Nephites reconquered nearly all the territory and recaptured nearly all the cities that had been wrested from them by Amalickiah. Later on in the war, when the Lamanite invaders on the east coast had all been driven to the land of Moroni, Ammoron was with them, and it was in the city of that name that he was slain with a javelin by Teancum. Ammoron is brought most prominently before the reader of the Book of Mormon through the insertion of the correspondence that passed between him and Moroni regarding an exchange of prisoners of war. In this correspondence his character is very clearly shown, (Alma, chap. 54).

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 66

 AMNIGADDAH

            A Jaredite king, the son of Aaron, and the father of Coriantum. His father, himself and his son were kept prisoners all their lives by the dynasty that had usurped the throne. In his grandson Com's days, the kingdom was recovered.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 66

 AMNIHU

            A hill on the east of the river Sidon, near which a desperate battle was fought (B. C. 87), between the Nephites and Amlicites, in which more than 19,000 warriors were slain. The Nephites, who were commanded by Alma, were the victors.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 66 - 67

 AMNOR

            A Nephite captain, who, with others, was sent out by Alma to watch the Amlicites after the battle at Amnihu. Next day, they returned and reported that the Amlicites had joined an invading host of Lamanites, and that together they were hastening towards Zarahemla, and ravaging the country (Minon) through which they passed (B. C. 87).

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 67

 AMORON

            A Nephite military officer or messenger, who conveyed to Mormon the tidings of the horrible atrocities committed by the Lamanites on the Nephite prisoners—men, women, and children—captured by them in the tower of Sherrizah. This event took place about the middle of the fourth century after Christ. Amoron's name is mentioned but once, in Mormon's second epistle to his son Moroni.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 67

 AMOS, THE ELDER

            Amos was the son of Nephi, the son of Nephi the Apostle. For eighty-four years (from A. C. 110 to A. D. 194) he was the custodian of the sacred records and the other holy things. He lived in the days of the Nephites' greatest prosperity and happiness. The perfect law of righteousness was still their only guide. But before he passed away to his heavenly home, a small cloud had appeared upon the horizon, fatal harbinger of the approaching devastating hurricane. A few, weary of the uninterrupted bliss, the perfect harmony, the universal love that everywhere prevailed, seceded from the Church and took upon them the name of Lamanites, which ill-boding name had only been known to the Nephites by tradition for more than a hundred years.

            There is one thing very noteworthy with regard to the descendants of Alma at this period, it is their longevity. Amos and his two sons (Amos and Ammaron) kept the records for the space of two hundred and ten years. This is a testimony to all believers in the Book of Mormon, to the highly beneficial results arising to the body as well as to the soul of every one who gives undeviating, continued obedience to the laws of God.

            No people since the deluge, of whom we have any record, lived nearer to the Lord than did the Nephites of this generation; no people have had the average of their earthly life so marvelously prolonged.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 68

 AMOS, THE YOUNGER

            Amos was the son of the elder Amos, and his succesor in the custody of the "holy things." So great was his vitality, and so strong was the constitution implanted in him by the virtuous lives of his progenitors, together with is own life of harmony with God's laws, that he retained this sacred trust for the unexampled period of one hundred and twelve years, or from A. C. 194 to A. C. 306, when he placed them in the hands of his brother Ammaron.

            Amos was a righteous man, but he lived to witness an ever-increasing flood of iniquity break over the land, a phase of evil-doing that arose not from ignorance and false tradition, but from direct and wilful rebellion against God, and apostasy from His laws. In the year A. C. 201, all the second generation, after the appearance of the Redeemer, had passed away, save a few; the people had greatly multiplied and spread over the face of the lands, north and south, and they had become exceedingly rich; they wore costly apparel, which they adorned with ornaments of gold and silver, pearls and precious stones. From this date they no more had their property in common, but, like the rest of the world, every man sought gain, wealth, power and influence for himself and his own. All the old evils arising from selfishness were revived. Soon they began to build churches after their own fashion, and hire preachers who pandered to their lusts, some even began to deny the Savior.

            From A. D. 210 to A. D. 230 the people waxed greatly in iniquity and impurity of life. Different dissenting sects multiplied, infidels abounded. The three remaining disciples were sorely persecuted, notwithstanding that they performed many mighty miracles.

            Not only did the wicked persecute these three undying ones, but others of God's people suffered from their unhallowed anger and bitter hatred; but the faithful neither reviled at the reviler nor smote the smiter; they bore these things with patience and fortitude, remembering the pains of their Redeemer.

            In the year A. D. 231 there was a great division among the people. The old party lines were again definitely marked. Again the old animosity assumed shape, and Nephite and Lamanite once more became implacable foes. Those who rejected and renounced the Gospel assumed the latter name, and with their eyes open, and a full knowledge of their inexcusable infamy, they taught their children the same base falsehoods that in ages past had caused the undying hatred that reigned in the hearts of the children of Laman and Lemuel towards the seed of their younger brothers. By A. D. 244 the more wicked portion of the people had become exceedingly strong, as well as far more numerous than the righteous. They deluded themselves by building all sorts of churches, with creeds to suit the increasing depravity of the masses.

            When 260 years had passed away, the Gadianton bands, with all their secret signs and abominations (through the cunning of Satan) again appeared and increased until, in A. D. 300, they had spread all over the land. By this time, also, the Nephites, having gradually forsaken their first love, had so far sunk in the abyss of iniquity that they had grown as wicked, as proud, as corrupt, as vile, as the Lamanites. All were submerged in one overwhelming flood of infamy, "and there were none that were righteous, save it were the disciples of Jesus."

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 69

 AMOS

            The father of Isaiah, the prophet. He is mentioned twice by Nephi in quotations from Isaiah. (II Nephi 12:1 II Nephi  23:1.)

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 69 - 70

 AMULEK

            A Nephite prophet, son of Giddonah, who was the son of Ishmael, who was a descendant of Aminadi, a descendant of Nephi. Among the cities built by the Nephites in the northern part of South America was one named Ammonihah, which was situated near the land of Melek, which land lay on the west side of the river Sidon. In this city, eighty-two years before the coming of Christ, dwelt a Nephite named Amulek. He was a man of wealth and importance, and was blessed with many relatives. One day, in the latter half of the year, as he was journeying to see a very near relation, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him and told him to return to his home, for he had to feed a holy prophet of God who was exceeding hungry, he having fasted many days on account of the sins of the people of Ammonihah.

            This man of God, of whom the angel spoke, was Alma, the younger, the presiding High Priest of the Church of Christ. For some time past he had been laboring in the midst of the dwellers in Ammonihah, but they had hardened their hearts against God's word and had cast the prophet out of their city. Sad at heart and bowed down with sorrow, Alma journeyed from that city, but on his way a holy angel met him and with words of encouragement bade him return. Alma was not a man to dally in keeping the word of the Lord. He at once retraced his steps and entered Ammonihah by its south gate. When not far from its portals he was addressed by Amulek, who recognized him as the man of whom the angel had spoken, and took him to his house and nourished him for many days. After a time Alma, accompanied by Amulek, recommenced preaching the principles of life and holiness, but in the meantime the citizens of Ammonihah had grown even more wicked than they were before. No sooner did these brethren raise their voices in their midst than they sought their destruction. They mocked, they ridiculed, they cross-questioned them, they perverted the meaning of their words and cried out that they reviled against their laws that were just and their judges whom they had chosen. But by the spirit of the Lord, Alma and Amulek made bare their evil intentions and severely rebuked their iniquity.

            Ammonihah at that time was cursed with an abundance of lawyers, who were very expert in the crooked ways of their profession. Among them was a man, whose name was Zeezrom, who, on account of his greater keenness, had a large practice, and especially made himself conspicuous in badgering and seeking to discomfort these two servants of God. But Alma and Amulek, by the power of the Lord, made his lying and perversion of their words manifest to all, to such an extent that Zeezrom himself felt the power of their words and began to tremble exceedingly. Many of the people also began to believe and to repent, but the greater portion thereof, filled with rage because their sins were laid bare with such unsparing hands, bound Alma and his companion and hurried them before the chief justice and with many falsehoods accused them of having reviled their laws, their judges and, indeed, the whole people. Zeezrom, now conscious of the evil he had done, vainly pleaded their cause, but the rabble turned upon him also, and with many indignities cast him and others in whose hearts the germ of faith was planted out of the city, and with stones strove to kill them.

            Then followed a scene of horror which in after years had its counterpart in Rome and Smithfield. The infuriated mob, lost to all pity and humanity, dragged the wives and little children of those who had had the gospel preached to them, and in one great fire burned them to death. Not content with this, in savage spite, they took the copies of the Scriptures and hurled them into the flames and burned them also. To add to the refinement of their cruelty they dragged Amulek and his friend from prison, and compelled them to witness the torture of the martyrs who had received the gospel through their instrumentality. Among that throng of cruelly suffering men, women and children we have no record that one flinched or denied the Savior, in whose cause they passed away to a glorious resurrection.

            Amulek was exceedingly pained at the horrors of this awful scene and pleaded with Alma that they should exercise the power of God that was in them and save the innocent from their tortures. But Alma would not permit it, saying that the Spirit constrained him, for the Lord received those martyrs to himself in glory.

            Now it came to pass that while Alma and Amulek were thus bound, the chief judge came and smote them on the face, and jeered at them for not having delivered the martyrs from the flames; when he had finished he again consigned the prophets to prison. These indignities were repeated day after day, not only by the chief judge but by many others; added to which they treated the prisoners with great cruelty; they kept them without food and water that they might hunger and thirst, and stripped them of their clothes and bound them naked in their prison. This continued for some time, until one day the chief judge with many others came and smote the brethren as before, with mocking and ridicule. Then the power of God came upon Alma and Amulek and they rose to their feet and broke the bands that bound them, and cried mightily to the Lord, while their persecutors were stricken with terror. These latter, frantic with fear, attempted to flee from the presence of the prophets, and in their haste fell one upon another and blocked up the way of escape. At this moment of terror an earthquake rent the prison walls, which swayed and fell in a crumbling, suffocating, crushing mass upon the unholy throng within. Not one escaped; Alma and Amulek alone were preserved in the midst of this awful manifestation of the power of the Almighty.

            The citizens, hearing the noise, rushed in crowds to learn of the disaster, but when they saw the ruined heaps of the prison, with the brethren in safety and confronting them, they fled like a flock of frightened sheep before two young lions. Still they would not permit the prophets to remain in their midst. So the latter left and went over into the land of Sidom.

            Such crimes as these could not go unpunished by Divine justice. Ammonihah soon felt the force of the wrath of God. It was besieged, captured and made desolate by the armies of the Lamanites, and the very same men who rejoiced in the sufferings of the martyred saints felt the same horrors fall with tenfold fury on their own heads and those of their wives and little ones, for of the horrors of the spoiling of that city we have few counterparts in history.

            In the land of Sidom, Alma and Amulek found the saints who had been cast out of Ammonihah. Zeezrom, the lawyer, was also there, sorely sick of a fever, brought on by the anguish of his mind on account of his great sins. While prostrate on his bed, the prophets visited him, comforted him, and having received a confession of his faith in Christ, administered to him, when he was immediately healed. Alma then baptized him, and from that time forth he became a zealous servant of that God whom he had beforetime so often denied and blasphemed.

            After Alma had established a prosperous church in the land of Sidom he took Amulek, who had given up all for the Gospel's sake, to the land of Zarahemla. There Amulek dwelt with Alma, assisting him in his labors and ministry. The Lord abundantly blessed their efforts, and the Book of Mormon informs us that they imparted the word of God, without any respect of persons, to the people continually; and there was no inequality among them, and the Lord did pour out His Spirit on all of the land that they might enter into His rest.

            Amulek seemed to have henceforth devoted his entire life to the preaching of the gospel. We next hear of him (B. C. 75) being in the land of Melek with Zeezrom, whence Alma took them and other brethren to preach to the Zoramites, a body of Nephite dissenters or apostates who laid inordinate stress upon the idea of their predestination to salvation. Here Amulek preached with great zeal and faith, as did the other Elders, resulting in the repentance of many, who, by their more hardened fellow countrymen, were cruelly persecuted and driven into the land of Jershon, whose inhabitants received them with great kindness and ministered to their wants. Here Alma and his fellow laborers still further instructed them in the principles of eternal life. The wicked Zoramites were highly incensed at the kindness shown to their persecuted brethren by the noble-hearted people of Ammon, and made it a pretext for commencing a war of extermination. This war commenced about eight years after the expulsion of Amulek from Ammonihah.

            Amulek has the honor of having some of his sermons handed down to us in detail in the Book of Mormon. From them we judge him to have been a man of liberal education, of great faith, of unswerving integrity and untiring zeal for the truth. He was, from the glimpses of his private life that we glean as we pass along, a man of tender and affectionate disposition, exceedingly fond of his home and family, yet these and all else he readily and joyfully gave up for the riches and happiness of the Gospel of the Son of God. Of his later ministry and death we are not informed, as the Book of Mormon changes from the history of the labors of the servants of God to an account of the terrible wars between the Nephites and Lamanites, which immediately afterwards deluged the land with blood.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 74 - 75

 AMULON

            One of the most prominent of the degraded priests of King Noah. He undoubtedly took an active part in the martyrdom of the Prophet Abinadi, though not mentioned by name. (About B. C. 150). When King Noah was burned to death by his enraged subjects, they would have killed his priests also, but the latter fled before them into the depths of the wilderness. Here the priests hid for a lengthened period, both afraid and ashamed to return to their families. In this dilemma, being without wives, they surprised and carried off a number of Lamanite maidens, who had gathered to a much-frequented spot in the land of Shemlon, on mirth and pleasure intent. This act led to a war between the Lamanites and the Nephites in the land of Lehi-Nephi, which was soon put to an end when the trouble was understood. Amulon and his associates with their Lamanite wives settled in and commenced to cultivate the land of Amulon. There they were discovered by the Lamanite soldiery who were searching for the people of Limhi, but as they plead most abjectly for mercy, in which petitions they were joined by their Lamanite companions, the Lamanites had compassion on them and did not destroy them, because of their wives (B. C. 121). Amulon and his brethren then joined the Lamanites, and soon after the king made Amulon the ruler, under his supreme authority, of the lands of Amulon and Helam. By this appointment Amulon and his associates became the overseers of the people of Alma, and right brutally did they use their authority in oppressing the people of God, until the day that the Lord delivered them. Amulon and his brethren were also made teachers and educators of the Lamanites by King Laman. These expriests instructed the people in the learning of the Nephites, but they taught them nothing concerning the Lord or the law of Moses. Of Amulon's death we have no record.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 75

 AMULON, LAND OF

            A portion of the great wilderness lying between the lands of Zarahemla and Nephi, settled by Amulon and his associate priests of Noah. Amulon was made its tributary ruler by the reigning monarch of the Lamanites, whose sovereignty he was compelled to acknowledge. This land afterwards became a stronghold for Nephite apostates. (See Alma, chapter 24:1.)

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 75 - 76

 AMULONITES

            The descendants of Amulon and his associates, the corrupt priests of King Noah. They were Nephites on their father's side and Lamanites on their mothers', but by association and education were of the latter race. Many of them, however, were displeased with the conduct of their fathers, and took upon them the name of Nephites, and were considered among that people ever after. Of those who remained Amulonites, many became followers of Nehor, and were scattered in the lands of Amulon, Helam and Jerusalem, all of which appear to have been limited districts in the same region of country. In later years the sons of Mosiah and their fellow-missionaries preached to them, but not one repented and received the gospel message; on the contrary, they became leaders in the persecutions carried on against the suffering people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi, and were those who, with the Amalekites, slew the greater number of that unoffending people who suffered martyrdom. In the succeeding war with the Nephites (B. C. 81), when Ammonihah was destroyed, nearly all the Amulonites were killed in the battle in which Zoram, the Nephite general, defeated the Lamanites. The remainder of the Amulonites fled into the east wilderness, where they usurped power over the people of Laman, and in their bitter hatred to the truth caused many of the latter to be burned to death because of their belief in the Gospel. These outrages aroused the Lamanites and they in turn began to hunt the Amulonites and to put them to death. This was in fulfilment of the words of Abinadi, who, as he suffered martyrdom by fire at the hands of Amulon and his associates, told them, What ye shall do unto me, shall be a type of things to come, by which he meant that many should suffer death by fire as he had suffered.

            "And he said unto the priests of Noah, that their seed should cause many to be put to death, in the like manner as he was, and that they should be scattered abroad and slain, even as a sheep having no shepherd is driven and slain by wild beasts; and now behold, these words were verified, for they were driven by the Lamanites, and they were hunted, and they were smitten." (Alma chap. 25.)

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 77

 ANATHOTH

            A priest's city, belonging to the tribe of Benjamin, supposed to have been situated about three miles north of Jerusalem. It is only mentioned in the Book of Mormon ( II Nephi 20:30) in a quotation from the prophet Isaiah.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 77

 ANGOLA

            A city occupied by the Nephites under Mormon (A. D. 327-8), when retreating before the forces of the Lamanites. The Nephites made vigorous efforts to fortify it, but did not suceed in preventing its capture by the Lamanites. It is only once mentioned in the Book of Mormon and appears to have been situated near the northern extremity of the Southern Continent.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 77

 ANI-ANTI

            A Lamanite village in the land of Nephi, in which Aaron, Muloki, Ammah and others proclaimed the gospel; but the people hardened their hearts, and after considerable preaching the missionaries departed into the land of Middoni (B. C. 87).

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 77

 ANIMALS

            The animals named in the Book of Mormon are: the Ass, Bear, Bull, Calf, Cow, Dog, Elephant, Goat, Horse, Kid, Lamb, Lion, Mole, Sheep, Sow, Swine, Whale, Wolf. Also the Curelum and Cumom. Many of these are only mentioned in quotations from the Bible.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 77 - 78

 ANTI-NEPHI-LEHI

            The name given by the king of the Lamanites to his son, who succeeded him on the throne, he being also chief of that portion of his race who had become Christians (B. C. 83). He was a brother of Lamoni. The Christian Lamanites became known as the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi, but when they removed to the lands of the Nephites they were called Ammonites. The unrepentant Lamanites, especially those who were Nephite apostates or their seed, would not recognize the rule of Anti-Nephi-Lehi, but rebelled against him. As the Christian portion of the race would not contend with them, they carried out their rebellious designs and also massacred thousands of the original Lamanites, until, to avoid extinction, the believers in Christ removed in a body to that portion of the land of Zarahemla called Jershon. From this era it would appear that the Nephite apostates and their descendants controlled affairs among the Lamanites. Whether the king, who was slain (B. C. 73) by Amalickiah's men, was of Nephite blood does not appear, though it is presumable that he was, but his three successors—Amalickiah, Ammoron and Tubaloth—unquestionably were. Anti-Nephi-Lehi, if alive, as we have every reason to suppose he was, doubtless accompanied his people to the land of Jershon.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 78

 ANTI-NEPHI-LEHI, PEOPLE OF

            See Anti-Nephi-Lehi, Ammon, Ammonites.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 78

 ANTI-NEPHI-LEHIES

            A name given to the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi, but they are better known as Ammonites, or the people of Ammon, in honor of the son of King Mosiah II, who was the leading spirit in converting them to the truth.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 78 - 79

 ANTIOMNO

            A king of the Lamanites who reigned over the land of Middoni, in the early part of the first century before Christ. It was in his realm that Aaron, the son of Mosiah, and some of his fellow missionaries were imprisoned for many days, and afterwards delivered through the intercession of Ammon and King Lamoni. Antiomno is not again mentioned by name, but as we are informed that among the thousands of the Lamanites converted to the Lord, by the preaching of the sons of Mosiah, were they "who were in the land of Middoni," it is quite probable that their king was also numbered among the converted. Before the coming of Aaron and his associates into their midst the people of Middoni were a hard-hearted and stiff-necked race, and it would be doing no violence to the law of the probabilities to imagine that the character of the king was similar to that of his subjects; at any rate he permitted his Nephite prisoners to be treated with much cruelty.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 79

 ANTIONAH

            A chief ruler among the people of the city of Ammonihah. His inquiry regarding the resurrection, and the immortality of the soul afforded Alma an opportunity to explain these and other vital principles of the everlasting Gospel. From the manner in which the question is put, we judge that Antionah was, like the majority of the people in Ammonihah, a corrupt man (and the probabilities are that he would not have been elected to that position if he had not been), or at the least very ignorant of the teachings of the servants of God. Whether he repented at Alma's preaching or was destroyed with the unrepentant is not made clear. (B. C. 82).

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 79

 ANTIONUM

            A Nephite general who commanded a division of 10,000 men at the battle of Cumorah (A. D. 385). He and his whole command perished.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 79

 ANTIONUM, LAND OF

            A district of country east of the Sidon, inhabited by the Zoramites (B. C. 75). Thither Alma and his brethren repaired to convince them of their errors. The mission was not altogether successful. Those who believed were driven out of the land and found a refuge among the Ammonites in Jershon. The unconverted Zoramites joined the Lamanites, who, the next year, occupied Antionum with an army in Jershon. The Lamanites did not consider themselves equal to attacking the Nephites, and changed the plan of their campaign. They retired from Antionum into the wilderness, with the intention of invading Manti, in which purpose they were thwarted by Moroni and disastrously defeated by his troops. This land appears to have been of considerable extent, stretching from the great southern wilderness to Jershon on the north; the land of Zarahemla formed its western border, while on the east it extended indefinitely into the great eastern wilderness.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 80

 ANTIPARAH

            A Nephite city on the southwest border, not far from the Pacific Ocean, which fell into the hands of the Lamanites in the long war inaugurated by Amalickiah. They stationed a powerful garrison there; but afterwards evacuated it to strengthen other Nephite cities which they had captured (B. C. 64). In after years it undoubtedly again fell into the hands of the Lamanites, as at the time of their invasion of the land of Zarahemla, (B. C. 35).

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 80

 ANTIPAS, MOUNT

            A mountain, locality uncertain, but somewhere within the borders of the Lamanites. It was chosen by Lehonti and those who refused to heed the Lamanite king's war proclamation, as their place of rendezvous. They gathered to its summit; Amalickiah, by the king's command, followed with an army to compel their obedience. This army was treacherously surrendered by Amalickiah to Lehonti, and the latter took command of both armies. He was soon after killed by slow poison, administered to him by Amalickiah's command, when the last named succeeded to his position (B. C. 73).

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 80

 ANTIPUS

            The commander of the Nephite forces in the extreme southwest, during the war with Amalickiah and Ammoron. He fought stubbornly for several years, against great odds, and was at last slain in battle with the Lamanites, in the wilderness north of the city of Judea (B. C.65. See Helaman.)

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 80 - 81

 ANTUM

            A land of North America in which was situated a hill called Shim. In this hill Ammaron deposited the sacred records (A. C. 321). Mormon afterwards, by Ammaron's direction, obtained the plates of Nephi from this hiding place and continued the record thereon. On account of his fear that the Lamanites might possess themselves of the records, Mormon, at a later period, removed them all to the Hill Cumorah. The land of Jashon appears to have bordered on the land of Antum; as the city of Jashon is said to have been near the land where Ammaron deposited the records.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 81

 ARABIAN

            A native of Arabia, in Asia. The name is only used once in the Book of Mormon (II Nephi 23:20) in a quotation from Isaiah.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 81

 ARCHEANTUS

            A Nephite officer of rank in the army commanded by Mormon. He was killed in a "sore battle" fought with the Lamanites (probably towards the middle of the fourth century of the Christian era) in which the latter were victorious. He is spoken of by Mormon in his second epistle to his son, in connection with a great number of "choice men" lost in the same disastrous battle.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 81

 ARPAD

            A city or district in Syria, apparently dependent on Damascus. It is mentioned but once in the Book of Mormon (Nephi 20:9) in a quotation from the prophecies of Isaiah.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 81

 ASSYRIA

            A great and powerful country in western Asia, whose capital was Nineveh. It derived its name apparently from Asshur, the son of Shem. It is mentioned by Nephi eight times, but always in quotations from Isaiah.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 81

 ASSYRIANS

            The people of Assyria. The name is used by Nephi in three quotations from the prophet Isaiah.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 81

 BABYLON

(Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 81)