|
Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
150 - 151 JACOB The elder
of the two sons born to Lehi and Sariah (say between B. C. 599 and 595) while
they were traveling in the Arabian wilderness He was a mighty man of God, and,
apparently, next to Nephi, the greatest and most devoted of all the sons of
Lehi. When the little colony divided after the death of their patriarch, Jacob,
who was yet young, followed Nephi, and was ordained by him a priest to the
people. Undoubtedly he received the higher priesthood, or he could not have
acted in the rites of the lesser priesthood, he being of the tribe of Manasseh,
and not of Levi. He magnified this calling with much zeal and prudence, and
Nephi records, at considerable length, extracts from his teachings. When Nephi
died, Jacob appears to have taken charge of the spiritual concerns of the people,
and to have presided over the church; he also became the custodian of the
sacred treasures. He received many revelations, and was blessed with the spirit
of prophecy. So great was his faith that he could command, in the name of
Jesus, and the trees, the mountains, and the waves of the sea obeyed his word.
For all this, some of the Nephites of his day were not strong in the Lord. They
gave way to the spirit of greed and lust, and had to be sharply reproved by the
word of the Lord through Jacob. In his day also the first anti-Christ, Sharem,
appeared, a type of many who came after. But this presumptuous imposter was
stricken by the power of God, and paid the penalty of his folly with his life,
and Jacob had reason to rejoice in the eradication of his heresies, and the
return of the Nephites to sound doctrine. Jacob lived to a good old age. We
have no account of the time or circumstances of his death, but before he passed
away he gave the sacred records into the keeping of his son Enos. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
151 - 152 JACOB A Nephite
apostate of the Zoramite sect. He joined the Lamanites in the war inaugurated
by Amalickiah, and was placed in command of the city of Mulek, the most
northern of the Nephite cities, on the Atlantic coast, captured by the
Lamanites. It was a key to the surrounding country. While it remained in
Lamanite possession, it was very little use for Moroni, the Nephite
commander-in-chief, to attempt to carry the place by assault. Such an effort
was not even made to recover the cities along the east sea, yet farther south.
The Nephite generals did not consider themselves justified in making an attempt
to carry the place by assault. Such an effort would have cost too many noble
lives, and probably have proved unsuccessful. Moroni had with him at this time
two of his most trusted lieutenants, Lehi and Teancum, both of whom were little
inferior to the chief captain in wisdom and valor. At a council of war it was
determined to attempt the capture of Mulek by strategy. They had already sent
embassies to Jacob, desiring him to bring his armies into the open plain to
meet the Nephites in battle, but the Lamanite commanders were too well
acquainted with the discipline and courage of the Nephite forces to take such a
risk. There was, therefore, but one plan left, other than to patiently sit down
before the city and reduce it by a regular siege, and that was to decoy a
portion of its defenders beyond the protection of its walls, and when it was
thus weakened, to carry it by storm. Moroni determined on this course. (B. C.
64.) By command
of Moroni, the gallant Teancum, with a small force, marched along the sea shore
to the neighborhood of Mulek; while Moroni, with the main body of the army,
unperceived by the enemy, made a forced march by night into the wilderness
which lay on the west of the city. There he rested. Lehi, with a third corps,
remained in the city of Bountiful. On the
morrow, Teancum's small division was discovered by the Lamanite outposts, and
from the fewness of its numbers they judged it would fall an easy prey. Jacob
at once sallied forth at the head of his warriors to attack the presumptuous
Nephites. On their approach Teancum cautiously retreated along the sea shore
towards the city of Bountiful. Jacob followed in vigorous pursuit. Moroni, in
the meanwhile, divided his army into two corps, one of which he dispatched to
capture the city, and with the other he closed in between Jacob's army and
Mulek. The first corps accomplished its work without difficulty, for Jacob had
left but a small force behind him, and all who would not surrender were slain. The
Lamanites crowded after Teancum in hot pursuit until they came nigh unto
Bountiful, when they were met by Lehi and the small force under his command. At
his appearance the Lamanite captains fled in confusion, lest they should be
out-generaled and cut off from their fortifications. Jacob's warriors were
weary by reason of their long and hasty advance, while Lehi's soldiers were
fresh and unfatigued. But Lehi refrained from pressing too vigorously on his
retreating foes, as his object was not to exhaust his men until the hour of
battle came, and he was anxious to avoid a conflict till he and Moroni could,
at the same moment, attack the Lamanites in front and rear. When Jacob
drew near the city he found himself confronted by the soldiers of Moroni, who
closed in around his warriors and barred their further progress southward;
while Lehi, putting forth his pent-up energies, fell with fury on their rear.
Weary and worn though his troops were, Jacob would not surrender. He
determined, if possible, to cut his way through to Mulek. With this intent he
made a desperate, though ineffectual charge on Moroni's lines. The Nephites
being fresh and unwearied, never wavered. The battle here raged with
indescribable fierceness, and with heavy losses to both sides. The wild
Lamanites, in the frenzy of desperation, dashed with all their strength and
prowess against the well-ordered ranks of the Nephites in the one-absorbing
endeavor to force their way through. While the Nephites, in the heroic courage
which religion and patriotism inspire, stood cool and undismayed. In this
desperate encounter Moroni was wounded and Jacob slain. While
Jacob was thus impetuously charging on Moroni's corps, Lehi with his
"strong men" was as furiously driving in the Lamanite rear. At last
the soldiers of Jacob in that part of the field surrendered. Their leader being
slain, the remainder of the troops hesitated between throwing down their arms
and continuing the hopeless strife. Moroni, with his intense hatred of
unnecessary bloodshed, when he noticed that they wavered, cried out that if
they would lay down their weapons and deliver themselves up he would spare
their lives. His offer was accepted. The chief captains, who remained, came
forward and placed their weapons at his feet and commanded their men to do the
same. Most of the warriors obeyed, yet numbers would not. They preferred death
to surrender, and force had to be used to wrest their weapons from them. The Lamanite
prisoners were then sent under an escort to the city of Bountiful, and when
counted were found to exceed in numbers the slain on both sides in the late
battle. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
154 JACOB In the
years just previous to the fall of the Nephite commonwealth (A. D. 30) a
relentless persecution was waged against the followers of Christ, when many of
the believers, under the color of the law, were unjustly put to death. But
though executed by order of the corrupt courts, the proceedings were in the
highest degree illegal, as it was contrary to the Nephite law for any prisoner
to be put to death unless the warrant therefor had first been signed by the
chief governor of all the land. Contrary to the provision of this statute, the
persecutors of the saints, feeling strong in their numbers and influence, set
the law at open defiance, and continued to condemn and execute the Christians.
Among those conspicuous for this revengeful and illegal course, was a man of
much influence among the corrupt and degraded majority, whose name was Jacob. The cry of
these infamies reached the chief judge, but when he expostulated the offenders
treated his requirements with contempt, and broke out in open rebellion,
associating themselves together by the same unholy oaths and covenants that had
beforetime done so much towards destroying the nation. In these traitorous
movements Jacob made himself conspicuous. The
leaders in these conspiracies determined to overthrow the republic and
establish a monarchy. To this end the chief judge was assassinated and Jacob
proclaimed king. The result
was not as successful as the royalists anticipated. The majority of the people
would not be ruled by a king. They preferred rather to break up into numerous
tribes, each with its own chieftain and internal regulations; but all these
tribes of the people united in their objections to the proclamation of a
monarchy. Jacob, who
had with him the majority of the most vile and corrupt of the nation, those who
had been most officious and relentless in persecuting the servants of God, did
not despair. He imagined that in course of time he would be so greatly
strengthened by dissatisfied members of the tribes that he would eventually be
able to conquer them and establish his supremacy. For the present he determined
to remove with those who recognized his authority to the northermost part of
the land, there consolidate his power and found his kingdom. So ably did he
carry his intentions into effect that the tribes were unable to arrest his
movements. Arrived at
the chosen land, Jacob and his people laid the foundation of a magnificent
city, to which was given the name of Jacobugath (A. D. 31). His subjects were
mostly rich, and their material progress was remarkable, but they exceeded in vice,
in depravity, in corruption, all the inhabitants of the continent. Their
history is a short one. In the terrible convulsions of nature that marked the
sacrifice of the Lord of Life and Glory, Jacobugath, with many other Nephite
cities, was entirely consumed by fire. (A. D. 34). Its population of traitors
and murderers was destroyed, that the blood of the prophets and the saints
should not come up unto God any more against them. If Jacob was yet alive he
undoubtedly perished at this time with his people. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
156 JACOB The Bible
patriarch of that name. Individually he is seldom referred to in the Book of
Mormon, but the Israelites are frequently spoken of as the seed or the house of
Jacob, and the Lord as the God of Jacob; while the promise is made on several
occasions to the righteous that they shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
156 JACOB, CITY OF One of the
cities sunk in the depths of the earth at the time of the great convulsions
that attended the crucifixion of the Savior. Its iniquitous citizens had
persecuted and slain the saints of God, and the Lord destroyed them from before
His face, that the blood of the righteous might not come up unto Him any more
against them. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
156 JACOBITES One of the
divisions of the Nephite people. They were the dsecendants of Jacob, the son of
Lehi. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
156 - 157 JACOBUGATH The city
of the followers of King Jacob. Its history was short, but its people
were pre-eminent in iniquity. When the Nephite republic was broken into
fragments (A. D. 30), and the people divided into tribes, the royalists, who
embraced the vilest of the race, endeavored to gain control and establish a
monarchy. Among them were very many office-holders, lawyers and petty judges,
who thirsted for extended power. They had been the foremost in persecuting and
slaying the servants of God, and, more than any others, contributed to the
overthrow of the government. But the confederate tribes were stronger than the
monarchists and opposed the establishment of a kingdom. Jacob therefore
determined to take his followers to the northernmost part of the land and there
establish that form of government. So speedy and unexpected were his movements
that the tribes were unable to intercept him. He accomplished his purpose,
built a large city and reigned over that region as king. We can well imagine
the condition of society composed of such elements, it must have been a
head-centre for everything abominable, and turbulent. Jacob, however, flattered
himself that dissenters from the tribes would flock to his standard and soon
make him powerful enough to extend his authority over the whole land. In this
he was disappointed, for in the horrors of the upheavals of nature that came
with the death of the Savior, Jacobugath and its people disappeared forever. Of
their destruction Jesus Himself says: "That great city Jacobugath, which
was inhabited by the people of the king of Jacob, have I caused to be burned
with fire, because of their sins and their wickedness, which was above all the
wickedness of the whole earth, because of their secret murders and
combinations; for it was they that did destroy the peace of my people and the
government of the land: therefore I did cause them to be burned, to destroy
them from before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints should
not come up unto me any more against them." Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
157 JACOM The eldest
son of Jared, the father of the Jaredite race. He, with others, was offered the
kingly authority by the people, but refused that honor. His name is only once
mentioned in the Book of Mormon (Ether 6:14). Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
157 - 158 JARED The
founder of the Jaredite race. He was apparently one of those engaged in the
building of the Tower of Babel. It is presumable that he was a descendant of
Shem, as he, and most certainly his brother, held the holy priesthood. We are
inclined to believe, from the brief narrative in the Book of Ether, that
Jared's brother was the leading spirit of the colony that accompanied these
brothers on their toilsome journey to this continent. Of Jared's private
character we are told but little, but he appears to have been more
conservative, more pliable and less energetic than his brother. The race was
named after him, we presume, because one of his sons, Orihah, became its first
king, and Jared's thus became the royal family. Jared had four sons and eight
daughters: the names of his sons were Jacom, Gilgah, Mahah, and Orihah. Jared
lived to a great age. He died and was buried in the land of Moron. (For
particulars of the journey of Jared and his people see Jared, Brother of.) Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
158 - 159 JARED One of the
most unscrupulous and blood-thirsty of the ancient Jaredites. In early life he
rose in rebellion against Omer, his father, eventually dethroned him,
and held him a captive for many years, while he (Jared) occupied the throne.
Some of Omer's younger sons, incensed at the treatment to which their father
was subjected, raised an army and totally routed the forces of the usurper.
Jared was taken prisoner and only saved his life by humble submission to his
father. At first he kept his promise, but his ambition would not remain
dormant. He sighed and wearied for the kingly authority, until his unrest
became marked by all. He had a daughter who shared her father's feelings, and
at her instigation he sent for a friend of Omer's named Akish, through
whom he hoped to regain the throne. An entertainment of some kind, by which
Jared's daughter could be introduced, was given. By pre-arrangement with her
father she danced before Akish, and so exhibited the beauties of her person and
the graces of her movements that he became desperately enamored of her. As she
anticipated, Akish asked Jared to give her to him as a wife. The latter
consented, but on most revolting conditions. The father and daughter had
planned that the price of her hand was to be the head of her grandfather, the
king. Did ever ambition conceive a more unnatural crime? Akish, though a friend
of Omer, consented to the proposed terms, and to help him in his treason Jared
suggested to him, again at the instance of his daughter, the plans and oaths
common among the antediluvians, originally used by Cain, by which the wicked
accomplished their vile and bloody purposes. He consented, Omer was
driven from the throne, though by God's mercy his life was spared; Jared was
again proclaimed king, and Akish became his son-in-law. Soon the latter coveted
the royal dignity; possibly the woman who plotted the death of her grandfather
was willing to sacrifice her father also that she might be queen; such a
supposition is not improbable. At any rate, Jared was slain on his throne while
giving audience to his people, by some of the members of the secret society of
assassins that he had been the means of calling into existence, and Akish
reigned in his stead. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
159 JARED, BROTHER OF The
prophet and leader of the founders of the Jaredite race. His name is not given
in the Book of Mormon, but we learn through modern revelation, that it was
Mahonri Moriancumer. He was in all probability a descendant of Shem, and was
present at the building of the Tower of Babel, if not actually engaged in that
work; though he and his brother had not fallen into idolatry, as had so many of
the builders of that notorious edifice. When God scattered these presumptuous
builders, Jared and his brother pleaded with the Lord that their language and
that of their friends, might not be confounded. Their prayer was heard, their
mother tongue was preserved. In answer to their futher entreaties, the Lord
promised to lead them into a land choice above all others, where He would make
of them a great people; and He Himself would go before them, as their guide. In
obedience to the heavenly command, Jared, his brother, and their friends, with
their espective families, gathered their flocks, and seeds of various kinds,
and started to follow as the Lord should lead. The valley
into which the Lord first led them was called Nimrod, after that mighty hunter
of the early post-diluvian age. Here the people of Jared tarried for a time,
while they prepared for the long journey which was before them. Their flocks
and herds they had with them; they now went to work and snared fowls; they
carried with them hives of honey bees (known to them by the name of deseret);
and prepared a vessel in which they transported the fish of the waters. They
appear to have collected everything that could possibly be of use to them. They
were going to a land that had been swept clean by the waters of the deluge; it
had been bereft of all its animal life; the seeds of grains and fruits no
longer germinated in its soil; and the colony had to replenish the continent
with the animal and vegetable life necessary for their comfort and sustenance,
as though it was a new earth. When in the valley of Nimrod, the Lord came down
and talked with the brother of Jared. But the brother of Jared saw Him not, for
the Lord remained concealed in a cloud. And God directed that the company
should go forth into the wilderness, into that quarter where man had never yet
been. As they journeyed the Heavenly Presence went before them in the cloud,
instructed them and gave directions which way they should travel. In the course
of their journey they had many waters—seas, rivers and lakes—to cross, on which
occasions they built barges, as directed by the Lord. It must have been an
arduous labor, requiring much time and great patience to transport their flocks
and herds, with all the rest of their cumbrous freight, across these many
waters. As they advanced to a great distance from the centre of population in
western Asia, it is possible they traveled beyond the limits to which the
larger animals had by that time scattered; and if so, they were entirely
without the aid of the food obtained by the chase; on the other hand, it is
probable that the fish in the lakes and rivers formed a valuable source of food
supply; yet it must also be remembered they carried fish in a vessel with them. Led by the
Lord personally, instructed by His own mouth, protected by His presence, the
colony, of which Jared's brother appears to have been the prophet and leader,
at last reached the borders of the great sea which divides the continents. To
the place where they tarried they gave the name of Moriancumer. Here they
remained for a period of four years, at the end of which time the Lord again
visited the brother of Jared in a cloud, and chastened him and his brethren,
because of their neglect to call upon His name. Repentance followed this
reproof, and because of their repentance their sins were forgiven them. The
brother of Jared was then commanded by the Lord to build eight barges, after
the same pattern as those he had previously constructed. This command he obeyed
with the assistance of the company. The vessels were small, light in
construction and water tight. As they were dark in the interior, by reason of
being without windows, the Lord, at the entreaty of the brother of Jared,
touched sixteen small white stones, which the latter had molten out of a high
mountain called Shelem; and after the Lord touched them they shone forth and
gave light to the vessels in which they were placed. When the Lord put forth
His finger to touch these stones, the veil was taken from before the eyes of
the brother of Jared and he saw the finger of the Lord; and it was as the finger
of a man, like unto flesh and blood. And
because of the brother of Jared's great faith the Lord showed Himself unto him,
and declared Himself to be Jesus Christ, who should come into the world to
redeem His people. All things
being prepared, Jared and his people, with their animals, fishes, bees, seeds
and multitudinous other things, went on board; a favorable wind wafted them
from shore, and they gradually crossed to the American coast. At the end of a
somewhat stormy voyage of three hundred and forty-four days the colony reached
this continent. It is generally understood that the place where they landed was
south of the Gulf of California and north of the land Desolation, which was
north of the Isthmus of Panama. No sooner
had the people of Jared landed than they humbled themselves before the Lord,
many of them shedding tears of joy because of the multitude of His tender
mercies in bringing them so safely to this new land of promise. Their next duty
was to prepare for the future. They commenced to till the soil and perform the
other labors incidental to founding a new home. In these efforts they prospered
greatly. They began to grow and increase in numbers and in wealth; and even
better than this, they were a righteous people, being taught directly from on
high. In process of time Jared and his brother grew old, and perceiving that
their course on earth was nearly finished, the latter proposed that they gather
the people, number them, give them necessary teachings, and learn their wishes.
This was done; but to the grief of the brother of Jared, the people desired
that a king be anointed to rule over them. He saw, by the spirit of prophecy,
that this action would lead to many evils, and he was inclined to refuse their
request, but Jared pleaded that the wishes of the people be granted, and his
brother finally consented. It was the first step in the wrong direction, and
led to much sin, misery, contention and captivity. The people having the
privilege granted them, chose Pagag, the eldest son of their prophet. He
declined, as did all of his brothers, and also all the sons of Jared except
Orihah. The last named accepted the royal dignity and was anointed king. Soon
after this the brother of Jared died, full of years and honor. Like Enoch, he
had been privileged to enter the presence of the Lord, and to have revealed to
him the history of the world in all its generations. He was also a seer, having
received the priceless gift of a Urim and Thummim. His faith was never exceeded
by the sons of men; he laid hold of the promises of the Almighty with unshaken
confidence. By that faith he performed miracles; Moroni tells us that by its
power he "said unto the mountain Zerin, remove, and it was removed"
(Ether 12:30); but of the circumstances that attended this manifestation of
Divine power, we have not the slightest details. The brother of Jared is also
said to have been "mighty in writing:" the uncorrupted language which
he used being, unquestionably, most favorable for expressing niceties of
thought in written characters. He was a "large and mighty man" in
personal appearance, and undoubtedly as strong in his integrity to God, and in
his moral courage, as he was in physical characteristics. Altogether, we deem
him one of the greatest prophets and leaders of God's people that ever graced
this earth. When he died he left behind him twenty-two sons and daughters. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
163 JAREDITES, THE The
descendants of Jared and his associates, who were led by the power of
God from the Tower of Babel to this continent. Here they became one of the
mightiest of nations, and flourished in a manner unsurpassed in the history of
the post-deluvian races, until they fell into decay through corruption and
iniquity and were ultimately destroyed in a desolating internecine war, at the
end of which but one man, Coriantumr, remained as the representative of
this once mighty people. The destruction of the Jaredites took place, as nearly
as can be gleaned from the record, about the same time as the Nephites reached this
land (say B. C. 590.) Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
163 - 164 JAROM A Nephite
prophet who lived in the fourth and fifth centuries before Christ. He was the
son of Enos, the son of Jacob, the brother of Nephi, and was intrusted
with the care of the plates of Nephi, which he appears to have retained 59
years, or from the 180th to the 239th year of the Nephite annals. From his
record we learn that during his days many of the Nephites were a stiff-necked
and hard-hearted people, among whom the prophets and priesthood labored
diligently, warning them of the great evils that must ultimately result to the
nation if they did not repent. Their labors were blessed with measurable
success. It is pleasing to learn from Jarom's writings that the Nephite kings
and leaders were mighty men in the faith of the Lord, who not only led them to
victory over their earthly enemies, but instructed them in the ways of eternal
salvation. The laws of the land were exceedingly strict, the law of Moses was
rigorously observed, the Sabbath day was kept holy unto the Lord, and profanity
and blasphemy were unknown. Under the wise and righteous administration of
these kings, the Nephites spread widely over the land of Nephi, which was then
their home, and increased greatly in numbers, though they were not nearly so
numerous as the Lamanites, with whom they had several wars during the time
embraced in Jarom's record. The Lamanites invaded the Nephite possessions
"many times," but were driven out as often as they came. During this
period the arts of peace were also encouraged, and the Nephites grew
exceedingly rich; it also appears to have been an epoch in which manufactures
took a decided step in advance. Reference is made to progress in the working of
the precious metals, in the manufacture of machinery and tools, as well as of
weapons of war; greater atention was paid to fine workmanship in wood and to
improvements in building; altogether we may consider it a very prosperous
portion of this people's existence. If Jarom died in the year he delivered the
plates to his son Omni, that event took place 362 years before the
advent of the Messiah. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
164 - 165 JASHON, CITY OF The chief
city of the land of Jashon. We are told that it was situated near
the land where Ammaron had deposited the records unto the Lord. That land
(Mormon 1:3) was called Antum. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
165 JASHON, LAND OF During the
last great war between the Nephites and Lamanites in A. D. 345 the former were
driven to the land of Jashon, and hence northward to the land of Shem. This is
the only time that this land is mentioned in the Book of Mormon (Mormon 2:16).
It is supposed to have been situated on the northern continent. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
165 JEBERECHIAH The father
of a certain Zechariah mentioned in Isaiah 8:2, and appearing in the Book of
Mormon in the quotation of that passage (II Nephi 18:2). Some suppose it to be
a corruption of the name Berechiah. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
165 JEHOVAH This name
appears but twice in the Book of Mormon. Once (II Nephi 22:2) in a quotation
from the writings of Isaiah; and (Moroni 10:34) in Moroni's closing remarks,
before finally hiding up the records of the Nephites. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
165 JEREMIAH One of the
Twelve Disciples, called and chosen by Jesus to minister to the Nephites at the
time of His visit to that people (A. D. 34). Jeremiah was present near the
temple in the land Bountiful when Jesus appeared and was baptized by Nephi on
the day following. He is not again mentioned by name in the sacred record. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
165 JEREMIAH The Jewish
prophet. He lived and prophesied at the same time as Lehi, and appears to have
been personally acquainted with him. Many of his prophecies were recorded on
the plates of brass obtained by Nephi from Laban. (I Nephi 5:13.) His
prophecies regarding the destruction of Jerusalem and the advent of the Messiah
are referred to by Nephi, the son of Helaman. (Helaman 8:20.) Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
165 - 166 JERSHON This was
the name given to the regions set apart by the Nephites (B. C. 78) as the home
of the Ammonites, or Christian Lamanites. It was situated to the north
of Zarahemla and was evidently chosen for the reason that the strength of the
Nephite nation would lie between the fugitives and their former countrymen, the
Lamanites, who then thirsted for their blood. It was bounded by the Carribbean
Sea and the land Bountiful on the north and east, and by the land of Antionum
on the south. Its western boundary is not defined, but we are inclined to
believe, from the context, that it was the river Sidon. Its geographical
situation is partly described in Alma 27:22, thus: We [the Nephites] will give
up the land of Jershon, which is on the east by the sea, which joins the land
Bountiful, which is on the south of the land Bountiful. With regard to its
southern boundary, Alma 3I:3, states that Antionum lay to the south of
it. No sooner
had the Ammonites taken possession of the land Jershon than a church was
established there, with Ammon, the son of King Mosiah, as the high priest. The
first attempt on the integrity of its members was made by the anti-Christ Korihor
(B. C. 75), but by Ammon's orders he was escorted beyond the borders of
Jershon. When division arose among the Zoramites, in the land of
Antionum, regarding the preaching of Alma and his associates, and the gospel
believers were driven from their homes by their intolerant fellow citizens,
Jershon became their place of refuge. The Ammonites, having in like manner
suffered persecution, received the fugitives gladly, and, indifferent alike to
the threats and appeals of the Zoramite leaders, found them homes and afforded
them the needed succor and helpful guidance (B. C. 75). In the war that
followed, Jershon was dispossessed of its citizens and occupied by an army of
the Nephites. No battles, however, appear to have been fought there, as the
Lamanite commanders transferred the scene of hostilities to other regions. (B.
C. 74.) After this, Jershon is not mentioned by name in the Book of Mormon. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
166 - 167 JERUSALEM, CITY OF A Lamanite
city within the borders of the land of Nephi. (See land of Jerusalem.) Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
167 JERUSALEM, CITY OF The chief
city of the Jews. It was the home of Lehi (B. C. 600); there he prophesied and
thence he was led by the hand of the Lord. It is often spoken of by the writers
in the Book of Mormon, more especially in connection with its destruction by
the Babylonians, and is mentioned in frequent quotations from Isaiah. The year
of the departure of Lehi from Jerusalem was made the initial date in Nephite
chronology; that people counting their years as so many "after Lehi left
Jerusalem." With the establishment of the republic, the Nephites added
"year of the Judges" to their former system, and their annals
sometimes refer to a date in both methods of computation. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
167 JERUSALEM, LAND OF A land of
the Lamanites. It was in the immediate vicinity of the waters of Mormon,
probably east or north from Lehi-Nephi. There (about B. C. 100) the Lamanites,
Amulonites and various Nephite apostates built a large and thriving city, and
named it after their father's ancient home in Judea. In this city Aaron,
the son of King Mosiah, unavailingly preached the gospel. Its apostate citizens
were too sin-hardened to accept the glorious message which he bore. They
continued in their career of crime and iniquity until it was engulfed in the
bowels of the earth in the dire calamities that attended the crucifixion of the
Lord of Life and Glory. Waters came up in the place of this proud city, and a
stagnant sea, akin to that which hides Sodom and Gomorrah, occupied the place
where its grand palaces and rich synagogues previously stood. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
167 JERUSALEM, LAND OF The name
given by the Nephites to that country which we call Judea. (I Nephi 2:11;
16:35.) Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
167 - 168 JERUSALEM, NEW The city
spoken of by John, in the Book of Revelations; but ages before his time,
prophesied of by Ether, the last seer of the Jaredite race. (Ether
13:3-10.) Among other things Ether foretells that this blessed city shall be
built upon the American continent. Jesus, in His teachings to the Nephites,
confirms the truth of this prophecy (III Nephi 20:22; 21, 23, 24). Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
168 JESSE, ROOT OF The
prophecy of Isaiah regarding the root of Jesse is quoted by Nephi (II Nephi
21:1-10). Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
168 JESUS CHRIST PROPHECIES REGARDING
HIS ADVENT, LIFE, MINISTRY AND DEATH One of the
most remarkable things connected with the history of the Nephites is the great
plainness and detail with which the coming of the Redeemer and the events of
His life in Judea were revealed to their prophets, who lived before the time of
His advent. Among other things connected with His mortal existence it was
declared of Him that: God
Himself should come down from heaven among the children of men and should
redeem His people. He should
take upon Him flesh and blood. He should
be born in the land of Jerusalem, the name given by the Nephites to the land of
their forefathers, whence they came. His
mother's name should be Mary. She should
be a virgin of the city of Nazareth; very fair and beautiful, a precious and
chosen vessel. She should
be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost. He should
be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God. At His
birth a new star should appear in the heavens. He should
be baptized by John at Bethabara, beyond Jordan. John
should testify that he had baptized the Lamb of God, who should take away the
sins of the world After His
baptism, the Holy Ghost should come down upon Him out of heaven, and abide upon
Him in the form of a dove. He should
call twelve men as His special witnesses, to minister in His name. He should
go forth among the people, ministering in power and great glory, casting out
devils, healing the sick, raising the dead, and performing many mighty
miracles. He should
take upon Him the infirmities of His people. He should
suffer temptation, pain of body, hunger, thirst and fatigue; blood should come
from every pore of His body by reason of His anguish because of the
abominations of His people. He should
be cast out and rejected by the Jews; be taken and scourged, and be judged of
the world. He should
be lifted upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world. He should
be buried in a sepulchre, where He should remain three days. After He
was slain He should rise from the dead and should make Himself manifest by the
Holy Ghost, unto the Gentiles. He should
lay down His life according to the flesh and take it up again by the power of
the Spirit, that he might bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the
first that should rise. At His resurrection many graves should be opened and
should yield up their dead; and many of the saints, who had beforetime passed
away, should appear unto the living. He should
redeem all mankind who would believe on His name. In the
above we have not mentioned the sayings of Isaiah and other Jewish prophets,
which are inserted in the Book of Mormon, but which also appear in the Bible. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
169 - 170 VISITS OF JESUS BEFORE HIS ADVENT On this
continent, as on the eastern, Jesus manifested Himself from time to time to His
faithful servants, before His coming in the flesh. He was the guide of His
people, the guardian of the church, and the revealer of the mind and will of
the Godhead. He went before the people of Jared in their journey, instructing
them and covenanting with them. Few events recorded in the Book of Mormon are
more widely known than His appearance in the body of His spirit to the brother
of Jared. His statements with regard to Himself then were: "I am He who
was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am
Jesus Christ, * * * and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit, will I
appear unto my people in the flesh." In later
centuries, when making known the Divine will to the elder Alma regarding the
discipline of His church, He declares: "It is I that taketh upon me the
sins of the world; for it is I that hath created them; and it is I that
granteth unto him that believeth unto the end, a place at my right hand." Not only
were the Nephites very familiar with the details of the earthly life of the
Redeemer, but they also were made acquainted by their prophets, from Lehi to Samuel
the Lamanite, with the fact that after His resurrection He would visit them.
This was shown in a vision to Nephi (I Nephi 12:6), and he taught it to his
people; (II Nephi 26:1, 9). And it so continued to be taught by the priesthood
throughout all their generations. (Alma 16:20.) The time
of his birth at Bethlehem was also declared by the prophets with great
exactness. Nephi states that it should be 600 years from the time his father,
Lehi, left Jerusalem, and this prophecy was known to all his descendants. (See
I Nephi 10:4; 19:8; II Nephi 25:19. We quote the last: For according to the
words of the prophets, the Messiah cometh in six hundred years from the time
that my father left Jerusalem, and according to the words of the prophets, and
also the word of the angel of God His name shall be Jesus Christ, the Son of
God. In the
year B. C. 6, Samuel, the Lamanite, prophesied that on this continent, at the
time of the Savior's birth, there should appear great lights in the heavens, so
that there should be a day, a night and another day without darkness; a new
star should arise, and many signs and wonders should be seen in the heavens.
Again at the time of the Redeemer's death, the sun should be darkened and
refuse to give his light and also the moon and stars; and there should be no
light upon the face of this land, from the time He died to the time that He
arose again from the dead. At His death there should be mighty thunderings and
lightnings for many hours, and the earth should shake and tremble, and the
rocks which are upon its face should be broken up; and there should be great
tempests, and many mountains should be laid low, and valleys should become
mountains of great height, and many cities should become desolate. And many
graves should yield up their dead; and many saints should appear unto the
living. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
171 SIGNS OF HIS BIRTH When six
hundred years had passed from the time Lehi left Jerusalem, the time arrived of
which Samuel, the Lamanite, and other prophets had borne testimony, when the
phenomena should appear to bear witness of the birth of the Son of God. As the
day drew near, signs and miracles increased among the people. But the hardened
in heart began to circulate the idea that the time had passed and the
prophecies had failed. They even went so far as to appoint a day when all who
believed in the coming of the Savior should be slain, except the sign be first
given. This gross
wickednes caused Nephi, the high priest, great sorrow. Before God, in mighty
prayer, he bowed all the day long. At last the comforting word of the Anointed
One came unto him, saying: On this night shall the sign be given, and on the
morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all
that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouths of my holy prophets. As was
thus declared, so was it fulfilled. At the going down of the sun it was as
light as day, and so continued until the morning, when the sun again rose in
its usual course. A new star had also appeared in the heavens. Then the
faithful rejoiced. They knew that their Redeemer was born, and that the great
plan of salvation had entered its most glorious phase; but the wicked quaked
with awful dread, they realized the extent of their iniquity, they knew that
they were murderers at heart, for they had plotted to take the lives of the
righteous, and in the terror that this overwhelming sense of their piteous
condition wrought, they sank to the earth as though they were dead. Many now believed
who previously had scorned the divine messages that the prophets bore; but
others, inspired of Satan, as soon as they recovered from the fright which the
appearance of the promised signs had produced, began to explain them away, and,
by various lying rumors, endeavored to nullify the good that had been done in
the hearts of many. Others again commenced to teach that it was no longer
expedient to observe the law of Moses, or to offer sacrifices, not
comprehending that the infinite sacrifice had not yet been made. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
172 - 173 SIGNS OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST On the
fourth day of the thirty-fourth Nephite year after Christ's birth, the promised
signs of the Savior's crucifixion began. A terrible and devastating tempest
burst upon the land. The earth quivered and groaned and opened in wide,
unfathomable chasms. Mountains were riven and swallowed up in yawning gulfs, or
were shattered into fragments and dispersed like hail before the tearing wind.
Towers, temples, houses, were torn up, scattered in fragments or crushed by
falling rocks, and, together with their inmates, were ground to dust in the
convulsion. Blue and yellow flames burst from the edges of sinking rocks,
blazed for a moment and then all was the deepest darkness. Rain poured down in
torrents; cloud-bursts, like floods, washed away all with which they came in
contact, and pillars of steaming vapor seemed to unite the earth and sky. This
unparalleled storm raged throughout the land for three hours only, but during
its short continuance the whole face of Nature was changed. Mountains sank,
valleys rose, the sea swept over the plains, large stagnant lakes usurped the
place of flourishing cities, great chasms, rents and precipices disfigured the
face of the earth. Three days
of unnatural and impenetrable darkness followed the horrors of the tempest, and
from the heavens the voice of the Lord was heard by affrighted people,
proclaiming in their terrified ears the destruction that had taken place. Terrible
was the catalogue of the woes which that heavenly voice rehearsed. Nearly all
their cities, great and small, were destroyed by flood or fire, by earthquake
or hurricane. The desolation was complete, the face of the land was changed,
tens of thousands, probably millions, of souls had been suddenly called to meet
the reward of their sinful lives; for this destruction came upon them that
their wickednes and abominations might be hid from the face of heaven, and that
the blood of the prophets and saints might not come up any more in appeal unto
God against them. When the
heavenly voice had finished the recital of the calamities that had befallen the
land and its inhabitants, the Speaker appealed to those who yet lived to repent
of their sins and return unto Him, and they should have eternal life, and
revealed to them who He was. He declared unto them: I am Jesus
Christ, the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things
that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father,
and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified His name. I came
unto my own, and my own received me not. And the Scriptures concerning my
coming are fulfilled. And as
many as have received me, to them have I given to become the sons of God, and
even so will I to as many as shall believe on my name, for behold, by me
redemption cometh, and in me is the law of Moses fulfilled. I am the
light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the
end. After the
people had heard this glad message they ceased their mourning for their dead
relatives, and there was silence in the land for the space of many hours. Then
again was the voice of Jesus heard, recounting how often He had sought to
gather His Israel, but they would not, and promising in the future that He
would again gather them, if they would listen unto Him. But if they would not
heed Him, the places of their dwellings should become desolate until the time
of the fulfilling of God's covenant with their fathers. When the people heard
this awful prophecy they began to weep and howl again, because of the loss of
their kindred and friends. As on the
eastern continent, so on this; at the time of Christ's resurrection, numbers of
the saints who were dead arose from their graves and were seen and known by
many of the living. Three days
had passed in darkness, in terror and in woe, when the thick mist rolled off
the face of the land, revealing to the astonished eyes of the survivors how
great had been the convulsions that had shaken the earth. As the darkness
passed away the earth ceased to tremble, the rocks were no longer rent, and the
tumultuous noises ended. Nature was again at peace, and peace filled the hearts
of the living; their mourning was turned to praise, and their joy was in Christ
their Deliverer. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
175 CHRIST MINISTERS TO THE NEPHITES Some time
after these terrible events, exactly how long we know not, a multitude
assembled near the temple, which was in the land Bountiful. Possibly many of
the high priesthood had assembled there to call upon the Lord, and to officiate
in the duties of their calling. The multitude spake one to another with regard
to the Savior, of whose death the three days of unexampled, impenetrable
darkness had been a sign. While thus
engaged, a strange, sweet voice fell upon their ears, yet it pierced them to
the centre, so that their whole frames trembled. At first they knew not what it
said or whence it came; nor even when the words were again repeated did they
understand. But when they came a third time they understood their glorious
import, and knew that it was the voice of God. He said unto them: Behold, my
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name: hear
ye Him. Obedient to this heavenly voice they cast their eyes upward, and to
their joyous astonishment beheld the Messiah, clothed in a white robe, coming
out of heaven. Even yet
they did not comprehend who He was, but thought Him an angel. As He descended
to the earth and stood in their midst, their wondering eyes were all turned
towards Him, but for awe not a mouth was opened nor a limb moved. Then the
Redeemer streetched forth His hand and said unto the multitude: Behold, I am
Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified should come into the world; and
behold, I am the life and light of the world; and I have drunk out of the
bitter cup which the Father hath given to me, and have glorified the Father in
taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of
the Father in all things from the beginning. Then the
whole multitude fell to the earth. They remembered the sayings of the prophets;
they realized that their God stood in the midst of them. Again the
risen Redeemer spake: Arise, said He, and come forth unto me, that you may
thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the
nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel,
and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world. Now they
who heard Him from the first to the last went forth and assured themselves that
it was He of whom the prophets had spoken. Then with shouts of praise they
cried: Hosanna! blessed be the name of the Most High God. And they fell down at
His feet and worshiped Him. Jesus next
called Nephi to Him, then eleven others, and gave them authority to baptize the
people, at the same time strictly charging them as to the manner in which they
should perform this ordinance, that all disputes on this point might cease
among the believers. (See Twelve Disciples.) After
Jesus had chosen the Twelve, He commenced to teach the people the principles of
the fulness of the Gospel. Step by step He led them over the same precious
ground of universal truth as He had done His followers in Galilee, Judea and
Samaria. Sometimes, through the difference of the inspired translation of the
Book of Mormon and the worldly-wise one of the Bible, a slight difference is
noticeable in the wording of the instructions, but as a rule these differences
are trivial, the advantage being with the Nephites, whose greater faith drew
from the Savior deeper truths than Judah had received, or caused Him to display
greater manifestations of His omnipotence and boundless love. From the
believers He would turn to the Twelve, and give them special instructions as
His ministers; then again He would shed forth His words of mercy, truth and
divine wisdom upon the multitude; and by and by again address the disciples. So
He continued day by day until all was revealed, either to the multitude or to
the Twelve, that was necessary for the eternal salvation of the obedient. Then
He left them to the care and ministry of the chosen Disciples. Some have
wondered why Jesus should have given so many of the same teachings to the
Nephites as He did to the Jews. The reason is that those teachings were
perfect, and could not be improved. They were universal, that is, they were
adapted to the wants of all peoples, whether of Israel or of the Gentiles,
whether of Judah or Joseph. Among the teachings that He gave the Nephites which
do not appear in the Bible account of His ministrations to the Jews, are His
references to the "Lost Ten Tribes." His explanations of the
prophecies of Isaiah and Malachi, His statements regarding the then future
history of the peoples on this continent, particularly drawing attention to
those events that would concern and be connected with the remnants of the house
of Lehi; and His declarations regarding the name by which His Church should be
known. The miracles
that attended His ministry on this land were, many of them, of the same
character as the wondrous works He performed among the Jews; only frequently
more marvelous and more glorious, on account of the greater faith of the
Nephites. He healed the sick, cast out devils, raised the dead in Bountiful as
He did in Judea and Galilee. But there were other manifestations that were
somewhat different. In the land of Jerusalem Jesus miraculously fed five
thousand by increasing the store of loaves and fishes that had been provided;
in Bountiful He administered the emblems of His body and blood when neither the
disciples nor the multitude had brought either bread or wine. Angels ministered
to men during His labors among the Jews; they did so more abundantly during His
visits to the Nephites. Again, though we are told in the Bible of the Holy
Redeemer blessing little children, we nowhere read therein of the glorious
manifestations, the outpourings of the Spirit, the ministry of the angels, the
baptism of fire that took place when the risen Redeemer condescended to bless
the little ones of the Nephites. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
178 NAMES AND TITLES GIVEN TO JESUS
CHRIST Among the
names and titles given to Christ in the Book of Mormon are: Mediator, Messiah,
Redeemer, Great and True Shepherd, Lamb, Lamb of God, Son of Righteousness, Son
of the Eternal Father, Only Begotten of the Father, Creator, The Eternal Father
of Heaven and Earth, King, King of Heaven, Heavenly King, King of all the
Earth, God of Israel, God of the whole Earth, Most High God, Lord Omnipotent,
Lord God Omnipotent, Mighty God, Holy One, Holy One of Israel, Mighty One of
Jacob, Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace, and several others. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
178 JOHN The
Apostle, usually called John the Revelator. He is mentioned by name three times
in the Book of Mormon. Twice regarding the things revealed to him (I Nephi
14:27; Ether 4:16); and once regarding his request, similar to that of the
three Nephites, that he might live and minister on the earth until Jesus
returned (III Nephi 28:6). Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
178 JOHN The Baptist This
prophet is not mentioned by name in the Book of Mormon, but that he would
baptize the Savior is foretold by Lehi and Nephi (I Nephi 10:7-10; 11:27; II
Nephi 31:4). Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
178 - 179 JONAS The name
of Jonas, the son of Nephi the Disciple, and himself a member of the Quorum of
the Twelve, is but once mentioned in the Book of Mormon, and then only in the
list of those chosen by the Messiah to form that august body, where it occupies
the third place, coming next after Nephi his father, and Timothy his uncle,
consequently all we can say of him is inferential. It is altogether probable
that by following the virtuous examples of his eminent forefathers, he had
rendered himself worthy of the glorious position to which the Savior called
him, as among a generation who were all righteous, we cannot imagine that Jesus
would select any but the most worthy and illustrious to be the teachers of the
whole people and the heads of the Church. He was one of those of whom it was
directly said by the angel to Nephi (the son of Lehi): "Behold they are
righteous forever, for because of their faith in the Lamb of God, their
garments are made white in His blood." Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
179 JONAS One of the
twelve disciples, called and chosen by the risen Redeemer to minister among the
Nephites. He is the second of that name found in that quorum, the other being
the son of Nephi. He is not again mentioned by name in the Book of Mormon. (See
Twelve Diciples.) Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
179 JONEAM A Nephite
general, who commanded a corps of ten thousand men in the last great struggle
between the Nephites and the Lamanites. He, with all his command, was slain in
the final series of battles in the land Cumorah (A. D. 385), when the Nephite
nation was annihilated. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
179 JORDAN The Bible
river of that name. It is mentioned thrice in the Book of Mormon: once in
connection with the occupation of Canaan by the Israelites (I Nphi, 17:32);
once in Lehi's prophecy concerning the labors of John the Baptist (I Nephi,
10:9); and in an extract from the writings of Isaiah, (II Nephi, 19:1). Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
179 - 180 JORDAN, CITY OF A city
mentioned only in connection with the final war between the Nephites and and
Lamanites; of its situation we can tell nothing, except that it was in the
northern continent. Here the Nephites, under Mormon, made a brave stand (A. D.
379), and twice defeated the attacking hosts of the Lamanites. In the third
attack, however, the Nephites, by reason of the overwhelming number of their
assailants, after desperate resistance were driven from the city with great
loss (A. D. 380). Jordan appears to have been a key to the surrounding country,
and was consequently stubbornly held by Mormon. The war at this time was
carried on with ruthless cruelty on both sides, and the conquering army ravaged
and utterly desolated the country through which it passed. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
180 JOSEPH The
younger son of Lehi and Sariah, born to them during the difficulties and
sorrows of their journey across the Arabian Peninsula (about 595 B. C). We are
told very little of his life or character, but he appears to have been an
upright man and a faithful servant of the Lord. At the time of his father's
death he was still small, but was blessed by that patriarch with the rest of
the family, shortly before Lehi's departure from this earth. Joseph with his
elder brother Jacob, was ordained by Nephi, a priest, to minister to the
Nephites, after the separation of that people from the adherents of Laman. Of
his private history or death we are told nothing. Jacob, speaking of himself
and Joseph, says: We did magnify our office [of priests] unto the Lord, taking
upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon their own
heads, if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
180 JOSEPH The son of
the patriarch Jacob, and the ancestor of the Nephites and Lamanites. Lehi was
descended from his son Manasseh, and Ishmael from Ephraim. He is referred to
with great affection by a number of the Nephite worthies. Lehi quotes (II
Nephi, 3), some very important prophecies of Joseph, which do not appear in the
Bible. The Nephites are frequently called, by their teachers, the seed or house
of Joseph. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
180 JOSEPHITES A portion
of the Nephite race, presumably the descendants of Joseph, the younger son of
Lehi. This name is only used four times in the Book of Mormon. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
180 - 181 JOSH A Nephite
general, who commanded a corps of ten thousand men in the last great struggle
between the Nephites and the Lamanites. He, with all his command, was slain in
the final series of battles in the land of Cumorah (A. D. 485), when the
Nephite nation was destroyed. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
181 JOSH One of the
iniquitous cities destroyed by fire from heaven at the time of the crucifixion
of Christ, because of the wickedness of its people in casting out the prophets
and stoning those whom the Lord had sent to declare to them their sins and
abominations. The Savior announced the terrible fact that there was not one
righteous person to be found in it, therefore He had destroyed it, that the
blood of the martyrs might not cry from the ground to Him any more against those
who had slain them. (III Nephi, 9:10, 11). Josh is only mentioned in the Book
of Mormon in connection with its destruction. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
181 JOSHUA A city
mentioned only in the account of the great closing war between the Nephites and
Lamanites. It was situated near the Pacific Ocean, either in the extreme
northern portion of South America or in Central America. Here Mormon
endeavored to gather his forces in one vast host to stay the advance of the
victorious Lamanites; and we are of the opinion that it was in the vicinity of
this city that the great battle between Mormon and King Aaron was fought in A.
D. 330, when the former turned the tide of victory against the Lamanites.
(Mormon 2:9.) The city of David appears to have been situated near Joshua, to
the south. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
181 JOTHAN The tenth
king of Judah. He was a contemporary of Isaiah, and his name is mentioned in
the Book of Mormon only in a quotation from the writings of that prophet. (II
Nephi 17:1.) Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
181 - 182 JUDAH This name
is found principally in the Book of Mormon in quotations from the prophet
Isaiah; and in the statement of the fact that Lehi left Jerusalem in the reign
of Zedekiah, king of Judah. In two places it refers to the Jews as the
descendants of the patriarch Judah. Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p.
182 JUDEA, CITY OF A city of
the Nephites, situated in the southwestern portion of their dominions,
somewhere between the Pacific Ocean and the land of Manti. It is only mentioned
in Helaman's letter to Moroni, giving an account of the military
operations in that region (B. C. 66 to 63.) In the first-named year it was
garrisoned by a Nephite force of about 6,000 men under Antipus; who, by reason
of their reverses and the severe labors of the campaign, were depressed in mind
and body. At this time they were strengthened by the arrival of Helaman with
2,000 young Ammonites, who found the soldiers of Antipus working night and day
in the effort to strengthen the fortifications of the city. Unitedly they
accomplished this purpose. In the second month of the next year (B. C. 65),
2,000 more men arrived from Zarahemla, and a supply of provisions from the
fathers of the young Ammonites. In this year the campaign occurred in which
Antipus was slain, and the young Ammonites showed such exceeding great valor.
After this campaign, the troops which took part in it returned to Judea, and
Helaman appears to have taken the chief command. In B. C. 63 reinforcements to
the number of 6,060 men arrived, with provisions, and the Nephites felt strong
enough to carry on offensive operations. They apparently still made Judea their
headquarters, and the point from which they made their attacks. After this war
Judea is not again mentioned in the Book of Mormon. (Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 182
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