Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 328

 TABAEL, SON OF

            A warrior who is not identified. He lived in the days of Ahaz, king of Judah. His name only appears in the Book of Mormon in a quotation from the writings of Isaiah. (II. Nephi 17:6.)

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 328 - 329

 TARSHISH

            A country or city mentioned in the Bible, whose locality is undetermined. It is named once in the Book of Mormon (II. Nephi 12:16), in a quotation from the prophecies of Isaiah.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 329

 TEANCUM

            One of the bravest, most disinterested and most illustrious soldiers who served the Nephite Commonwealth. Of his life we are told nothing until he is presented to us as one of Moroni's lieutenants.

            Teancum appears to have had command of the Nephite army of the north, and to have had committed to him the defense of the Land Bountiful and the Isthmus of Panama. His first exploit to which our attention is drawn was the defeat of the dissatisfied people of the hot-headed Morianton, who, having unjustly quarreled with their neighbors, the people of the City of Lehi, and being apparently aware of the unrighteousness of their cause, determined to migrate to the land northward, and there establish an independent government. Such a movement being evidently dangerous to the peace and stability of the Republic, Moroni determined to prevent the accomplishment of their scheme. He dispatched Teancum at the head of a body of troops to head them off. This the gallant officer succeeded in doing, but not until they had reached the Isthmus, where a stubbornly-fought battle ensued, in which Teancum slew Morianton with his own hand, and compelled the surrender of his followers. (B. C. 68.) The prisoners were brought back, the grievances of the two peoples were investigated, a union between them brought about, and both were restored to their own lands.

            In the following year (B. C. 67), Amalickiah, the apostate Nephite who reigned over the Lamanites, commenced his devastating invasion of the Atlantic provinces of the Nephites. Commencing at Moroni, on the extreme southeast, he gradually advanced northward, capturing and garrisoning all the Nephite cities 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 soldiery camped in close proximity, the Lamanites on the sea beach, and the Nephites on the borders of the land Bountiful.

            When night had closed and all was still, Teancum, accompanied by one soldier, stole out of his own camp into that of the enemy. He sought the tent of Amalickiah, and when he found it he slew the Lamanite king with his javelin, then quickly returning, he aroused his troops and kept them on the alert all night, fearing that when the foe found they had lost their chief they would make a sudden attack on the Nephites; but it did not so happen. Amalickiah's death was not discovered until the morning, and then his followers hastily retreated to Mulek, where they shut themselves up. Each commander now felt only sufficiently strong to act on the defensive, and Teancum employed his soldiery in vigorously strengthening the fortifications of the land Bountiful and the Isthmus which formed the natural northern boundary of that land. Moroni likewise desired him to harrass and scourge the enemy whenever opportunity offered, but they kept too closely within their fortifications for much to be done in that way. This state of mutual watching, without any aggressive movements, continued for some time. Once Teancum, by Moroni's direction, made reconnoissance in force towards Mulek, but he found it too strongly fortified to warrant an attempt to capture it by assault. He therefore retired to Bountiful and awaited Moroni's arrival, that officer being now conducting operations in the southwest. Moroni did not rejoin Teancum until the end of the year B. C. 65.

            At the commencement of the next year a grand council of war was held at the Nephite headquarters. Efforts had been made to induce the Lamanites to come out and fight on the open plains between Mulek and Bountiful, but their leaders very prudently declined. It was therefore decided to make an effort to draw them out by stratagem. The Nephite army was divided into three divisions, commanded by Moroni, Lehi and Teancum respectively. Teancum advanced with a small body of men near to the walls of Mulek. The Lamanites, noticing his weakness, sallied forth to capture him. He retreated rapidly northward along the sea beach, in well-feigned trepidation. The enemy followed in hot pursuit. When they neared Bountiful, Lehi and his men marched out, covered the retreat, and confronted the now fatigued legions of Laman. Jacob, their leader, ordered a retreat to Mulek; Lehi leisurely advanced, till they reached the place where Moroni's command blockaded the road, then both Nephite comanders met the Lamanites in the shock of battle, front and rear. The Lamanites were disastrously defeated, Jacob was killed and Mulek fell into the hands of the Nephites. This was the turning point in the war, for from this time the patriots gradually regained their lost cities.

            We have no details of the services of Teancum in the brilliant campaign that followed, during which the tide of victory rolled resistlessly down the Atlantic shore. We will therefore simply say that at last the soldiers of Ammoron were driven out of every Nephite city on the Atlantic seaboard, except the outlying one, called Moroni, where the whole of the invading host was massed for a final desperate stand, and around which Moroni, with hurried and lengthened marches, had concentrated his warriors.

            It was the night before an expected decisive battle, and the Nephite officers and soldiery were too worn out to either devise stratagems or execute them. Teancum alone was in a condition of unrest. He remembered with intense bitterness all the bloodshed, woes, hardships, famine, etc., that had been brought about in this great and lasting war between the two races, which he rightly attributed to the infamous ambition of Amalickiah and Ammoron. In his anger he stole forth into the enemy's camp, let himself over the walls of the city, sought out the king's tent, and when he had found the object of his search, he cast a javelin at him, which pierced him near the heart; but, unlike Amalickiah, Ammoron's death was not instantaneous;he had time to awaken his servant before he expired. The alarm was given, the guards started in pursuit, Teancum was overtaken, caught and slain. On the morrow, Moroni attacked the Lamanites, defeated them with great slaughter, captured the city, and drove them entirely out of the Nephite territory. (B. C. 61.)

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 332

 TEANCUM, CITY OF

            A city mentioned only in connection with the final struggle between the Nephites and Lamanites (Mormon 4:3-14.) It lay near the sea (probably the Pacific Ocean), a little north of the city of Desolation. When the Lamanites captured Desolation (A. D. 363) the remnants of the Nephites fled to Teancum. The next year the Lamanites attacked the city but were repulsed. They came against it again in A. D. 366-7 and drove the Nephites out, taking many women and children prisoners, whom they sacrificed to their idol gods.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 332 - 333

 TEOMER

            A prominent Nephite military officer in the days of the Judges. In the war brought on by the treason and ambition of Amalickiah, he served under Helaman in the army of the southwest. Teomer took a prominent part in the siege and recapture of the city of Manti (B. C. 63), at which time he had command of one of the divisions of the Nephite army. When the Lamanites within the city, fearing that the besieging Nephite army would cut them off from their supplies, made a sortie and endeavored to drive them away, the main body of Helaman's troops retreated, while Gid and his men, and Teomer with his command, who were hid in the wilderness, fell in the Lamanite rear, cut off communication between the advancing army and the city, and then unexpectedly fell on the very small guard which the Lamanite commander had incautiously left to take care of Manti. The guard was easily overpowered, and Gid and Teomer obtained and retained possession of the city; during which time the main body of the Lamanites were out-generaled by Helaman, who led them afar off into the wilderness, and then by a rapid counter march, during the night, reached Manti before them.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 333

 TIMOTHY

            It is but little we are told in the Book of Mormon of the life or labors of this devoted servant of the Lord, this uncompromising preacher of righteousness. His days, before the coming of the Savior, were spent in proclaiming the saving truths of the Gospel, in declaring unto the Nephites that the kingdom of heaven was at hand, and in rebuking their constantly increasing depravity. His words cut like a two-edged sword, they laid bare the iniquities of their corrupt rulers and unjust judges, their seditious lawyers and idolatrous priests, as well as of the degraded rabble; he spared none whose deeds were evil. Angered at the unwelcome recital of their abounding crimes, the vile populace stoned him till he died, that they might no longer hear the sound of his reproving voice. But his work on earth was not yet finished; his brother Nephi, with the authority of the holy priesthood which he held, came to where the martyr lay, and in the power of Jesus' name, he raised Timothy from the dead. (A. D. 31.)

            After the tribulations had ceased that marked the sacrifice of the Lord of life and glory, Nephi and Timothy, with many others, assembled at the Temple that was in the land Bountiful. There the Lord Jesus Christ appeared and ministered to them. He called Nephi to him, then eleven others, and gave them authority to baptize the people. Of these twelve, Timothy was one, and is mentioned next in order to his brother Nephi in the list given by the inspired historian.

            After Jesus had chosen the Twelve, He commenced to teach the people the principles of the fulness of the Gospel. 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.

            After the final departure of Jesus, the Disciples went forth in the midst of the people in the lands that had not been blessed with the personal visit of the Savior, to them they declared the glad message of eternal life; in the name of Jesus they baptized them, and by His authority they conferred the Holy Ghost. So abundantly and so glorious did the power of God rest with these servants of God that they raised the dead, healed the sick, gave sight to the eyes of the blind and strength to the limbs of the lame; the deaf heard, the dumb spake, and all manner of miracles were performed and all in the name of Jesus. Two years after His ascension, every part of the vast continent, where Nephite or Lamanite dwelt, had heard the message, and so abundant was the Disciples' success, that every soul was converted unto the Lord, and in their integrity to God they never faltered.

            Timothy is not again mentioned by name in the Book of Mormon.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 334

 TREES

            The trees mentioned in the Book of Mormon are the cedar, fir, oak, olive, sycamore and teil. The vine is also named.

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 334 - 335

 TUBALOTH

            A king of the Lamanites who waged war against the Nephites in the days of the Judges. He was of Nephite extraction, being the son of Ammoron, the brother of Amalickiah, and a descendant of Zoram, the servant of Laban. His father was killed by the Nephite general Teancum (B. C. 61), and it is probable that he succeeded his father on the throne, though he is not mentioned by name until ten years afterwards (B. C. 51). The death of Ammoron ended one of the most disastrous and long-continued wars that had ever devastated the lands of the Nephites, and appears to have been terminated by the Lamanites from sheer exhaustion. It was not until eight years afterwards that they again invaded the territory of their traditional enemies, when they were driven back to their own lands with great loss. Two years later, Tubaloth gathered and equipped an immense army, which he placed under a general named Coriantumr, who, disregarding the old tactics, marched directly to the city of Zarahemla, which he surprised and captured, and then continued his march northward towards the land Bountiful. But he was out-generaled and utterly defeated by the Nephites, he himself being slain; the remnants of his army were allowed by Moronihah to return to their own land. So disastrous was this campaign, that for sixteen years Nephite soil was free from the tread of the invader. We have no means of telling if Tubaloth was still king when the Lamanites recommenced hostilities in B. C. 35.

(Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 335)

 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, p. 335