Amulonites
Encyclopedia
According to the Book of Mormon
, the people commonly referred to as the Amulonites were composed of the priests of king Noah
and the daughters of the Lamanite
s, whom the Amulonites took to wife by force. They are named after Amulon
, their leader.
s. They worked tirelessly to "stir up the unconverted Lamanites to war against their converted brethren, and then against the Nephites. (Alma 25:2) http://text.farmsresearch.com/display.php?table=jbms&id=24 The Amulonites seem to only be included in the record as an example of what not to do. Without the Amulonites, the Lamanites would not have attacked the Nephites as many times as they did, nor would the people of Ammon or Anti-Nephi-Lehies have left their lands to find a better life.
In the wilderness it appears that the priests had wandered into the Land of Shemlon, where the daughters of Lamanites gathered together to make themselves merry. From a hidden location, the priests "laid and watched them". They waited until there were only a few that gathered to dance, then the priests burst out from where they were hiding and carried off the daughters, which numbered twenty-four.
The Lamanites became convinced that the people of Limhi
had stolen their daughters and so went to war against the people of Limhi. But after being driven back the Lamanites, Limhi and Gideon inform the king of the Lamanites that the priests of Noah had fled and that they may be responsible disappearance of their daughters.
Later the Lamanites found the Amulonites in the land of Amulon. Amulon, who is mentioned as the Amulonites' leader, gained compassion from the Lamanites by pleading for the lives of his people using their wives, who were in reality those daughters of the Laminites who were abducted. The people commonly referred to as the Amulonites are composed of the priests of King Noah and the daughters of the Laminites. (Mosiah
23:31-34) From that period the Amulonites were joined in purpose with the Laminites and were referred to using the Lamanite title from then on.
were preaching to the Lamanites, the Nephites were considered more wicked than the Lamanites, and their religious manner was patterned after the order of Nehor
, or using priestcaft that was not taught in the Mosaic code. They aided the Lamanites in building the city of Jerusalem. None were converted by Aaron. (Alma 23:14)
After the conversion of the anti-nephi-lehies (See Anti-nephi-lehies in the Book of Mormon), the Lamanites rebelled against the king of all the Lamanites. This was done to take arms against the Ammonites
, and slay many believers among them.
After the Ammonites fled into Nephite lands, the Amulonites, along with the Amalekites
, went to war against the Nephites, resulting in the destruction of the city of Ammonihah
.
But being driven back with a great slaughter, the armies of the Lamanites fled the field of battle but had suffered greatly in the battle. In fact, of the Amulonites it is said of the battle "slain almost all the seed of Amulon and his brethren".
In the retreat of the Lamanites the Amulonites had usurped "power and authority" over the Lamanites due to the increased amount of Lamanites converting to the gospel. Many Lamanites were caused to be put to death by fire. (Alma 25:5-7) This act apparently turned the Lamanites against the Amulonties.(Alma 25:8) Thus the Amulonites became a hunted people and this fulfilled a prophecy uttered by Abinadi
, see Alma 25:9-12.
After these events, the Amulonites cease to be mentioned in the Book of Mormon.
See Mosiah
25:12.
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
, the people commonly referred to as the Amulonites were composed of the priests of king Noah
King Noah
According to the Book of Mormon, King Noah was a wicked monarch best known for burning the prophet Abinadi at the stake. King Noah, described in the Book of Mosiah, is said to have presided over a wicked kingdom guided by false priests...
and the daughters of the Lamanite
Lamanite
According to the Book of Mormon, a Lamanite is a member of a dark-skinned nation of indigenous Americans that battled with the light-skinned Nephite nation...
s, whom the Amulonites took to wife by force. They are named after Amulon
Amulon
According to the Book of Mormon, Amulon was a Nephite that lived in the 2nd century BC. He was one of the wicked priests of the ill-fated King Noah. Upon King Noah's death and the invasion of the Lamanites into the land of Nephi, Amulon and a group of priests fled into the wilderness where they...
, their leader.
Book of Mormon history
The Amulonites (existing from about 147 BC to about 87 BC) were relatively few but nevertheless acted as a catalyst for war between the Lamanites and NephiteNephite
According to the Book of Mormon, a Nephite is a member of one of the four main groups of settlers of the ancient Americas. The other three groups are the Lamanites, Jaredites and Mulekites. In the Book of Mormon, the Nephites were a group of people descended from or associated with Nephi, the...
s. They worked tirelessly to "stir up the unconverted Lamanites to war against their converted brethren, and then against the Nephites. (Alma 25:2) http://text.farmsresearch.com/display.php?table=jbms&id=24 The Amulonites seem to only be included in the record as an example of what not to do. Without the Amulonites, the Lamanites would not have attacked the Nephites as many times as they did, nor would the people of Ammon or Anti-Nephi-Lehies have left their lands to find a better life.
Time line
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Origins
During the invasion of the Lamanites at the end of the reign of Nephite king Noah, Amulon and the other priests of Noah fled to escape being executed by the people. Being too ashamed to return to the city and "Fearing that the people would slay them", Amulon and his fellow priests did not return to the city of Nephi and left their wives and children in the city.In the wilderness it appears that the priests had wandered into the Land of Shemlon, where the daughters of Lamanites gathered together to make themselves merry. From a hidden location, the priests "laid and watched them". They waited until there were only a few that gathered to dance, then the priests burst out from where they were hiding and carried off the daughters, which numbered twenty-four.
The Lamanites became convinced that the people of Limhi
Limhi
In The Book of Mormon, Limhi was the third and final king of the second Nephite habitation of the land of Lehi-Nephi. He succeeded his father, Noah. Led by Ammon, he escaped from the Lamanites with his people to Zarahemla.-See also:* King Noah...
had stolen their daughters and so went to war against the people of Limhi. But after being driven back the Lamanites, Limhi and Gideon inform the king of the Lamanites that the priests of Noah had fled and that they may be responsible disappearance of their daughters.
Later the Lamanites found the Amulonites in the land of Amulon. Amulon, who is mentioned as the Amulonites' leader, gained compassion from the Lamanites by pleading for the lives of his people using their wives, who were in reality those daughters of the Laminites who were abducted. The people commonly referred to as the Amulonites are composed of the priests of King Noah and the daughters of the Laminites. (Mosiah
Book of Mosiah
The Book of Mosiah is one of the books which make up the Book of Mormon. The title refers to Mosiah II, a king of the Nephites at Zarahemla. The book covers the time period between ca 130 BC and 91 BC, except for when the book has a flashback into the Record of Zeniff, which starts at ca 200 BC,...
23:31-34) From that period the Amulonites were joined in purpose with the Laminites and were referred to using the Lamanite title from then on.
Other appearances
In the time that the sons of MosiahSons of Mosiah
The sons of Mosiah is the collective name used in the Book of Mormon for four sons of King Mosiah, whose names were Ammon, Aaron, Omner, and Himni. These sons were notable for their initial opposition to the church, their miraculous repentance and conversion to Christ. They subsequently served as...
were preaching to the Lamanites, the Nephites were considered more wicked than the Lamanites, and their religious manner was patterned after the order of Nehor
Nehor
Nehor was the name of the Nephite founder of an apostate sect mentioned in the Book of Mormon, around 90 BC . In opposition to the Church of God headed by Alma the Younger, Nehor zealously preached the following doctrines:...
, or using priestcaft that was not taught in the Mosaic code. They aided the Lamanites in building the city of Jerusalem. None were converted by Aaron. (Alma 23:14)
After the conversion of the anti-nephi-lehies (See Anti-nephi-lehies in the Book of Mormon), the Lamanites rebelled against the king of all the Lamanites. This was done to take arms against the Ammonites
Ammonites (Book of Mormon)
According to the Book of Mormon, the Ammonites were a group of Lamanites who had been converted to the Christian religion of the Nephites by the missionary efforts of Ammon and his brothers. They rejected the traditions of their fathers and embraced the traditions of the Nephites. To distinguish...
, and slay many believers among them.
After the Ammonites fled into Nephite lands, the Amulonites, along with the Amalekites
Amalekites (Book of Mormon)
First mentioned in the missionary chapters of the sons of Mosiah, the Amalekites of The Book of Mormon are described as a group of Nephite apostates...
, went to war against the Nephites, resulting in the destruction of the city of Ammonihah
Ammonihah
Ammonihah is a city mentioned in the Book of Mormon. According to the book, the city was founded by an otherwise unknown man named Ammonihah. The inhabitants of Ammonihah were followers of the religion of Nehor.Ammonihah was a city with a diverse population...
.
But being driven back with a great slaughter, the armies of the Lamanites fled the field of battle but had suffered greatly in the battle. In fact, of the Amulonites it is said of the battle "slain almost all the seed of Amulon and his brethren".
In the retreat of the Lamanites the Amulonites had usurped "power and authority" over the Lamanites due to the increased amount of Lamanites converting to the gospel. Many Lamanites were caused to be put to death by fire. (Alma 25:5-7) This act apparently turned the Lamanites against the Amulonties.(Alma 25:8) Thus the Amulonites became a hunted people and this fulfilled a prophecy uttered by Abinadi
Abinadi
According to the Book of Mormon, Abinadi was a prophet who lived on the American continent about 150 BC. In the Book of Mormon account, Abinadi visited the court of King Noah at Lehi-Nephi, and pled for them to repent of their iniquity. Abinadi gave Noah the message of the coming of the Lord...
, see Alma 25:9-12.
After these events, the Amulonites cease to be mentioned in the Book of Mormon.
The children of Amulon vs. the children of the Amulonites
There are two groups considered to be the children of the Amulonites and Amulon (their leader).- Children of Amulon and his brethren were the children through their Nephite wives before the priests of Noah were separated from the Nephites.
- The children of the Amulonites spoken of after the priests of Noah were separated from the Nephites, were children through the wives of the Lamanite Daughters.
See Mosiah
Book of Mosiah
The Book of Mosiah is one of the books which make up the Book of Mormon. The title refers to Mosiah II, a king of the Nephites at Zarahemla. The book covers the time period between ca 130 BC and 91 BC, except for when the book has a flashback into the Record of Zeniff, which starts at ca 200 BC,...
25:12.
External links
- History recap of the Amulonites http://scriptures.lds.org/en/in/a/122.
- Essay comparing the United States Constitution with the religious climate at the time of the Amulonties http://inspiredconstitution.org/bofmc/chapter_11.html.
- An in depth verse by verse look at Alma 21 http://frontpage2000.nmia.com/~nahualli/LDStopics/Alma/Alma21.htm.
- Write up on Alma 21 and later chapters http://bominspection.blogspot.com/2007/05/alma-21.html.
- Second look at the Amulonite destruction. http://www.ldsgospeldoctrine.net/ldss/ldssemv4n26.txt