In the Book of Mormon

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 Zoramites were one of three major Nephite

Nephite

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...

 sects, existing during the administration of Alma the Younger

Alma the Younger

According to the Book of Mormon, Alma, the son of Alma was a Nephite prophet often referred to as "Alma the Younger" to distinguish him from his father, who is often referred to as "Alma the Elder"...

 as the High Priest over the Church of God . Zoram

Zoram

There are three individuals named Zoram in the Book of Mormon, indexed in the LDS edition as Zoram1, Zoram², and Zoram³.- Zoram¹ :Zoram1 was the servant of Laban, a wealthy inhabitant of Jerusalem. According to First Nephi, Zoram led Nephi, disguised as Laban, into Laban's treasury...

, the leader of this group, is first mentioned in as being the head of a people who "had separated themselves from the Nephites", and were responsible for the death of Korihor

Korihor

Korihor is a skeptic mentioned in The Book of Mormon, in Alma . Korihor preached ...that there could be no atonement made for the sins of men, but every man fared in this life according to the management of the creature; therefore every man prospered according to his genius, and that every man...

.

Zoram

The Book of Mormon describes a time when the Nephite

Nephite

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...

 nation was still recovering from a bloody civil war initiated by the rebellion of Amlici, a follower of the Nehor sect, who after losing a popular election to be made king made an alliance with the Lamanites. Therefore, when Zoram settled his people in Antionum near a large body of Lamanites, there grew considerable concern that the Zoramites would make a similar pact and bring about another war .

Alma

Instead of sending armies to destroy the group, Alma attempts to preach to the people in order to bring them back into the Church of God. Alma's success among a portion of the people unfortunately sparks the very rebellion that he was seeking to prevent. Alma and his converts become refugees in the land of Jershon where the king of the Ammonites gives them asylym. Because of the Ammonite's refusal to hand over Alma and his followers, the Zoramites join with the Lamanites, and 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...

, and go to war . The Nephite armies rout

Rout

A rout is commonly defined as a chaotic and disorderly retreat or withdrawal of troops from a battlefield, resulting in the victory of the opposing party, or following defeat, a collapse of discipline, or poor morale. A routed army often degenerates into a sense of "every man for himself" as the...

the Zoramites, Amalekites and Lamanites into retreat, and finally to surrender.

Zoramite religion

The Zoramites are identified as an apostate sect from the true Church of God. The doctrines and practices of the Zoramites are described by Alma as follows:

• The worship of idols .
• The rejection of the Law of Moses .
• The rejection of church sacraments and daily prayer .
• The building of Synagogues for worship once a week on the day of the Lord .
• The use of a raised platform for individuals to offer public prayer on the day of the Lord .
• The rejection of Christ .
• The belief that the Zoramites are the chosen people of God .
• Worship may only occur in a Synagogue, and the poor are not allowed to enter .
• Church is combined with state, organized with rulers, priests, and teachers .