The Residents of Zarahemla

1.       Form Analyzed

I will analyze the characters that are portrayed in a small section of the Book of Mormon, specifically the groups of people, where they descended from, and how numerous they are.

2.       Passage Analyzed

I focused on the first four verses of chapter 25. This comes from my section that is Mosiah chapters 25 through 29

3.       Anotated Text

4.       Breakdown

Alma and his people were delivered out of the hands of the Lamanites. They traveled 12 days in the wilderness where they met King Mosiah and the people of Zarahemla. At Zarahemla King Mosiah instructs all of the people to be gathered. At this time the orator explains the characters that are assembled and how their numbers compare to that of the Lamanites.

5.       Interpretation

The inhabitants of Zarahemla consisted of two groups of people; the people of Zarahemla, and the children of Nephi.  Alma and his followers were presumably grouped with the children of Nephi who are described as the descendants of Nephi. They had fewer inhabitants residing in Zarahemla than the people of Zarahemla. The people are Zarahemla are described as the descendants of Mulek, the son of Zedekiah who came out of Jerusalem. Collectively, the people of Zarahemla and the children of Nephi were half as numerous as the Lamanites.

6.       Connections

It is surprising to me that “The city of the Nephites” contained more Mulekites than Nephites. Of course these two groups are counted as one people later in the story, but it is still interesting that Mosiah and Alma, both being Nephites were set as rulers over a people whose majority was of a different race. Why did the people of Zarahemla allow Nephites to rule them, even though they had a majority? Why were there so many more Lamanites than there were Nephites (including the Mulekites)?