Depiction of the Land of Zarahemla from the Latter-day Saint film The Testaments

According to the Book of Mormon, the Land of Zarahemla (popularly attributed to Biblical Hebrew זֶרַע חֶמְלָה Zéraʻ Ḥemlā "seed of compassion") was the Nephite capital for many years, and it was discovered by Mosiah sometime between 323 and 130 B.C. Its original inhabitants told Mosiah that they too were Jews who went out from Jerusalem at the time of Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, and were called the Mulekites. The king of Zarahemla (also named Zarahemla) claimed to be a descendant of the people's namesake, Mulek, whom they said was a son of Zedekiah's. Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... The Testaments of One Fold and One Shepherd is a 67-minute film produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... The Book of Mormon[1] is one of the sacred texts of the Latter Day Saint movement. ... Categories: Language stubs | Judaism-related stubs | Canaanite languages | Hebrew language ... In the Book of Mormon, the Nephites are a people descended from or associated with Nephi, a prophet who, according to the text, left Jerusalem at the urging of God in 600 BC[1] and traveled with his family to the Western Hemisphere, arriving in the Americas circa 589 BC... Mosiah was the king of the Nephite nation from about 124 BC to 91 BC according to the Book of Mormon. ... Tzidkiyahu (‎, Åžidhqiyyāhû; Greek: ζεδεκιας, Zedekias; traditional English: Zedekiah; Arabic: صدقيا, Åžidqiyyā) was the last king of Judah. ... Kingdom of Judah (Hebrew מַלְכוּת יְהוּדָה, Standard Hebrew Malḫut YÉ™huda, Tiberian Hebrew Malḵûṯ YÉ™hûḏāh) in the times of the Hebrew Bible, was the nation formed from the territories of the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin after the Kingdom of Israel was divided, and was named after Judah... In Latter-day Saint theology, Mulek (BoM Arabic مولق Mūlaq) is the only surviving son of Zedekiah, the last King of Judah. ... In Latter-day Saint theology, Mulek (BoM Arabic مولق Mūlaq) is the only surviving son of Zedekiah, the last King of Judah. ...

Map showing the possible lands and sites of the Book of Mormon in Mesoamerica

Although Mormons believe Zarahemla to be an actual city that once existed on earth, nobody can say with any certainty where. Numerous Mormon scholars have come up with theories but none as been adopted by the church as correct. Mormons teach that Zarahemla existed somewhere between South and North America, and was either completely destroyed or buried. Critics cite this as implausible and evidence that the Book of Mormon is fiction, noting that evidence of activities and things claimed to be present in the Book of Mormon (such as steel, which would require mining) could not possibly have disappeared from the earth without a trace. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 750 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1280 × 1024 pixel, file size: 371 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I myself created this map. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 750 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1280 × 1024 pixel, file size: 371 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I myself created this map. ...

Story

Zarahemla, both the king and the land, are first mentioned in the Book of Omni. Zarahemla's descendants include Ammon, who led the quest to find those who had gone in search of Lehi-Nephi; and Coriantumr, who led the Lamanites in battle against the Nephites. The Book of Omni is one of the books that make up the Book of Mormon. ... There are two characters named Ammon in the Book of Mormon, a fictional faux history of the Pre-Columbian Americas, (indexed as Ammon1 and Ammon2). ... In the Book of Mormon, the Land of Lehi-Nephi (BoM Arabic ارض لاحي نافي Arḍi Lāḥī Nāfī) is the homeland of the Nephites in the early times of the Book of Mormon. ... In the Book of Mormon, Coriantumr (BoM Arabic كورينتمر Kūriyantumur) is one of the last Jaredites, as well as one of their kings. ... In The Book of Mormon, a Lamanite (BoM Arabic لاماني Lāmānī) is a member of one of three main tribes described in the book. ...

At some point before Mosiah discovered Zarahemla, the people of Zarahemla had discovered the last of the Jaredites, Coriantumr. Coriantumr stayed with the people of Zarahemla "for the space of nine moons" (Omni 1:21) before dying and receiving a burial by them (Ether 13:21). In the Book of Mormon, Coriantumr (BoM Arabic كورينتمر Kūriyantumur) is one of the last Jaredites, as well as one of their kings. ... The Book of Omni is one of the books that make up the Book of Mormon. ... The Book of Ether is one of books that make up the Book of Mormon. ...

Shortly after discovering the Mulekites in Zarahemla, Mosiah was made king over them sometime between 361 BC and 130 BC. Mosiah's son, Benjamin, then succeeded him as king. King Benjamin was also victorious in driving the Lamanites from the Zarahemla region. Mosiah was the king of the Nephite nation from about 124 BC to 91 BC according to the Book of Mormon. ... King Benjamin (BoM Arabic ملك بنيامين Maliki Banyāmīn) was a king from the Book of Mormon, the son of Mosiah I, and the second Nephite king of Zarahemla. ... In The Book of Mormon, a Lamanite (BoM Arabic لاماني Lāmānī) is a member of one of three main tribes described in the book. ...

During the crucifixion of Christ, or shortly after, the Book of Mormon records that all the cities in the region of Zarahemla caught fire and were destroyed along with their inhabitants. However, it was later rebuilt, and once again became a great city. Christ is the English term for the Greek word (Christós), which literally means The Anointed One. ...

The city existed for about 500 years, and its final end is uncertain. It may have later been used by the Lamanites (who have been speculatively identified by some Mormon scholars as the Mayans and/or some other Native American tribes or civilizations). In The Book of Mormon, a Lamanite (BoM Arabic لاماني Lāmānī) is a member of one of three main tribes described in the book. ... This article is about the history and use of the word Mormon. For information about the religious beliefs and culture of Mormons, see Mormonism. ... This article is about the pre-Columbian Maya civilization. ... Native Americans redirects here. ...

The location of Zarahemla (and surrounding lands) is not specified nor implied by official doctrine of the LDS Church. Failure to ascertain the exact position of a city this ostensibly large leads many non-Mormon critics to dismiss its historicity. But today in Mormon culture the most popular possible locations of the land of Zarahemla are in the Mexican state of Chiapas and in the Ohio-Illinois area of the United States. The LDS tourism service Israel Revealed provides "Book of Mormon Lands" tours that include various spots in Chiapas, although they are simply educated guesses. For other uses, see Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (disambiguation). ... A critic (derived from the ancient Greek word krites meaning a judge) is a person who offers a value judgement or an interpretation. ... Historicity refers to the historical authenticity of a person, event, or place. ... Book of Mormon, see Latter Day Saint movement. ... Location within Mexico Country  Mexico Capital Tuxtla Gutiérrez Municipalities 118 Largest City Tuxtla Gutiérrez Government  - Governor Juan José Sabines Guerrero ( PRD)  - Federal Deputies PRI: 7 PRD: 5  - Federal Senators PRI: 1 PRD: 1 PVEM: 1 Area Ranked 8th  - State 74,211 km²  (28,653 sq mi) Population (2005... Official language(s) None Capital Columbus Largest city Columbus Largest metro area Cleveland Area  Ranked 34th  - Total 44,825 sq mi (116,096 km²)  - Width 220 miles (355 km)  - Length 220 miles (355 km)  - % water 8. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Largest metro area Chicago Metropolitan Area Area  Ranked 25th  - Total 57,918 sq mi (149,998 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 390 miles (629 km)  - % water 4. ... Israel Revealed is the name of a Mormon tourism service operated by Daniel Rona. ...

The name Zarahemla was appropriated by Mormon settlers who built a small settlement across the Mississippi River from Nauvoo, Illinois with that name. In August 1841 a conference was held there during which John Smith was sustained as president of the stake in Iowa, with David Pettigrew and M. C. Nickerson as his counselors.^[1] The stake was dissolved three years later; a second stake for Iowa would not be organized until 1966.^[2] For the river in Canada, see Mississippi River (Ontario). ... Nauvoo (נאוו to be beautiful, Sephardi Hebrew Nåvu, Tiberian Hebrew Nâwû) is a city located in Hancock County, Illinois. ... 1841 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... John Smith (July 16, 1781-May 23, 1854), known as Uncle John, was an early leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... Official language(s) English Capital Des Moines Largest city Des Moines Area  Ranked 26th  - Total 56,272 sq mi (145,743 km²)  - Width 310 miles (500 km)  - Length 199 miles (320 km)  - % water 0. ... Year 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. ...

In 2003, a board game The Settlers of Zarahemla was produced. This game was intended to be similar to the popular Settlers of Catan but targeted at a Mormon audience and set in a Book of Mormon setting. It was published by Inspiration Games in conjunction with the German company that owns the rights to Catan. The Settlers of Zarahemla is a licensed adaptation of the German board game The Settlers of Catan by Klaus Teuber, based on the Book of Mormon. ... Settlers of Catan is a multiplayer board game designed by Klaus Teuber. ... Ãœberplay Entertainment is a board game publishing company. ...

The name has also been adopted by Zarahemla Books, according to publisher/owner Christopher Bigelow, because it's "instantly recognizable to any Mormon insider, but it’s just an exotic-sounding name to any outsider."^[3]

References

1. ^ TIMES AND SEASONS: "TRUTH WILL PREVAIL" http://www.centerplace.org/history/ts/v2n22.htm (originally published Sept. 15, 1841
2. ^ Deseret News Church Almanac
3. ^ A Motley Vision: " Interview with Chris Bigelow about Zarahemla Books" http://www.motleyvision.org/?p=277

External Links

• Volume II: Zarahemla sequel

Book of Mormon Portal