Anti-Nephi-Lehies
Anti-Nephi-Lehi was the brother of Lamanite king Lamoni, both were converted to the Lord through the missionary efforts of Ammon, Aaron, and other Nephites. His name was given to him by his father when he ascended the throne (see Alma 24:3–4). Anti-Nephi-Lehi may mean "who of Nephi and Lehi," rather than the English definition of "against."[1] (See Alma 23:17.)
- Taking the name Anti-Nephi-Lehi was a public statement made by this group of converts that they had independently stepped away from the well-established political order. This bold step could not be kept secret for long. This coronation name may have served several purposes, one of which could have been to signal their solidarity with their new Nephite friends and allies.
- By adopting this name, which included both Nephi and Lehi, this king and his people also implicitly recognized themselves as descendants of Lehi living in the land of Nephi.[2]
- In bearing this name, the commitment and bravery of these Lamanite converts should not be overlooked. By taking upon them this new name (“the-one-who[-is-of-]Nephi-Lehi”), these Lamanites defied the traditions of their fathers, and exposed themselves to retaliation.
The Anti-Nephi-Lehies took a path of nonviolence, determined to lay down their lives rather than shed blood again. Anti-Nephi-Lehi said to his people, "And now, my brethren, if our brethren seek to destroy us, behold, we will hide away our swords, yea, even we will bury them deep in the earth, that they may be kept bright, as a testimony that we have never used them, at the last day; and if our brethren destroy us, behold, we shall go to our God and shall be saved" (Alma 24:16).
- Immediately after their conversion, they were attacked by their former Lamanite allies, who “were stirred up . . . to anger against their brethren” (Alma 24:1). Hatred against the Anti-Nephi-Lehies was so strong (v. 2), that many of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies were massacred by their former kindred (vv. 20–22).[3]
The effect was immediate. "Now when the Lamanites saw that their brethren would not flee from the sword, neither would they turn aside to the right hand or to the left, but that they would lie down and perish, and praised God even in the very act of perishing under the sword—Now when the Lamanites saw this they did forbear from slaying them; and there were many whose hearts had swollen in them for those of their brethren who had fallen under the sword, for they repented of the things which they had done (Alma 24:23–24). Conversions to the Lord exceeded the number of those who were slain.
Eventually, the Anti-Nephi-Lehies, who were also known as the people of Ammon or the Ammonites, were relocated by the Nephites to the land of Jershon, so that the Nephites could better protect them. As the wars with the Lamanites intensified, the people of Ammon considered rejecting their covenant to not take up arms in order to help the Nephites fight against Lamanite agression. However, Helaman feared for their souls if they broke their oath. Instead, the sons of the Ammonites (numbering eventually 2,060 stripling warriors), who had not entered into an oath, were led by Helaman into battle and were miraculously protected. (See Alma 53 and 56).
