Zarahemla

Zarahemla is a city of the Nephite people that is recorded in the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is considered part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ official canon or scripture.

The name is believed to mean “seed of compassion.” The area was discovered by a man named Mosiah sometime around 323 BC. Omni 1:12-14 explains how Mosiah came to this land. “Behold, I am Amaleki, the son of Abinadom. Behold, I will speak unto you somewhat concerning Mosiah, who was made king over the land of Zarahemla; for behold, he being warned of the Lord that he should flee out of the land of Nephi, and as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord should also depart out of the land with him, into the wilderness—And it came to pass that he did according as the Lord had commanded him. And they departed out of the land into the wilderness, as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord; and they were led by many preachings and prophesyings. And they were admonished continually by the word of God; and they were led by the power of his arm, through the wilderness until they came down into the land which is called the land of Zarahemla. And they discovered a people, who were called the people of Zarahemla. Now, there was great rejoicing among the people of Zarahemla; and also Zarahemla did rejoice exceedingly, because the Lord had sent the people of Mosiah with the plates of brass which contained the record of the Jews.” The people of Zarahemla called themselves the Mulekites.

Zarahemla became a stronghold for the righteous and numerous references are made to Zarahemla in connection with wars that were fought to keep the Lamanites (a group of people who hated the Nephites) from destroying the city. Zarahemla was the capital of the Nephite nation and it was the center of their government, religion and culture.

When Christ was crucified in the old world, the earthquakes and storms were also experienced in the Americas. During this time, Zarahemla caught fire and was destroyed. It was rebuilt later and became a large city. The city existed about 500 years and what eventually happened to the city and its inhabitants is not mentioned in the Book of Mormon. The location of Zarahemla is also not known, and the Church does not give any official statement about where it may be, but many members speculate about where it is.

Other Links: http://scriptures.lds.org/omni/1/14#14 http://www.cometozarahemla.org/