Omni Flashcards
What books of scripture make up the small plates?
1 Nephi - Omni
BofM study guide p. 105
What are some points of importance in the book of Omni?
Through study of the book of Omni, you will learn that The Lord protected the righteous Nephites and led them to the land of Zarahemla (see Omni 1:7, 12-13). The book of Omni also mentions other groups -the Mulekites (or people of Zarahemla) and the Jatedites, whom The Lord guided to the promised land, and the people of Zeniff.
BofM study guide p. 101
Who wrote the book of Omni?
The book of Omni was written by five different men: Omni, Amaron, Chemish, Abinadom, and Amaleki. Omni was the son of Jarom and a great-great-grandson of Lehi and Sariah. Omni described himself as “a wicked man” who had “not kept the commandments of The Lord” (Omni 1:2). Amaron, Chemish (brother of Amaron) and Abinadom each added short entries. Abinadom’s son Amaleki wrote most of the book of Omni and was the last person to write on the small plates of Nephi before handing them off to King Benjamin.
BofM study guide p. 101
When and where was the book of Omni written?
The various authors of the book wrote sometime between 361 BC and 130 BC. The first four authors wrote in the land of Nephi. Amaleki made his record in the land of Zarahemla.
BofM study guide p. 101
The book of Omni introduces a few groups of people that you will study in the Book of Mormon. Who are they and where did they come from?
The Jaredites. The Jaredites are discussed in the book of Ether. The Jaredites came from the people of the Tower of Babel.
The Mulekites. The Mulekites are discussed in Mosiah 25. The Mulekites came from Mulek who was one of King Zedekiahs sons when King Zedekiah of Judah was taken captive into Babylon (around the time of Lehi and his group journeying to the promised land)
The people of Zeniff. You will learn about these people in the book of Mosiah. Here is a brief history:
About 400 years after Nephi fled his wicked brothers, the Nephites were led by a king named Mosiah. This area was called the “Land of Nephi” or “Land of Nephi-Lehi.” The Lord commanded Mosiah to flee from the land of Nephi with “as many as would hearken unto the voice of The Lord.” Mosiah and his people discovered a group of people called the people of Zarahemla. The two groups of people united and called themselves Nephites. Mosiah was appointed to be their king (Omni 1:12–19).
A group of Nephites left the land of Zarahemla to regain part of the land of Nephi (Omni 1:27). They obtained land there under the leadership of a man named Zeniff, who became their king (Mosiah 9:1–7).
Zeniff’s son was wicked King Noah. King Noah would not listen to the prophet Abinadi and the Lamanites invaded the land. King Noah was killed (by fire) after he and his priests fled from the Lamanites, but had left their wives and children to die. The people are defeated by the Lamanites, but Limhi, King Noah’s son, gets control of the kingdom and the people are permitted to posses the land if they pay one half of all that they possess. (Mosiah 19-21)
About 79 years later King Mosiah II, the grandson of the first King Mosiah, “was desirous to know concerning the people who went to dwell in the land of Lehi-Nephi.” He permitted a man named Ammon to lead an expedition for this purpose (note that this Ammon was not the son of Mosiah who later preached the gospel among the Lamanites). Ammon and his brethren found King Limhi and his people. Limhi was Zeniff’s grandson (Mosiah 7:1–11).
The Book of Mosiah picks up with King Benjamin after the Book of Omni. Why do we have so little records for quite a period of time leading up to this?
Because Omni, Amaron, Chemish, Abinadom, and Amaleki were either evil men or they did not keep records.
Who were the Mulekites?
The Mulekites were the people of Zarahemla that were discovered by Mosiah after they fled the land of Nephi into the wilderness.
Mulek was one of the sons of wicked King Zedekiah. According to the biblical account, all of the sons of Zedekiah were killed when he was taken captive and blinded. But, from the Book of Mormon account, we know that Mulek somehow escaped and, along with others, made their way to the new world. They are not referred to in the Book of Mormon as Mulekites but are commonly called by that name in gospel conversations.
The Mulekites are the people of Zarahemla that were discovered by Mosiah and his people.
BofM made easier, part #1, p. 391
Who were the Jaredites?
The Jaredites. The Jaredites are discussed in the book of Ether. The Jaredites came from the people of the Tower of Babel. Here is a brief history
- Tower of Babel—Jaredites language not confounded. (Ether 1:33–37)
- Jaredites traveled to great sea, and barges were built. (Ether 2:1–18)
- Brother of Jared saw the premortal Christ. (Ether 3:6–16)
- Jaredites journeyed to the promised land. (Ether 6:1–12)
- Secret combination between Jared and Akish. (Ether 8:7–19)
- The prophet Ether warned King Coriantumr and the Jaredites. (Ether 12:1–5; Ether 13:1–22)
- Destruction of the Jaredites. (Ether 15:13–32)
- Coriantumr—last Jaredite survivor discovered by Mulekites. (Ether 15:32. See also Omni 1:20–22.)
Who were the people of Zeniff?
You will learn about the people of Zeniff in the book of Mosiah. Here is a brief history:
About 400 years after Nephi fled his wicked brothers, the Nephites were led by a king named Mosiah. This area was called the “Land of Nephi” or “Land of Nephi-Lehi.” The Lord commanded Mosiah to flee from the land of Nephi with “as many as would hearken unto the voice of The Lord.” Mosiah and his people discovered a group of people called the people of Zarahemla. The two groups of people united and called themselves Nephites. Mosiah was appointed to be their king (Omni 1:12–19).
A group of Nephites left the land of Zarahemla to regain part of the land of Nephi (Omni 1:27). They obtained land there under the leadership of a man named Zeniff, who became their king (Mosiah 9:1–7).
Zeniff’s son was wicked King Noah. King Noah would not listen to the prophet Abinadi and the Lamanites invaded the land. King Noah was killed (by fire) after he and his priests fled from the Lamanites, but had left their wives and children to die. The people are defeated by the Lamanites, but Limhi, King Noah’s son, gets control of the kingdom and the people are permitted to posses the land if they pay one half of all that they possess. (Mosiah 19-21)
About 79 years later King Mosiah II, the grandson of the first King Mosiah, “was desirous to know concerning the people who went to dwell in the land of Lehi-Nephi.” He permitted a man named Ammon to lead an expedition for this purpose (note that this Ammon was not the son of Mosiah who later preached the gospel among the Lamanites). Ammon and his brethren found King Limhi and his people. Limhi was Zeniff’s grandson (Mosiah 7:1–11).
What was the large stone with engravings that was brought to King Mosiah?
It contained some history of the Jaredites. It contained an account of Coriantumr (the last Jaredite except for Ether), and the slain of his people. Coriantumr was discovered by the people of Zarahemla (Mulekites), and he dwelt with them for the space of nine moons or nine months.
Omni 1: 21
BofM made easier part 1, p. 392
What is the order of discovery in the following groups of people…
Mulekites
People of Zeniff
Jaredites
King Mosiah’s people
Jaredites (from Tower of Babel, cross to promised land, horrible war that kills basically all of the Jaredites)—
Mulekites who find Coriantumr (last survivor of Jaredites other than Ether)—
After fleeing from the wicked Nephites, King Mosiah and his people discover the Mulekites in the land of Zarahemla. Both people rejoice and join together. King Mosiah is made king over the people.—
People of Zeniff–A group of Nephites led by Zeniff left the land of Zarahemla to regain part of the land of Nephi-Lehi. (Omni 1:27). They obtained land from the Lamanites, but it was actually a trick. Zeniff’s people prevail against the Lamanites. (Mosiah 9:1–7, 10).
Zeniff’s son was wicked King Noah. King Noah would not listen to the prophet Abinadi and the Lamanites invaded the land. King Noah was killed (by fire) after he and his priests fled from the Lamanites, but had left their wives and children to die. The people are defeated by the Lamanites, but Limhi, King Noah’s son, gets control of the kingdom and the people are permitted to posses the land if they pay one half of all that they possess. (Mosiah 19-21)
Omni 1 and Ether 15
Why were the Mulekites so happy that King Mosiah had found them?
King Mosiah’s people had the plates of brass which contained a record of the Jews (their ancestors). The Mulekites language had been corrupted and they had no records. They also denied God and the Savior. The Mulekites also had a large stone which King Misiah was able to interpret. It told about the Jaredites and Coriantumr. They joined together and King Mosiah became their King.
Omni 1: 14-22
The book of Omni mentions several important events and groups of people who will be studied later in Book of Mormon history. What are the events and who are they?
- The people of Mosiah when they flee the land of Nephi and are led by God into the land of Zarahemla and meet the Mulekites (also called the people of Zarahemla). Mosiah I is appointed King.
- It mentions the Mulekites and how they came to be in the promised land.
- It mentions the large stone with engravings (containing some history of the Jaredites) that the Mulekites had and they brought it to Mosiah to interpret. It contained an account of Coriantumr (the last Jaredite except for Ether) and the slain Jaredites and how their bones were scattered in the land northward (land of desolation). It is also described that Coriantumrs ancestors had come from the Tower of Babel and how The Lord had confounded their language. These were the Jaredites. We learn about them in Ether.
- Amaleki was born in the days of King Mosiah I but also lives when King Benjamin (King Mosiah’s son) is King. He mentions briefly how the righteous King Benjamin drives the Lamanites out of the land of Zarahemla. Amaleki had no children, he gives the plates to King Benjamin.
- Amaleki also tells us about a group who went back to the land of Nephi “to possess the land of their inheritance.” They were all killed except for 50 who came back to the land of Zarahemla. That group plus a considerable more went back into the wilderness and Amaleki had not heard from them. Amaleki had a brother (I think his brother was Zeniff??) that had went back with the second group. We learn more about what happened to this group in Mosiah 7:1-9 where we get a flashback. These are the people of Zeniff. King Zeniff sons is then the wicked King Noah who Abinadi preached to, but ultimately converts Alma. Mosiah 9-22.
The final portion of Omni was written by Amaleki. He lived during the time of King Benjamin, following the Nephites migration to the land of Zarahemla. Amaleki extends an invitation three times as well as specific direction that tells us how. What is the invitation and how do we do it?
Omni 1:25-26
To come unto Christ
You should have found the following counsel on how to come unto Christ.
- Believe
- Partake of His salvation (receive the blessings of His atonement)
- Offer your whole soul to Him (give your heart, your desires, and your best efforts-holding nothing back)
- Fast and pray
- Endure to the end
Was Omni righteous or wicked?
He describes himself as a wicked man.
Omni 1: 2
