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Mosiah I. the irruption of an inferior or more barbarous race into the domains of a more highly civilized one, but it is seldom, as in this case, that the superior race moves in a body, occupies the country and unites with the less enlightened people. It is probable that the first feelings of the old settlers were akin to dismay as they learned of the hosts of the invaders that were marching upon them; but these feelings were soon soothed and an understanding arrived at by which the two people became one nation. We are forced to the conclusion that this arrangement could not have been effected without the direct interposition of Heaven, by and through which both peoples were brought to a united purpose and common understanding.

When the Nephites began to comprehend the language of their new fellow citizens, they found that they were the descendants of a colony which had been led from Jerusalem by the hand of the Lord, in the year that that city was destroyed by the king of Babylon (say B. C. 589). (See Mulek.) At this time their king or ruler was named Zarahemla (about B. C. 200). The reason assigned for their departure from the worship of the true God, their degradation and the corruption of their language, was that their forefathers brought with them from their ancient home in Palestine no records or copies of the holy scriptures, to guide and preserve them from error in their isolated land of adoption.

When the two races joined, it was decided that Mosiah should be the king of the united people, though the Nephites were then the less numerous. This arrangement probably grew out of the fact that though fewer in numbers they were the more civilized and, also being worshipers of the God of Israel, they would not willingly submit to be ruled by those who had no knowledge of His laws.

The education of the people of Zarahemla to the standard of the Nephites, and the work of