Page:A dictionary of the Book of Mormon.pdf/76

Ammonites. in the Book of Mormon (II Nephi, 21:14), in a quotation from the 11th chapter of Isaiah.  AMMONITES, or PEOPLE OF AMMON. The Christian Lamanites or people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi. The name of Ammonites was given to them by the Nephites because Ammon was the chief instrument in their conversion. When they left their homes in the land of Nephi (B. C. 78) they settled, by permission of the Nephites, in the land of Jershon, which was considered a place of security for them, as it lay far to the north of their former homes, and the great body of the Nephite people inhabited the intervening regions. In Jershon, Ammon became their High Priest. About the year B, C. 76, they were visited by the Anti-Christ Korihor, but they gave no heed to his teachings, and he was, by Ammon's direction, removed beyond their borders. In the next year, many of the persecuted Zoramites found refuge in their territory, and for the protection and aid they afforded them they were threatened with war. To avoid being involved in this strife and being compelled to break their oaths of non-resistance, they moved into the land of Melek, and the armies of the Nephites occupied Jershon (B. C. 74). From time to time they received accessions to their numbers from Lamanite prisoners of war and others who preferred to remain with the Nephites. To them also the servants of the king of the Lamanites repaired in the days of Amalickiah when they were falsely charged with his murder. In later years (B, C. 46), numbers of them emigrated to the northern continent. The two thousand young men who fought so valiantly under Helaman (B. C. 65), in the lengthened war commenced by Amalickiah, were of this people. In process of time they became absorbed into the Nephite race.   AMMONIHAH. The founder of the City of Ammonihah. We have no particulars of his life.