Establishing a Chronology for Zeniff

There is a certain section of the Book of Mormon where most all readers become confused both chronologically and geographically with the flow of the story. This section spans from the book of Omni to the end of the book of Mosiah. It tells the story of a Nephite group which returns to the land of Nephi from the land of Zarahemla. They encounter turbulent times that eventually force the group back to the land of Zarahemla. The following reasons contribute to the problems in understanding:

1. The Nephite history of this time period is on two different sets of records, the small plates of Nephi and Mormon’s abridgment of the large plates of Nephi.

2. There is a transition commentary (Words of Mormon) which bridges Nephite history from the small plates of Nephi to the history contained on the large plates of Nephi.

3. There are multiple events being recorded which are occurring at the same time but at different places.

4. The events have not only been recorded by different record keepers (Amaleki, Mosiah₂, Zeniff, Noah, Limhi, Alma₁), but have been abridged and connected by Mormon.

5. Parts of Mormon’s abridgment are written in 3rd person retrospective; however, Mormon apparently includes intact parts of the story. These parts, along with the references from the small plates are told in 1st person narrative.

6. There are very few definite calendar dates included in the records relating to this part of Nephite history.

7. In the last 3 pages of the small plates (book of Omni), possibly 200-230 years of Nephite history are covered with almost no details.

Some attempts have been made to address these problems in the past. ¹ However, in order to give the reader more understanding of the story of Zeniff, the following charts have been compiled:

#1. A Reading Sequence Overview of the Story of Zeniff.

#2. A Chronological Listing of Events for the Story of Zeniff.

A Reading Sequence Overview of the Story of Zeniff

The main observation that the reader should make from the following outline of the reading sequence is that while the reading sequence always goes “A,B,C,D, etc., the chronological sequence doesn’t follow suit by going (1), (2),(3),(4), etc. That is, the story is chronologically mixed up.²

1. Book of Omni (record of Amaleki)

At Nephi

A. (1) Mosiah₁ took the Large Plates of Nephi (Omni 1:11)

B. (2) Mosiah₁ did flee from Nephi and came down to Zarahemla (Omni 1:12)

At Zarahemla

C. (3) Mosiah₁ discovered people descended from Jews (Mulekites) (Omni 1:15)

D. (4) Peoples united and appointed Mosiah₁ their king (Omni 1:19)

E. (5) Mosiah₁ interpreted a stone brought to him by the people of Zarahemla which was a record of Coriantumr and

           his people. (Omni 1:20)

F. (11) Mosiah₁ died and his son Benjamin reigned in his stead (Omni 1:23)

G. (*?) There was a serious war in the days of Benjamin, Lamanites driven out of land (Omni 1:24)

H. (37*) Amaleki exhorts everyone to come to Christ. (Omni 1:26)

I. (6*) A group left for Nephi, but returned because of contention. (Omni 1:27-28)

J. (7*) Others (a considerable number plus Amaleki’s brother) went up into the wilderness. (Omni 1:29-30)

K. (38a*) Amaleki is about to lie down in his grave, he completes his record & shall deliver it to Benjamin (Omni 1:30,12)

         (This is the end of the small plates of Nephi)

2. Words of Mormon (Mormon connects the Small plates with the Abridgment of the Large plates) (A.D. 375-76)

A. (74) Mormon connects the history on the small plates of Nephi with his abridgment of the large plates of Nephi:

At Zarahemla

B. (38b*) Amaleki delivered his record to king Benjamin (W of M 1:10)

C. (38c*) King Benjamin put this record with the records of the kings.(Large plates of Nephi) (Omni 1:11) (W of M 1:10)

D. (*?) Lamanites came down against the Nephites in Zarahemla, were driven out of the land (W of M 1:13-14)

E. (*?) False prophets had come among the Nephites (W of M 1:15-16)

F. (*?) Many dissensions away unto the Lamanites (W of M 1:16)

G. (*?) Holy prophets had helped king Benjamin establish peace (W of M 1:17-18)

3. Book of Mosiah (Mormon’s abridgment)

At Zarahemla (record of Benjamin)

A. (39*) No more contention, king Benjamin had continual peace all the remainder of his days (Mosiah 1:1)

B. (40) King Benjamin Tower Speech (Mos 2-5)

At Zarahemla (record of Mosiah₂)

A. (41) The first year of the reign of Mosiah₂, about 476 years from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem (Mos 6:4)

B. (42*) King Benjamin lived three years and he died (Mos 6:5)

C. (42*) There was no contention among all the people (of Mosiah₂₎ for the space of three years (Mos 6:7)

D. (42*) Mosiah₂ had had continual peace for the space of three years (Mos 7:1)

E. (43) Mosiah₂ sends Ammon₁ & 15 men to find Nephi from Zarahemla (Mosiah 7:1)

F. (44) 40 day journey (Mosiah 7:4)

G. (46b*) Ammon₁ meets Limhi (a descendant of Zeniff) (Mosiah 7:7)

H. (47*) Ammon₁ learns of failed 43 man (Limhi) expedition to Zarahemla (Mosiah 8:7)

I. (*?) a. King Limhi caused that 43 people should journey to find the land of Zarahemla (Mos 8:7)

J. (*?) b. Limhi expedition discovered a land of bones and water (Mosiah 8:8)

K. (*?) d. Limhi expedition found 24 gold plates (Mosiah 8:9)

                (This record of Mosiah now stops and it continues in Mosiah 25:1)

Zarahemla to Nephi (Record of Zeniff) (Zeniff tells his story)

A. (6*) Zeniff is part of a spy mission from Zarahemla to the land of Nephi. After bloody contention, Zeniff returns (Mosiah 9:1)

B. (7*) Zeniff leads a group to the land of Nephi (Mosiah 9:3)

At Nephi

C. (8) Zeniff covenants with Lamanite king to let him possess Lehi-Nephi and Shilom. (Mosiah 9:6)

D. (9*?) In the thirteenth year of his reign, Zeniff’s group has a war, Lamanites invade Shilom (Mosiah 9:14)

E. (10*?) We did inherit the land of our fathers for many years, yea, for the space of twenty and two years (Mos 10:3)

F. (10*?) We did have continual peace in the land for the space of twenty and two years (Mos 10:5)

G. (12*) Zeniff confers kingdom on Noah (Mosiah 10:22)

(Mormon starts abridging the Record of Zeniff)

At Nephi

H. (12*) Zeniff conferred kingdom on Noah (Mosiah 11:1)

I. (13) Noah builds many elegant and spacious buildings (Mosiah 11:8-9)

J. (14) Alma₁ is appointed a Priest of Noah

K. (15) Abinadi comes among people of Noah, is rejected, and king Noah seeks to slay him (Mos 11:20-29)

L. (16) After the space of two years, Abinadi returns, is captured, and is tried (Mosiah 12-17)

M. (17) Alma₁ escapes, writes all the words which Abinadi had spoken (Mos 17:3-4)(age 34)

N. (18) Abinadi is slain by fire (Mos 17:13)

O. (19) Alma₁ spends many days at Waters of Mormon, had gathered a goodly number (Mos 18:7)

P. (20) King Noah sends his army to find Alma₁ (Mos 18:33)

Q. (21*) Alma₁ flees Noah’s Army (Mosiah 18:34) (the story of Alma is continued in Mosiah 23:1)

R. (22) Lamanites attack Noah at the City of Nephi (Mosiah 19:6)

S. (23) Noah flees without women & children (Mosiah 19:11) (the story of Noah’s group is continued in Mosiah 19:23)

T. (24) Limhi (the son of Noah) stays with women & children and makes peace with Lamanites (Mosiah 19:16)

U. (25) Limhi and Gideon send men to search for Noah’s group (Mos 19:17-18)

V. (26) They find the remnants of Noah’s group (Mos 19:18)

W. (27) They are told that Noah has been killed (Mos 19:20)

X. (28) They are told that Noah’s Priests have fled (Mos 19:21)

Y. (29) They return to Limhi’s group (Mos 19:24)

Z. (30) Limhi, being the son of the king, has had the kingdom conferred upon him by the people (Mosiah 19:26)

Aa. (31) Limhi’s people did have continual peace for the space of two years (Mosiah 19:29)

Bb. (32) The priests carry off the daughters of the Lamanites(20:5)

Cc. (33) The Lamanites go to war because their daughters were taken(20:6)

Dd. (34) Limhi’s group spares Lamanite king, pacifies Lamanites (Mosiah 10:10-26)

Ee. (35) Lamanites persecute Limhi’s group, put down three rebellions (Mos 21:1-13)

Ff. (36) Priests of Noah had come into Nephi and carried off grain and precious things (Mos 21:20-21)

Gg. (46a*) Limhi discovers Ammon₁ by the gates of Nephi (Mosiah 21:23)(Refer to Mosiah 7:7)

Hh. (*?) a. King Limhi sent a small number of men to find Zarahemla.(Mos 21:25-27)

Ii. (*?) c. Expedition found a land which had been peopled & destroyed, with dry bones. Supposed it to be the land

           of Zarahemla (Mosiah 21:26).

Jj. (45*) e. Limhi expedition returned not many days before the coming of Ammon(Mosiah 21:26).

Kk. (48) Ammon₁ with Limhi plan to deliver people from bondage.(Mos 22:1)

Ll. (49) Limhi’s people escape & go to Zarahemla (Mos 22:11)

Mm. (50*) Lamanites pursue Limhi and get lost (Mos 22:15) (their story is continued in Mosiah 23:30)

From waters of Mormon to Helam (Record of Alma)

A. (21*) Alma₁ flees 8 days to Helam (Mos 23:1-3)(Refer back to Mosiah 18:34)

At Helam

B. (?) Alma’s people prosper, build city of Helam (Mosiah 23:19-20)

C. (53*) An army of the Lamanites came into the borders of the land (Mosiah 23:25)

D. (50*) Lamanites were looking for Limhi (Mos 23:30) (refer to Mosiah 22:16)

E. (51) Lamanites had found priests of Noah in the land of Amulon (Mos 23:31) (refer to Mosiah 20:1)

F. (52) The Priests had joined the Lamanites (Mos 23:35)

G. (53*) Lamanites find Alma and put his people in bondage (Mos 23:35-37)

H. (54) Alma shows Lamanites the way back to Nephi (Mos 23:36-37)

I. (55) Lamanites leave guards, go back to land of Nephi & return with families (Mos 23:37-38)

J. (56) Lamanites taught language, writing (trade) by Amulon (Mos 24:3-7)

K. (57) Amulon uses power to persecute Alma (Mos 24:8)

L. (58) Alma’s people escape & flee to the Valley of Alma (Mos 24:20)

M. (59) Alma’s people continue flight (12 days) to Zarahemla (Mos 24:25)

Ammon₁, Limhi, and Alma are now in Zarahemla (Record of Mosiah₂ continued (Mormon’s abridgement)

L. (60) Mosiah₂ reads Zeniff’s record to the people (Mos 25:5)

M. (61) Mosiah₂ reads Alma’s record to the people (Mos 25:6)

N. (62) All people numbered with Nephites (Mos 25:13)

O. (63) 7 Churches established by Alma₁ (Mos 25:19,23)

P. (64) Church persecuted by unbelievers (Mos 27:1)

Q. (65) Mosiah₂ commands “Equality Among Men”–>(Peace) (Mos 27:2-7)

R. (66) Persecution returns, Conversion of Alma₂, Sons of Mosiah(Mos 27:8-31)

S. (67) Alma₂, Ammon₂, Aaron, Omner, Himni publish peace (Mos 27:34-37)

T. (68) Alma₂, sons of Mosiah, petition to go to land of Nephi (Mos 28:1)

U. (69) Mosiah₂ translates the 24 plates of gold (Mos 28:11-17)

V. (70) Mosiah₂ confers all records & sacred things on Alma₂ (Mos 28:20)

W. (71) Alma₁ dies at age 82 (Mos 29:45-46)

X. (72) Mosiah₂ (63) dies in the 33rd year of his reign, 509 years from the time Lehi left Jerusalem (Mos 29:46)

Y. (73) 1st year of the Reign of Judges (Mos 29:44) (Alma 1:1)

A Chronological Listing of Events for the Story of Zeniff

All of the events listed in the Reading Sequence Overview will now be listed in their chronological order: (1),(2),(3),(4), etc. The reader will notice that while the chronology of the events becomes somewhat clearer, there are still many questions to answer.³

At Nephi

(1) Mosiah₁ took the large plates of Nephi (Omni 1:11)

(2) Mosiah₁ did flee from Nephi and came down to Zarahemla (Omni 1:12)

At Zarahemla

(3) Mosiah₁ discovered people descended from Jews (Mulekites) (Omni 1:15)

(4) Peoples united and appointed Mosiah₁ their king (Omni 1:19)

(5) Mosiah₁ interpreted a stone brought to him by the people of Zarahemla which was a record of Coriantumr and his people (Omni 1:20)

(6*) Zeniff is part of a spy mission from Zarahemla to the land of Nephi. After bloody contention, Zeniff returns (Mosiah 9:1)

(6*) A group left for Nephi, but returned because of contention (Omni 1:27-28)

(7*) Others (a considerable number plus Amaleki’s brother) went up into the wilderness (Omni 1:29)

(7*) Zeniff leads a group to the land of Nephi (Mosiah 9:3)

(8) Zeniff covenants with Lamanite king to let him possess some land (Mosiah 9:6)

(9*?) In the thirteenth year of his reign, Zeniff’s group has a war, Lamanites invade Shilom (Mosiah 9:14)

(10*?) We did inherit the land of our fathers for many years, yea, for the space of twenty and two years (Mos 10:3)

(10*?) We did have continual peace in the land for the space of twenty and two years (Mos 10:5)

At Zarahemla

(11) Mosiah₁ died and his son Benjamin reigned in his stead (Omni 1:23)

At Nephi

(12) Zeniff confers kingdom on Noah (Mosiah 10:22) (Mosiah 11:1)

(13) Noah builds many elegant and spacious buildings (Mosiah 11:8-9)

(14) Alma₁ is appointed a priest of Noah

(15) Abinadi comes among people of Noah, is rejected, and king Noah seeks to slay him (Mos 11:20-29)

(16) After the space of two years, Abinadi returns, is captured, and is tried (Mosiah 12-17)

(17) Alma₁ escapes, writes all the words which Abinadi had spoken (Mos 17:3-4)(age 34)

(18) Abinadi is slain by fire (Mos 17:13)

(19) Alma spends many days at Waters of Mormon, had gathered a goodly number (Mos 18:7)

(20) King Noah sends his army to find Alma (Mos 18:33)

(21*) Alma₁ flees Noah’s Army (Mosiah 18:34) (the story of Alma is continued in Mosiah 23:1)

At Waters of Mormon

(21*) Alma₁ flees 8 days to Helam (Mos 23:1-3)

At Helam

(?) Alma’s people prosper, build city of Helam (Mosiah 23:19-20)

At Nephi

(22) Lamanites attack Noah at the City of Nephi (Mosiah 19:6)

(23) Noah flees without women & children (Mosiah 19:11) (the story of Noah’s group is continued in Mosiah 19:23)

(24) Limhi (the son of Noah) stays with women & children and makes peace with Lamanites (Mosiah 19:16)

(25) Limhi and Gideon send men to search for Noah’s group(Mos 19:17-18)

(26) They find the remnants of Noah’s group (Mos 19:18)

(27) They are told that Noah has been killed (Mos 19:20)

(28) They are told that Noah’s Priests have fled (Mos 19:21)

(29) They return to Limhi’s group (Mos 19:24)

(30) Limhi, being the son of the king, has had the kingdom conferred upon him by the people (Mosiah 19:26)

(31) Limhi’s people did have continual peace for the space of two years (Mosiah 19:29)

(32) The priests carry off the daughters of the Lamanites(20:5)

(33) The Lamanites go to war because their daughters were taken(20:6)

(34) Limhi’s group spares Lamanite king, pacifies Lamanites (Mosiah 10:10-26)

(35) Lamanites persecute Limhi’s group, put down three rebellions (Mos 21:1-13)

(36) Priests of Noah had come into Nephi and carried off grain and precious things (Mos 21:20-21)

Meanwhile at Zarahemla

(*?) There was a serious war in the days of Benjamin, Lamanites driven out of land (Omni 1:24)

(*?) Lamanites came down against the Nephites in Zarahemla, were driven out of the land (W.of M. 1:13-14)

(37*) Amaleki exhorts everyone to come to Christ. (Omni 1:26)

(38a*) Amaleki is about to lie down in his grave, he completes his record & shall deliver it to Benjamin (Omni 1:30,12)

(38b*) Amaleki delivered his record to king Benjamin.(W.of M. 1:10)

(38c*) King Benjamin put this record with the records of the kings.(Large plates of Nephi) (Omni 1:11)(W.of M. 1:10)

(*?) False prophets had come among the Nephites (W.of M. 1:15-16)

(*?) Many dissensions away unto the Lamanites (W. of M. 1:16)

(*?) Holy prophets had helped king Benjamin establish peace (W.ofM. 1:17-18)

(39*) No more contention, king Benjamin had continual peace all the remainder of his days. (Mosiah 1:1)

(40) King Benjamin Tower Speech,

(41) The first year of the reign of Mosiah₂, about 476 years from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem (Mos 6:4)

(42*) King Benjamin lived three years and he died (Mos. 6:5)

(42*) There was no contention among all the people (of Mosiah₂₎ for the space of three years (Mos 6:7)

(42*) Mosiah₂ had had continual peace for the space of three years. (Mos 7:1)      

(43) Mosiah₂ sends Ammon₁ & 15 men to find Nephi from Zarahemla (121 B.C.)(Mosiah 7:1)

(44) 40 day journey (Mosiah 7:4)

Meanwhile at Nephi

(*?) a. King Limhi sent a small number of men to find Zarahemla.(Mos 21:25-27) (Refer to the Record of Mosiah)

(*?) a. King Limhi caused that 43 people should journey to find the land of Zarahemla (Mos 8:7)

(*?) b. Limhi expedition discovered a land of bones and water(Mosiah 8:8)

(*?) c. Expedition found a land which had been peopled & destroyed, with dry bones. Supposed it to be the land of

           Zarahemla (Mosiah 21:26)

(*?) d. Limhi expedition found 24 gold plates (Mosiah 8:9)

(45*) e. Limhi expedition returned not many days before the coming of Ammon₁ (Mosiah 21:26)

(46a*) Limhi discovered Ammon by the gates of Nephi (Mosiah 21:23)

(46b*) Ammon₁ meets Limhi (a descendant of Zeniff) (Mosiah 7:7)

(47*) Ammon₁ learns of failed 43 man (Limhi) expedition to Zarahemla (Mosiah 8:7)

(48) Ammon₁ with Limhi plan to deliver people from bondage (Mos 22:1)

(49) Limhi’s people escape & go to Zarahemla (Mos 22:11)

(50*) Lamanites pursue Limhi and get lost (Mos 22:15) (their story is continued in Mosiah 23:30)

At Helam

(50*) Lamanites were looking for Limhi (Mos 23:30) (refer to Mosiah 22:16)

(51) Lamanites had found priests of Noah in the land of Amulon (Mos 23:31) (refer to Mosiah 20:1)

(52) The Priests had joined the Lamanites (Mos 23:35)

(53*) Lamanites come to Helam, find Alma₁ and put his people in bondage(Mos 23:25, 35-37)

(54) Alma₁ shows Lamanites the way back to Nephi (Mos 23: 36-37)

(55) Lamanites leave guards, go back to Nephi & return with families (Mos 23:37-38)

(56) Lamanites taught language, writing (trade) by Amulon (Mos 24:3-7)

(57) Amulon uses power to persecute Alma (Mos 24: 8)

(58) Alma’s people escape & flee to the Valley of Alma (Mos 24:20)

(59) Alma’s people continue flight (12 days) to Zarahemla (Mos 24:25)

Ammon, Limhi, and Alma are now in Zarahemla

(60) Mosiah₂ reads Zeniff’s record to the people (Mos 25:5)

(61) Mosiah₂ reads Alma’s record to the people (Mos 25:6)

(62) All people numbered with Nephites (Mos 25:13)

(63) 7 Churches established by Alma₁ (Mos 25:19,23)

(64) Church persecuted by unbelievers (Mos 27:1)

(65) Mosiah₂ commands “Equality Among Men”–>(Peace) (Mos 27:2-7)

(66) Persecution returns, Conversion of Alma₂, Sons of Mosiah(Mos 27:8-31)

(67) Alma₂, Ammon₂, Aaron, Omner, Himni publish peace (Mos 27:34-37)

(68) Alma₂, sons of Mosiah, petition to go to Land of Nephi (Mos 28:1)

(69) Mosiah₂ translates the 24 plates of gold (Mos 28:11-17)

(70) Mosiah₂ confers all records & sacred things on Alma₂ (Mos 28:20)

(71) Alma₁ dies at age 82 (Mos 29:45-46)

(72) Mosiah₂ (63) dies in the 33rd year of his reign, 509 years from the time Lehi left Jerusalem (Mos 29:46)

(73) 1st year of the Reign of Judges (Mos 29:44) (Alma 1:1)

Near the end of Nephite history in the land northward

(74) Mormon connects the history on the small plates of Nephi with his abridgment of the large plates of Nephi

           (Words of Mormon 1)