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This is a list of characters in the book of scripture known as the Book of Mormon.

Family of Lehi

Lehi

The patriarch of the family and ancestor to all Nephites and Lamanites. He took his family from Jerusalem in 600 B.C. thanks to a warning from God.
  • Cassandra Truth: In First Nephi 1:18-20, he warns the people of Jerusalem that they will be destroyed by Babylon. No one believes him. Anyone who knows their Bible will know what happened a few years later.
  • The Exile: From Jerusalem
  • Famous Ancestor: In Chapter 5, he learns from the Brass Plates that he is a descendant of Joseph through Manasseh's line.
  • Good Parents: He genuinely cares about his children and does everything he can to keep them on the right path.
  • Happily Married: To Sariah.
  • Hero of Another Story: The lost Book of Lehi.
  • Last Words: Four chapters worth in Second Nephi.
  • Mad Dreamer: What the people of Jerusalem perceived him to be following his prophecy about the city's destruction.
  • Out-of-Character Moment: In chapter 16 of First Nephi, when he starts to murmur against God due to lack of food. Luckily, Nephi shakes him out of it.
  • Tragic Dream: Part of his famous dream from Chapter 8. After seeing the tree of life that represented God's love and the iron rod that led to it, he invited his family to come and partake of the fruit of the tree. Sariah, Nephi, and Sam all do so, while Laman and Lemuel refuse. This turns out to be a Prophetic Dream, in the end.

Nephi

The son of Lehi. Unlike his brothers Laman and Lemuel, he was unwaveringly faithful to God and became a prophet like his father. He is the narrator of First and Second Nephi.
  • Beware the Nice Ones: Do not mess with him or his family if you value your life.
  • Cain and Abel: Is the Abel to Laman and Lemuel's Cain.
  • Determinator: Beaten and tied up by his brothers, nearly killed by a greedy nobleman, mocked mercilessly, beaten and tied up once again and left out alone in a storm, and finally an attempt on his life by said brothers. Through it all, this guy never gives up. "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded," indeed.
  • Dreaming of Things to Come: When he asks to see his father's vision of the Tree of Life, and ends up seeing the entire history of the human race.
  • Famous Ancestor: The whole family is descended from Joseph of Egypt.
  • Foolish Sibling, Responsible Sibling: The responsible one. Lehi later points out to the older brothers that without Nephi, they would all have died in the wilderness.
  • Founder of the Kingdom: The Nephites, hence the name.
  • Heroic Build: He is "large in stature" after all. There are no photos, of course, but it's mentioned that he was able to single-handedly hold down and detain Laban's servant.
  • Humble Hero: A passage in the last half of 2nd Nephi 4 shows just how true this is, wherein he proclaims himself a "wretched man," "easily beset" by sin.
  • Jumped at the Call: "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded..."
  • Narrator: Of both first and second Nephi.
  • The Navigator: During the family's voyage across the sea to the promised land, he was the one to use the Liahona.
  • Offered the Crown: Even though he warns the people against it, they try to make him their king. Technically he refused, but he basically did the job anyway without the title.
  • Pals with Jesus: They have many conversations over the course of the story.
  • Reluctant Monster: When he has to take Laban's life in order to get the Brass Plates, even though he knows he has to do it.
  • Shock and Awe: When he uses the power of God to smite Laman, Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael in 1st Nephi 17.
  • True Companions: With Zoram, as attested by Lehi at the end of his life.
  • Undying Loyalty: To God, to his family, to his father. He even refuses to give up on his brothers even after all they've put him through, and only abandons them when God tells him it's no longer safe for him and his family.
  • The Worf Effect: Despite being "large in stature," he gets beaten up by Laman and Lemuel on a regular basis. Possibly justified by a) they attack him two on one, b) he really isn't a combat specialist, despite perhaps being big, and c) he often made a stronger impression after being tied up.

Laman and Lemuel

The eldest sons of Lehi. They lacked faith in the Lord and continually murmured against their father and brother. It eventually escalated to attempted murder of Nephi following Lehi's death. They are the founders of the Lamanites.
  • Annoying Younger Sibling: How they viewed Nephi — especially after learning that the Lord had chosen him to rule over them.
  • Antagonistic Offspring: To Lehi, whom they resent for leading them away from Jerusalem. They are even mentioned to want him dead on occasion.
  • The Bully: And how!
  • Cain and Abel: The Cain to Nephi and Sam's Abel.
  • Domestic Abuse: To some pretty major extremes at times: starting with physically beating Sam and Nephi, tying up Nephi and leaving him to die in the wilderness, tying Nephi to the mast of their ship and leaving him there during a storm, and on at least two occasions, attempting to outright murder him and Lehi.
  • Foolish Sibling, Responsible Sibling: They're the foolish ones.
  • Founder of the Kingdom: The Lamanites.
  • Holy Burns Evil: In chapter 17, when Nephi shocks them with the power of the Lord.
  • Ignored Epiphany: Way too many to list. They saw an angel, for crying out loud.
  • Predecessor Villain: To every single other villain in the entire Book of Mormon.
  • Sibling Rivalry: Started out as this, anyway. They never get over the fact that most of the family looks to Nephi for leadership, instead of them.
  • Start of Darkness: First Nephi is pretty much this for them.

Jacob

A son of Lehi born during the journey alongside his brother Joseph. Jacob later became a prophet.

Nephites

King Benjamin

A king of the Nephites most famous for his speech to the people.
  • Royals Who Actually Do Something: He fought as a soldier on numerous occasions, and, as shown by Chapter 2 of Mosiah, he "labored with" his "own hands to serve" the people.

King Mosiah II

The son of King Benjamin. He is the namesake of The Book of Mosiah.
  • Last of His Kind: The last of the Nephite Kings, on his own suggestion to switch to democracy.
  • Passing the Torch: The records to Alma the Elder, the kingdom to Alma the Younger as the first Chief Judge.

Ammon (1)

A man charged by Mosiah II to seek out the people of Zeniff. He finds them in captivity to the Lamanites and helps them to escape.
  • Clear My Name: When he first arrives in the Land of Nephi, he is immediately imprisoned by King Limhi, who believed him to be one of the priests of King Noah.
  • Heroic Build: He's described as a "strong and mighty man."

Zeniff's People

King Zeniff

An overzealous adventurer who led a group of people to reclaim the abandoned Land of Nephi.
  • Founder of the Kingdom: The short lived kingdom of the people of Lehi-Nephi.
  • Genre Blindness: He believes that he can make a deal with the king of the Lamanites to live in the Land of Nephi in peace, when it was quite obvious that the king had other plans.
  • Idiot Ball: See above. Arguably, him handing the kingdom to his son Noah.
  • Narrator: Of chapters 9 and 10 of Mosiah.
  • Well-Intentioned Extremist: Not an extremist per se, but while his immense zeal to reclaim the Land of Nephi was good at heart, his actions in doing so led to the sufferings of three generations and two peoples.

King Noah

The son of Zeniff who led the people into wickedness. He burnt the prophet Abinadi at the stake for preaching against him, and he was later burnt at the stake by his own people according to Abinadi's prophecy.
  • Archnemesis Dad: To Limhi, at least to an extent.
  • Bad Boss: Orders his men to kill Alma simply for speaking up in Abinadi's defense.
  • Big Bad: Arguably of the central arc in the Book of Mosiah.
  • Dirty Coward: In chapter 19, when he orders the men to leave behind the women and children when fleeing from the Lamanite army.
  • Disproportionate Retribution: Attempting to kill Alma simply for speaking in a prisoner's defense, and putting Abinadi to death for preaching the scriptures (which just so happened to be condemning Noah and his priests' actions).
  • Karmic Death: Twofold: he is put to death by his own people for forcing them to abandon their wives and children, and he is burned at the stake in the same way he executed Abinadi, something Abinadi prophesied seconds before his death in Mosiah 17:18.
  • Puppet King: To his priests, best shown when he briefly considers setting Abinadi free before the priests flatter him and strengthen his resolve to execute Abinadi.

King Limhi

Noah's son. He attempted to return his people to righteousness after his father's death. He, alongside Ammon and Gideon (and the Lord, of course) led the people out of captivity and back to the land of Zarahemla.
  • Drinking on Duty: In chapter 22, he, Ammon, and his men get the Lamanite guards to do this in order to escape and flee to Zarahemla.
  • Kangaroo Court: When he and his men discover Ammon's group, they throw them in prison without a second thought. They do hold a trial for them later, but still . . .

Abinadi

A prophet who preached against the wickedness of Noah. He was tried before Noah and his priests, refused to deny what he had taught, and was burned at the stake for it.
  • Final Speech: Just before his death in Mosiah 17, prophesying that the same fate will befall Noah and his priests.
  • Glamour Failure: After being kicked out of the city once, he comes back in disguise. It doesn't take long for him to get caught again.
  • Holy Burns Evil: In Mosiah 12, when the guards are ordered to take him away, they are thrown back by the power of God so that Abinadi can finish delivering his message.
  • It Is Not My Time: The reason the guards are not able to take him away.

Alma the Elder

A priest of Noah who was converted by Abinadi's preaching. He tried to stand up for Abinadi and was cast out. He eventually formed his own people in the wilderness. The people came into bondage under the Lamanites for a time, but eventually escaped thanks to the Lord's power and joined the people of Zarahemla. Alma became head of the Church, eventually passing it on to his son.
  • Antagonistic Offspring: His son Alma the Younger, at first.
  • Famous Ancestor: He is described as a descendant of Nephi.
  • Father to His Men: to the church that he founded.
  • Founder of the Kingdom: After being banished, he teaches Abinadi's words to others in secret, building up a church. Eventually they had to flee from King Noah's forces, founding their own city out in the jungle.
  • Happiness in Slavery: When the Lamanites (and the former priests of Noah) enslaved the people and forced them into heavy labor, the people kept their spirits up by continually praying to God, being strengthen and cheered by His power.
  • Heel–Face Turn: He was originally one of Noah's corrupt priests, but his heart was changed by Abinadi's words and he ended up following in the prophet's footsteps.
  • Hero of Another Story: During the account by Limhi and Ammon. His story is finally told in later chapters.
  • Heroic Lineage: He is a direct descendant of Nephi, and the prophets after him are an almost perfect direct sequence of father to son.
  • High Priest: He was a priest in Noah's court, and, following his Heel–Face Turn, became the high priest over his people and later over the whole church once his people rejoined the people of Zarahemla.
  • Made a Slave: Under the Lamanites and the former priest of Noah.
  • Narrator: Of his portion of the Book of Mosiah.
  • Only Sane Man: He was the only one among Noah's priests to believe Abinadi's words and stand up for him.
  • One-Steve Limit: Averted with his son Alma the Younger.
  • The Pollyanna: Because of the prayers in their hearts, the Lord's spirit made Alma and his people continually happy and strong despite the terrible slave conditions they were facing.
  • Slave Liberation: God accomplished this for Alma and his people by causing a deep sleep to come onto all of the Lamanites.
  • The Exile: After being banished from Noah's court. Later his people as well.

The Priests of Noah

The wicked and corrupt priests who advise and manipulate King Noah.
  • Abduction Is Love: After being exiled into the wilderness, the priests got a little lonely, so they effectively raided a girls' camp for Lamanites and kidnapped the entire group, eventually marrying them and later using them as bait to escape punishment from the Lamanite armies.
  • Conspicuous Consumption: Their judgment seats were "ornamented with pure gold."
  • Corrupt Church: What the Church had become under their leadership.
  • Dirty Coward: They alongside Noah abandoned their wives and children to be slaughtered by the Lamanites so that they could get away, and later abandoned King Noah to suffer the same fate at the hands of their own enraged people. After hiding out in the woods for years, they abducted new wives from the Lamanites and then used them as leverage to avoid any punishment.
  • Dropped a Bridge on Them: They and their descendants were eventually completely wiped out in a random battle, effectively fulfilling the curse Abinadi placed on them.
  • Hero Killer: To Abinadi and attempted to Alma the Elder.
  • Kangaroo Court: They had no intention of letting Abinadi go free.
  • Karmic Death: It took a couple generations, but still.
  • Man Behind the Man: Using flattery, they effectively controlled everything King Noah did.
  • Manipulative Bastard: See Man Behind the Man as well as Abduction Is Love. Following this, their leader Amulon managed to weasel his way high enough into public office to make life miserable for the people of Alma.
  • Turn Coat: Abandoned their people, their king, and eventually became accepted as fully-fledged Lamanites.
  • Villain Team-Up: When they joined the Lamanites.

Alma the Younger

The son of Alma. As a youth, he rebelled against the church and tried to tear it down until and angel appeared to him, leaving him in a coma for three days. When he came out of it, he was fully converted to the gospel. He soon became the first Chief Judge and the leader of the church, but he gave up his judgeship in order to spend more time preaching. Most of his preaching efforts are detailed in the book of Alma, named after him. He was eventually translated, much like Moses.

The Sons of Mosiah

Alma's friends who were converted by the angel as well and then devoted their lives to missionary service, turning down the crown in the process.

Ammon

The most well known of the four. It was through his efforts that King Lamoni's people were converted to the Lord.

Aaron, Omner, and Himni

The other three of the brothers. Aaron is the only one we really see anything of.

Amulek

A man living in Ammonihah who is instructed by an angel to take Alma the Younger in and help him preach to the wicked people of the town. He is a constant companion to Alma following that.

Zeezrom

A lawyer in Ammonihah who attempts to shame Alma and Amulek and disprove their words. He ends up converted by their preaching and cast out of the city. He later joins Alma and Amulek on a mission to the apostate Zoramites.

Korihor

An antichrist who attempts to destroy the church. He is revealed as a fraud deceived by the devil and is cursed to be a mute. He dies being trampled by the Zoramites.

Helaman

Alma's oldest son and the most valiant in the faith. He becomes the prophet following Alma.
  • A Father to His Men Should be obvious in his case, given they're literally called the "Sons of Helaman."

Pahoran

Chief Judge and son to Alma's successor Nephihah. He helped Captain Moroni during the war with the Lamanites and even fought alongside him during the battle with the Kingmen.

Captain Moroni

The Book of Mormon equivalent to Chuck Norris. The leader of the Nephite army who led them in battle during the war with the Nephites. He was a master strategist and valiant believer in the power of God.

Teancum

Another of Captain Moroni's men. He is notable for killing not only Amalickiah but also Amalickiah's brother Ammoron, giving his life in the process.

The Sons of Helaman

An army formed by Helaman from the children of the Lamanite converts, the Anti-Nephi-Lehies. Not one was slain in battle due to their immense faith in God.

Nephi and Lehi

The sons of Helaman II named after their ancestors. They were great missionaries for the Lord, and Nephi acted as prophet.

Gadianton Robbers

A group of dissenters from among the Nephites and Lamanites who would murder and kill secretly to get gain. Although they were cast out by the Lamanites, they were eventually accepted almost mutually by the Nephites.

  • Ancient Conspiracy: After their formation, they proceeded to basically run the Nephite government from behind on various occasions.
  • Biblical Bad Guy: Though not literally Biblical, they essentially occupy the same position in Mormon folklore and belief.
  • Big Bad: After their formation, the group remains the most persistent force for evil in the Book of Mormon, and their teachings are to blame for the Nephites losing their virtue and being destroyed.
  • From Nobody to Nightmare: As their name implies, they began as a group of robbers and thieves. They ended up basically running the whole Nephite civilization.
  • The Mafia: What they started out as.

Nephi (3)

The son of Nephi the son of Helaman. He lived to see Jesus Christ's appearance to the people and was made one of his disciples.

The Twelve Nephite Disciples

Nephi, Timothy, Jonas, Mathoni, Mathonihah, Kumen, Kumenonhi, Shemnon, Jonas, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Zedekiah who were chosen to act as Christ's disciples. Three chose to live until Christ's second coming.

Mormon

A young man who had been given the Nephite records due to his sober mind. He grew to be the commanding general in the Nephite army who witnessed the destruction of the Nephites due to their wickedness. He was eventually killed in battle.

Moroni

The son of Mormon and the last Nephite. After the death of his father and destruction of his people, he spent years in hiding. He completed his father's compilation of the records onto the golden plates and then buried them in the Hill Cumorah. He later appeared as an angel to Joseph Smith and led him to them.

Lamanites

King Lamoni

One of the first converts of the Lamanites thanks to the efforts of Ammon and his brothers.

The Anti-Nephi-Lehies

Converted Lamanites who were cast out and joined the Nephites. They are particularly notable for their oath to never pick up and use a weapon ever again following their conversion.

Amalickiah

A former Nephite who joined the Lamanites after the defeat of the kingmen. Through stratagem and deceit, he became king of the land and declared war on the Nephites.

Ammoron

The brother of Amalickiah who took the throne after Amalickiah's death.

Samuel the Lamanite

A prophet who was sent to preach against the wickedness of the Nephites and prophesy of the coming of Jesus Christ five years later.

Jaredites

A group that had come to the new world at the time of the Tower of Babel and had wiped themselves out by the time of the Nephite, leaving only records behind.

Jared

The leader of the original group that came to the new world.

  • Supporting Leader: He was the leader of his group and his tribe was named after him, but the main focus of the story is on his brother.

The Brother of Jared (Mahonri Moriancumer)

A prophet who received instruction from the Lord regarding he and his brother's people.

Omer

A king of the Jaredites.

Shule

Another king of the Jaredites.

Coriantumr

The last king of the Jaredites and only survivor of the war that wiped them out. He eventually died among the Mulekites.

Ether

The last prophet of the Jaredites and namesake of the Book of Ether. He had tried to warn Coriantumr to repent before it was too late. Coriantumr did eventually repent, but it was too late for his people.

Jesus Christ

See Jesus Christ.

God

See God.

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