Few things have altered the theorists’ claims regarding the matching of their Land of Promise models and theories with the scriptural record than their claims of where the Mulekites landed and lived. This because many place the Mulekite landing in the Land Northward and therefore claim there was interaction between the Mulekites and the Jaredites—this led to all sorts of scenarios, from the Jaredite landing on the shore of the Sea East to the Mulekites conquering and subduing the Jaredites to living together in peace, to the Mulekites eventually migrating from the Land Northward to the Land Southward where Mosiah found them.
All of these theories are wrong since they do not match the scriptural record of the Mulekites as recorded by Amaleki.
As an example, theorist Joseph L. Allen claims that the Mulekites were living among the Jaredites, and eventually migrated into the South Wilderness of the Land Southward where he claims Mosiah discovered them (Joseph L. Allen, Exploring the Lands of the Book of Mormon, S.A. Publishers, Orem, Utah, 1989, p 7).
This belief is taken from two scriptural statements that apparently describe the land northward as the one-time home of the Mulekite, and the area of first landing:
• And it bordered upon the land which they called Desolaton, it being so far northward that it came into the land which had been peopled and been destroyed, of whose bones we have spoken, which was discovered by the people of Zarahemla, it being the place of their first landing (Alma 22:30)
Here, the term “people of Zarahemla” refers to those who originally came out of Jerusalem with Mulek, only surviving son of king Zedekiah and have been referred to in modern times as Mulekites. In addition:
• Now the land south was called Lehi and the land north was called Mulek, which was after the son of Zedekiah; for the Lord did bring Mulek into the land north, and Lehi into the land south (Helaman 6:10)
At first glance, it would appear that these scriptures are self-evident and unarguable. However, upon closer examination, we get a clearer understanding: In Alma, the author is talking about the boundaries of both the Nephite and Lamanite lands in conjunction with a proclamation of Lamoni's father, the king of the Lamanites, sends throughout his kingdom (Alma 22:27).
In this side discussion which Mormon enters into the record, he interjects the fact that the Nephites were nearly surrounded by the Lamanites (Alma 22:29), however, the Nephites had taken possession of the land northward, "even until they came to the land which they called Bountiful." Then, in describing Bountiful, Mormon adds that it bordered on the land of Desolation.
A reading of Alma 22:30, and recognizing the various clauses it contains, shows that it reads:
• And it bordered upon the land which they called Desolation, it being so far northward that it came into the land which had been peopled and been destroyed, of whose bones we have spoken, it being the place of their first landing.
The mention of the people of Zarahemla in an adjective clause with a prepositional phrase, is meant to modify part of the earlier compound adjective clause. Or, stated differently, that portion of the verse should read:
• Of whose bones we have spoken, which was discovered by the people of Zarahemla.
That is, the land was so far north that it came into the land (adverbial clause) of the original inhabitants, the Jaredites (compound adjective clause). The bones of these Jaredites were earlier mentioned (still part of the compound adjective clause), and were the same bones found by the people of Zarahemla (adjective clause). This location, where the bones were found in this land far to the north, is where the Jaredites first landed (modifying phrase regarding the land northward).
This long and convoluted scripture has been given to several English teachers, including the Department Chair, who were asked to diagram it and show relationships. Each teacher came up with the same understanding of the sentence as indicated above.
In addition, taking a look at the actual scripture meaning:
And it bordered upon the land which they called Desolation...
In this case, the word “it” refers to Bountiful;
...”it” being so far northward that “it” came into the land...
In this case, the word “it” (used twice) refers to the Land of Desolation;
...which had been peopled and been destroyed...
That is, this land of Desolation had been full of people and the people had been destroyed;
...of whose bones we have spoken...
That is, the destruction of this people and the finding of their bones had been discussed earlier in the scriptural record;
...which was discovered by the people of Zarahemla...
Limhi sent 43 of his peopleº from the city of Lehi-Nephi in search of Zarahemla and they stumbled on the destruction of these bones and Ether's 24 plates of gold;
...it being the place ...
In this case, the word “it” refers to the land northward (or more precisely, the land of Desolation)
...of their first landing.
In this case, the word “their” refers to the people who had peopled the land and who were destroyed (the Jaredites).
It should be kept in mind that Limhi's people were originally from Zarahemla. Whether or not they were Mulekites or Nephites we are not told, but Zeniff led his party south into the land of Nephi and his grandson, Limhi, was desirous to escape the Lamanites and lead his people back to Zarahemla, to he sent a party of 43 men to find Zarahemla and enlist them in their salvation.
Thus, the scriptural record shows that the place of their first landing is referring to the Jaredites (people of the bones) and not the Mulekites (those of Zarahemla who found the bones). With this understanding, we are ready to look at the next verse. Here, another mistake is often made by thinking that Mormon is writing about the Mulekites when in reality he is still talking about the Jaredites.
(See the next post, “The Landing of the Mulekites – Part II,” for more informqtion on where the Mulekites landed and subsequently lived
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