:''Ammoron should not be confused with Amaron, Ammaron,
Amoron
This list is intended as a compendium of individuals mentioned in the Book of Mormon.
Notation
Names with superscripts (e.g., Nephi1) are generally numbered according to the index in the LDS scripture, the Book of Mormon (with minor changes). ...
, or
Moron (Book of Mormon)
This list is intended as a compendium of individuals mentioned in the Book of Mormon.
Notation
Names with superscripts (e.g., Nephi1) are generally numbered according to the index in the LDS scripture, the Book of Mormon (with minor changes). ...
three other Book of Mormon figures with similar names.''
According to the
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a religious text of the Latter Day Saint movement, first published in 1830 by Joseph Smith as ''The Book of Mormon: An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi''.
The book is one of ...
, Ammoron () was a
Nephite
In the Book of Mormon, the Nephites () are one of four groups (along with the Lamanites, Jaredites, and Mulekites) said to have settled in the ancient Americas. The term is used throughout the Book of Mormon to describe the religious, poli ...
traitor. A descendant of Zoram, he succeeded his brother
Amalickiah
In the Book of Mormon, Amalickiah () was a Nephite dissenter. His first appearance in the text is as a political dissident with aspirations to re-establish a monarchy. Later, after seizing the Lamanite throne, Amalickiah led a war to enslave the ...
as the king of the
Lamanites
In the Book of Mormon, the Lamanites () are one of the four peoples (along with the Jaredites, the Mulekites, and the Nephites) described as having settled in the ancient Americas. The Lamanites also play a role in the prophecies and reve ...
. Amalickiah, as king, started a major war with the Nephites, which the Nephites had hoped would end with his death. However, Ammoron seized power and continued the war. Eventually his armies were defeated after he was assassinated by
Teancum
According to the Book of Mormon, Teancum () was a Nephite military leader. He is described in the Book of Alma between Alma 50:35 and Alma 62:40 (inclusive). According to LDS teachings, he is known for the assassinations of King Amalickiah and th ...
.
Narration
Ammoron is a Nephite turned Lamanite who takes over the Lamanite armies after his brother, King Amalickiah is killed by Teancum. He aims to maintain the cities the Lamanites had already conquered and sustains attacks on Nephite borders. He later writes
Moroni to exchange prisoners, who asks for a Nephite man, wife, and their children in return for every Lamanite. Ammoron agrees to the exchange, but promises eternal war against the Nephites for all they have done, which leads Moroni to break the agreement. Ammoron later offers to exchange the city of
Antiparah in return for a Nephite named
Helaman
The Book of Mormon mentions three men named Helaman ( ). The first was the son of King Benjamin, king of the united Nephite-Zarahemla kingdom who lived in the 2nd century BC. Besides his genealogy, information about the first Helaman is limit ...
's Lamanite prisoners, but Helaman asks to exchange prisoners for prisoners, which Ammoron refuses.
The war continues and after one particular battle, several Nephite armies follow and surround the Lamanite army at night. Teancum climbs the city wall, goes tent to tent looking for the king, and throws a javelin through his heart.
Interpretation
Antiparah
Grant Hardy
Grant Hardy is professor of history and religious studies and former director of the humanities program at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. He earned his BA in ancient Greek in 1984 from Brigham Young University and his PhD in Chin ...
, professor of history and religious studies, suggests that Ammoron could no longer defend the city of Antiparah and offered it up strategically, but Helaman recognized this and rejected the offer.
Identity
As described by Fatimah Salleh and Margaret Olsen Hemming, Ammoron shows uncertainty of his identity between Nephite and Lamanite in his letter to Moroni, as he claims Zoram as an ancestor but calls himself a "bold Lamanite." He then uses wording to separate himself from the group of the Nephites while also claiming the war is for the wrongs done against the Lamanites, distancing himself from both groups at the same time.
References
Sources Cited
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Book of Mormon people
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