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Question: What was the fate of the original Lehite colonists?
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Question: What was the fate of the original Lehite colonists?
Book of Mormon Central, KnoWhy #231: How Could So Many People Have Died At The Battle Of Cumorah? (Video)
The majority of the original immigrants leave with Nephi, yet the Lamanites ultimately severely outnumber the Nephites
In 2 Nephi 5, Nephi and his group finally make a break with Laman, Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael:
5 And it came to pass that the Lord did warn me, that I, Nephi, should depart from them and flee into the wilderness, and all those who would go with me. 6 Wherefore, it came to pass that I, Nephi, did take my family, and also Zoram and his family, and Sam, mine elder brother and his family, and Jacob and Joseph, my younger brethren, and also my sisters, and all those who would go with me. And all those who would go with me were those who believed in the warnings and the revelations of God; wherefore, they did hearken unto my words. 7 And we did take our tents and whatsoever things were possible for us, and did journey in the wilderness for the space of many days. And after we had journeyed for the space of many days we did pitch our tents. [italics added] (2 Nephi 5:5 - 7)
| "Nephites" | Fate | "Lamanites" | Fate | Other | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nephi & family | flee | Laman [+wife?] | stay | Ishmael | Dies in Old World |
| Sam & family | flee | Lemuel [+wife?] | stay | Ishamel's wife | Unknown (dies?) |
| Jacob [no wife?] | flee | Sons of Ishmael [+wives?] | stay | Lehi | Dies prior to split |
| Joseph [no wife?] | flee | — | — | Sariah | Unknown (dies?) |
| Nephi's sisters | flee | — | — | — | — |
| Zoram & family | flee | — | — | — | — |
The majority of the original immigrants leave with Nephi, and, despite all the family members that he mentions, he also says he took "all those who would go with me." There is no one of the original colony unaccounted for; those who went with Nephi (and later made him their teacher and ruler) were likely 'others' who have "believed in the warnings and revelations of God." Despite the majority leaving with Nephi, the Lamanites ultimately seriously outnumbered the Nephites.
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