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Book of Mormon Commentary
Alma Chapter 14
There are several names in the Book of Mormon in which anti appears, such as Ani-anti, an
Amalekite village (Alma 13:15) ; Ant~on, a piece of gold used for purposes of exchange (Alma
8:62) ; and Antipas, the name of a mountain peak (Alma 21:86).
The old Indian equivalent for "anti.' is anta, which means copper, and from this we have the name
Andes Mountains, The word appears in the Peruvian, Antisuyu, the name given to the eastern part
of the country which is traversed by the loftiest of the Andes Mountains.
Anti-Nephi-Lehi, as the name of a country, would mean a mountain region in the land of Nephi in
the land of Lehi. The brother of King Lamoni was evidently named in honor of such a province,
and the Anti-Nephi-Lehites were the inhabitants of that part of the country and the followers of the
prince of the same name (Alma 14:23, 26). (The Book of Mormon references have been changed
to agree with the RLDS edition.)
Alma 14:20 And they began to be a very industrious people; yea, and they were friendly with the
Nephites; therefore they did open a correspondence with them, and the curse of God did no more follow
them.
They established friendly relations with the Nephites. The Amalekites, Amulonites, and Lamanites
in their lands round about, who were not converted, were stirred up “to anger against their
brethren" (21). 'Therefore they took up arms against the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi" (22).
Alma 14:23 Now the king conferred the kingdom upon his son and he called his name Anti-Nephi-Lehi.
The king died that same year. Ammon, who had been working in Ishmael, saw that the Lamanites
were preparing to make war, and came to Midian to see his brethren ( 25) .They decided to
counsel with King Lamoni in Ishmael, and also with his brother, King Anti-Nephi- Lehi, as to how
they should defend themselves (26).
Alma 14:27 Now there was not one soul among all the people who had been converted unto the Lord,
that would take up arms against their brethren;
The new king commanded his men to make no preparations for war. He made a speech in which
he thanked God for sending the Nephites to preach to them (29), and for "a portion of his Spirit to
soften our hearts” (30). He thanked God for the opportunity to repent, "and also that he hath
forgiven us of those our many sins and murders" (32).
Alma 14:34 Now my best beloved brethren, since God hath taken away our stains, and our swords have
become bright, then let us stain our swords no more with the blood of our brethren:
The king was very sincere in his non-resistance attitude. "If our brethren seek to destroy us,
behold, we will hide away our swords; yea, even we will bury them deep in the earth. ..and if our
brethren destroy us, behold) we shall go to our God and shall be saved" (41).
Israel and Jerusalem were attacked by Syria about 168 B.C. Antiochus used force to substitute
Greek idolatry for their worship of God. Mattathias and his sons, the Maccabees, led Israel bravely
and with much success, but the people would not "profane the sabbath." The enemy took