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Did Lehi Organize His Posterity into Seven Tribes?
Title
Did Lehi Organize His Posterity into Seven Tribes?
Publication Type
Chart
Year of Publication
1999
Authors
Welch, John W. (Primary), and Welch, Greg (Primary)
Number
9-116
Publisher
Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies
City
Provo, UT
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Abstract
Before his death, Lehi gave blessings and counsel to his posterity (see 2 Nephi 4:1–11). At this time, he may have organized them into seven tribes: Nephites, Jacobites, Josephites, Zoramites, Lamanites, Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites (see Jacob 1:13; 4 Nephi 1:38; Mormon 1:8). While Nephite and Lamanite governments came and went, the tribal structure of their society endured, suggesting that Lehi's children considered his organization of tribes binding and constitutional. The patriarch "father Lehi," as he is called by Enos, Benjamin, Alma, Helaman, Nephi, and Mormon, parallels Jacob/Israel in many respects, for both organized a people of God in a new land of promise by dividing their children into groups.Subject Keywords
Nephite
Lamanite
Lineage
Jacobite
Josephite
Lemuelite
Ishmaelite
Zoramite
Lehi (Prophet)
Bibliographic Citation
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