Book of Mormon Evidence: Attestation of Luram

In a letter to his son, Mormon mentioned a Nephite captain named Luram who was killed in the final Nephite-Lamanite battles (Moroni 9:2). Although not present in the Bible, this name is attested from ancient inscriptions discovered in the 20th century. It appears on a seal recovered from the site of Hama (Hamath) in Syria as ʾdn-Lrm (“Lord of LRM”) from a destruction level dating to 720 BC.¹ Isaiah mentioned the conquest and destruction of Hamath by the Assyrians (Isaiah 36:19). The same name has been found on graffiti inscribed on three bricks at the same site dating to the same time.²

Conclusion

The appearance of the non-biblical name Luram on inscriptions discovered in the 20th century is significant. It shows that while the name would not have been available to a 19th century figure such as Joseph Smith, it would likely have been a name known to Lehi’s family, either through oral tradition or from the plates of brass. It thus supports the ancient Near Eastern background of the Book of Mormon.