A Dictionary of the Book of Mormon/Anti-Nephi-Lehi
ANTI-NEPHI-LEHI. The name given by the king of the Lamanites to his son, who succeeded him on the throne, he being also chief of that portion of his race who had become Christians (B. C. 83). He was a brother of Lamoni. The Christian Lamanites became known as the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi, but when they removed to the lands of the Nephites they were called Ammonites. The unrepentant Lamanites, especially those who were Nephite apostates or their seed, would not recognize the rule of Anti-Nephi-Lehi, but rebelled against him. As the Christian portion of the race would not contend with them, they carried out their rebellious designs and also massacred thousands of the original Lamanites, until, to avoid extinction, the believers in Christ removed in a body to that portion of the land of Zarahemla called Jershon. From this era it would appear that the Nephite apostates and their descendants controlled affairs among the Lamanites. Whether the king, who was slain (B. C. 73) by Amalickiah's men, was of Nephite blood does not appear, though it is presumable that he was, but his three successors — Amalickiah, Ammoron and Tubeloth — unquestionably were. Anti-Nephi-Lehi, if alive, as we have every reason to suppose he was, doubtless accompanied his people to the land of Jershon.