Page:A dictionary of the Book of Mormon.pdf/166

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Ishmaelites.
156
Jacob.

missionary prince. It was then ruled over by a king named Lamoni. Its situation is not clearly stated; it was down from the land of Nephi (Lehi-Nephi). This leads to the thought that it was situated in the alluvial plains to the east of the Andes. It does not seem consistent with the narrative of Ammon's mission to believe it was situated in the strip of wilderness that lay between the mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Its relative position to other lands forbids this idea. Near the highway that connected Ishmael and Nephi, lay the land of Middoni. This is shown by the fact that when King Lamoni and Ammon were traveling from Ishmael towards Middoni they met Lamoni's father coming from Nephi. This leads to the conclusion that the same road from Ishmael led to both Nephi and Middoni. Nephi is called up from both the other lands. The land was named after the sons of Ishmael, from whom the then reigning dynasty were descended.

ISHMAELITES. The descendants of that Ishmael who, with his family, left his home in Jerusalem and accompanied Lehi on his journey to the promised land. After the death of Lehi they became absorbed in the Lamanite race and formed a part of that people. When corruption and dissension had entered into the true church (A. C. 231), some reassumed the name of Ishmaelites. We are told (IV Nephi, 1:38), they who rejected the gospel were called Lamanites, and Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites; and they did not dwindle in unbelief, but they did wilfully rebel against the gospel of Christ; and they did teach their children that they should not believe, even as their fathers, from the beginning, did dwindle in unbelief.


ISRAELITES. The people of Israel; called by that name once in the Book of Mormon. (Helaman, 8:11).


JACOB. The elder of the two sons born to Lehi and Sariah (say between B. C. 599 and 595)