A Dictionary of the Book of Mormon/Ammonihah, City of

AMMONIHAH, CITY OF. A western city of the Nephites, situated in the same region as the cities of Melek, Noah, and Aaron. It was inhabited almost exclusively by the followers of Nehor, and was notorious for the wickedness of its inhabitants. In the year B. C. 82 it was visited by Alma, but his words were rejected. He left the city to minister elsewhere, but was commanded by an angel to return, which he did, and was entertained by one of its prominent citizens named Amulek. These two together proclaimed to the people of Ammonihah the word of the Lord and the terrible penalty that would follow its rejection. Their words were scorned, their warning ridiculed, and they were cast into prison, while the few that had believed were either driven out of the city, or burned at the stake. Alma and Amulek were ultimately delivered by the power of God, when the prison in which they were confined was destroyed by an earthquake, and all except themselves, who were therein, were killed. The two prophets then left the city. Next year, in accordance with the words of Alma, the Lamanites suddenly attacked and utterly destroyed the city by fire. All its people — babe and grandsire, matron and maid — were burned, as they had previously martyred those who believed in the Gospel message delivered by Alma and Amulek. Zeezrom, the lawyer, was a citizen of Ammonihah, After the place where Ammonihah stood had lain desolate for a number of years it was rebuilt and strongly fortified. In B. C, 73 the armies of the Lamanites came against it, but finding how strongly Moroni had fortified it they retired without making an attack.