situated on the west bank of the Sidon river, and was originally built by the descendants of the people of Mulek, who left Jerusalem, B. C. 589. Zarahemla appears to have been their leader at the time the Nephites, led by Mosiah I, discovered them, and as the city was named after him it is probable that it had not been built long before the arrival of the latter people. After the advent of the Nephites, the two peoples united in one nation, and this city became the seat of their government, the residence of their chief judges and high priests, and the centre of their civilization. In it was also built a temple to the God of Israel. During the days of the Judges, nearly every event of importance to the whole nation took place or originated in this city. It was the headquarters of the royalists or "king-men" whose attempts to restore a monarchy led to so many contentions and so much sorrow, and so frequently ended in bloodshed. It was captured by the Lamanites in B. C. 51, and again in B. C. 35 and was then held by them until B. C. 30.
In B. C. 6, Samuel, the Lamanite, appeared upon the walls of Zarahemla, and prophesied of many wondrous events yet in the future. Among them he foretold its destruction by fire from heaven, in consequence of the great wickedness of the major portion of its inhabitants, (Helaman, 13:12-14.) In accordance with this prophecy Zarahemla was destroyed during the great convulsions of nature that attended the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus. It was afterwards rebuilt, but we are not informed if it was again recognized as the chief city of the nation, though from its admirable position and past associations, it is quite probable that it was.
ZARAHEMLA, LAND OF. As there were two lands of Nephi, the greater and the lesser, so, for exactly the same reasons, there were two lands of Zarahemla; the one occupying the whole of
