Ammonites (Book of Mormon)

From Freepedia

The Ammonites were a group from the Book of Mormon also known as Anti-Nephi-Lehies. They were Lamanites who had been converted to the religion of the Nephites by the missionary efforts of Ammon and his brothers. They rejected the traditions of their fathers and embraced the traditions of the Nephites.

Prior to their conversion, the Anti-Nephi-Lehis were Lamanites, traditional enemies of the Nephites, and they had taken part in wars and battles against the Nephites. Following their conversion, they felt that their past sins were so great that they took a vow to never shed blood again and to avoid all forms of warfare, even in their own defense.

Forced from their homeland by their former Lamanite brethren, the Ammonites were re-located to the Nephite land of Jershon and the Nephites took up their defense in their behalf. The Ammonites, in return, provided provisions and material help to support the Nephite armies. the Nephite and Lamanite nations entered into a giant warfare, the Anti-Nephi-Lehi volunteered to help the Nephites fight. Helaman, who was the leader of the church at that time, forbade them from doing so. Instead, they sent their sons who had not taken the oath to not fight under the command of Helaman. This group was called the 2000 Stripling Warriors.

Anti-Nephi-Lehies

The name the Ammonites chose for themselves was the Anti-Nephi-Lehies (Alma 23:17). Following their re-location to the land of Jershon they were known by the Nephites as the people of Ammon (Alma 27:26).