More on Anti-Nephi-Lehies, the People of Ammon
BookofMormonArchaeologicalForum
Since reading Stephen L. Carr’s article about the intriguing Book of
Mormon term Anti Nephi Lehies, I’ve been trying to remember which
teacher shared his thoughts on the subject; thoughts I have remembered
clearly for over 30 years. The source was either an extraordinary UofU
institute teacher named J.Lewis Taylor, or BYU’s beloved Hugh Nibley.
I wish I could remember which, but either source is more than
credible.
The name Anti Nephi Lehi was chosen with much care at the highest
levels (Alma 23:16). It was undoubtedly chosen through prayer and
inspiration, and is therefore of significant importance.
Either Brother Nibley, whose genius with ancient languages was
legendary, or Brother Taylor whose knowledge and inspiration are
equally remarkable, or both, believed the word Joseph Smith translated
as Anti in the instance of Anti Nephi Lehies, was probably from a
Semitic root with at least two meanings: against, which makes little
sense, or opposing, as in opposable thumbs, or as in a mirror image.
It would likely be the same word that was translated as helpmeet in
Genesis, Moses, and Abraham. If a right handed person – a person with
power in his right hand looks into a mirror, he sees his reflection
with power in the left hand. Both are equal, but opposing. One
compensates for the other’s weakness; a helpmeet, a person of equal
value but with opposing, or complimentary abilities. Together they
form a union much stronger than they would be separately. If that is
what Anti connotes, it’s a perfect fit for the Anti Nephi Lehies.
Drew Pearce
Farmington, Utah
Note: since writing this article, I have found notes from both
teachers mentioned above. Notes from Brother Taylor’s class are in my
journal and match the ideas in my article. Some of Brother Nibley’s
thoughts were found online:
Hugh Nibley, Teachings of the Book of Mormon, Semester 2, p.404.
“…They were named Anti-Nephi-Lehies. You know that Nephi-Lehi means a
combination of Nephi and Lehi, and anti means “combination, face-to-
face, meeting.” You have Adam-ondi-Ahman. That’s one of the richest
prepositions we have. This anti means so many things. We get it in the
Book of Mormon a good deal—Antiomno and things like that. There’s anti
in the Book of Mormon. The Latin ante means “standing in front of a
person and facing him.” Of course, that’s the Greek anti and the
Arabic cinda. The Old English is *and-. The word answer, for [p.405]
example, is answarian—swear back at a person. This means “face to face
confrontation” whether it’s in Old Norse, Old English, Semitic,
Arabic, Greek, Latin, or in the Book of Mormon. It means “a face-to-
face meeting, a joining together with somebody.” We are going to find
later on about an Anti-Christ, who is a person who pretends to be
Christ, who matches Christ, who pretends to take the place of Christ.
It’s not somebody who opposes Christ, but somebody who pretends to be
Christ. We get that with Korihor. But first they gave themselves this
name of Anti-Nephi- Lehies…”
We suggest that you "anti" this article with those appearing
previously from BMAF: Steve Carr's original article at www.bmaf.org/node/451
and an additional comment at http://groups.google.com/group/bmaf/browse_thread/thread/ee3d1cf6badd7ed5.
We appreciate the comments that have come in on this subject from BMAF
members. It seems clear that the word and phrase "anti" and "anti-
nephi-lehies", which seem to be so very strange at first exposure,
were actual names chosen for themselves by the repentant covenant
Lamanites converted through the work of Ammon and his companions.
These storied people earned the ultimate praise of Mormon when he
observed, "And as sure as the Lord liveth, so sure as many as
believed, or as many as were brought to the knowledge of the truth,
through the preaching of Ammon and his brethren, according to the
spirit of revelation and of prophecy, and the power of God working
miracles in them . . .yea, I say unto you, as the Lord liveth, as
many of the Lamanites as believed in their preaching, and were
converted unto the Lord, never did fall away. (Alma 23: 6)