Mighty Man was a leader of a group of people from Zarahemla who attempted to return to the land of their forefathers, the land of Nephi, during the time period covered in the Book of Omni. Described as a “strong and mighty man,” his demeanor was also characterized by stubbornness and inflexibility; he is referred to as being “stiffnecked” (Omni 1:28). These traits led to his causing contention among his people, which tragically resulted in the death of all but fifty of his followers in the wilderness due to infighting.
The expedition led by Mighty Man was a precursor to a later and ultimately successful expedition initiated by Zeniff, a member of Mighty Man’s initial group and a witness to the failed journey’s bloody outcome. In a separate account, Zeniff details his personal opposition to the leader’s approach, describing him as “austere and a blood-thirsty man.” This conflict escalated to the point where Zeniff’s life was under threat, and it was only averted by a chaotic battle among the expedition members, leading to numerous casualties (Mosiah 9:2). Following this catastrophic failure, Zeniff would go on to lead another expedition back to the land of Nephi, with a radically different approach and outcome than that of the Mighty Man’s ill-fated endeavor.