Zarahemla was a significant figure within the Book of Mormon narrative, known chiefly as the leader of a group of people also named Zarahemla, or the Mulekites, who were discovered by the Nephites under the direction of King Mosiah. As a descendant of Mulek, the son of King Zedekiah of Judah, Zarahemla’s lineage traced back to the royal household of Judah at the time of Jerusalem’s fall to Babylon (Mosiah 25:2). His people’s history ran parallel to that of the Nephites, originating from the exodus that occurred during the Babylonian invasion, though they landed in the Promised Land independently of Lehi’s family.
When the people led by Mosiah discovered Zarahemla and his people, there was great rejoicing because Mosiah brought with him the plates of brass containing the record of the Jews, which were of great importance to Zarahemla (Omni 1:14). The Mulekites had lost much of their language and a portion of their history due to their long separation from other Hebrew groups, but with the arrival of Mosiah and the plates of brass, they regained a link to their heritage. Zarahemla took part in this reclamation of history by reciting the genealogy of his fathers from memory, a genealogy that was not recorded in the main text of the Book of Mormon but acknowledged for its significance (Omni 1:18). Following the uniting of the Nephites and the people of Zarahemla under the rule of Mosiah, Zarahemla’s line continued to play a role in Nephite society, with descendants such as Ammon and Coriantumr becoming notable in their own rights (Mosiah 7:13; Helaman 1:15).
Zarahemla’s acceptance of Mosiah’s leadership and the integration of his people with the Nephites set the stage for the formation of a united Nephite nation, with the city of Zarahemla as their capital. This unification under a common faith and leadership marked a pivotal moment in the scriptural account, enhancing the strength and cultural richness of the Nephite civilization. Zarahemla’s legacy, as both a leader and an eponym, persisted in the Nephite narrative long after his time.