“And They Gave an Account of One Coriantumr and the Slain of His People”

Ed J. Pinegar, Richard J. Allen

During his reign as king, the people bring Mosiah an archaeological artifact—a “large stone”—displaying engravings, which Mosiah is able to interpret “by the gift and power of God” (verse 20). The stone tells of the last days of Coriantumr, the final Jaredite ruler, who has been discovered by the people of Zarahemla and dwells among them for the better part of a year (see Omni 1:21)—perhaps in the time frame around 500 b.c. Thus the story of Mosiah also blends with the history of the Jaredites, who have been led by the Lord to the northern part of the land of promise at the time of the Tower of Babel—approximately 2000 b.c. It is within the lifetime and tenure of Mosiah, therefore, that we find the footprints of all three major migrant peoples of the Book of Mormon—Jaredites to the north, Mulekites in the central area, and Nephites to the south—crossing in the sands of time. It is Mosiah’s grandson, also named Mosiah, who will translate the twenty-four gold plates later discovered by Limhi’s group, giving the history of the Jaredites written by the prophet Ether (Ether 4:1; 13:14; 15:33; Mosiah 21:26–28) and incorporated into Moroni’s abridgment called the Book of Ether (see Ether 1:2). Thanks to Mosiah and his successor archivists, the origins and histories of these peoples have been preserved for our edification and learning.

Commentaries and Insights on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 1

References