All the inhabitants of Zarahemla at this time were considered Nephites, although the descendants of Mulek were the most numerous. Mosiah II, who reigned in the capital city, also ruled those whose homes were in the surrounding area which also was called Zarahemla. His subjects were a consolidation of two races.
Though Mulek's people were the most in numbers, the Nephites were the governing race, and the kingship was only conferred upon those who were the descendants of Nephi, the son of Lehi. The Nephites ruled by right of their higher civilization and their possession of the records, both those that their fathers had brought from Jerusalem, and their own. The fact that the ruler of the Mulekites, Zarahemla, who was a descendant of the original Mulek, together with his followers, recognized that the Nephites had the Holy Priesthood with them also gave the Nephites the right to rule.
The recent advent of Limhi's people from Lehi-Nephi, as also the arrival of Alma and his brethren at almost the same time, were the causes of great rejoicing among the Nephites at Zarahemla.
There is another important fact which the historian of the Sacred Record draws to our attention: The inhabitants of South America were preponderantly Lamanites. They were twice as numerous as the combined people of Lehi-Nephi and Zarahemla. This was due, perhaps, to the fact that when any defection occurred among the Nephites, the dissatisfied portions of the community generally went over to the Lamanites and were eventually absorbed in that race.
Mosiah now caused that all the people should be gathered into one place. He then divided them into two groups. The first, were Nephites, who included the people of Limhi and the followers of Alma, together with all those over whom his father, King Benjamin, had appointed him to be ruler. The second group were the descendants of Mulek, the Jewish prince who, as an infant, had escaped the wrath of Nebuchadnezzar with his entourage, when that famous king carried his father, King Zedekiah, into Babylonian captivity. Mulek had founded the City of Zarahemla.
Mosiah's purpose in calling this conference was so that his people might know how the Lord had blessed both Limhi's and Alma's followers, and that the Lord is always with those who trust in Him.