Amulek’s opening statement is a recitation of genealogy, which positions him properly before the community. He is, according to his own description, “a man of no small reputation” (v. 4). Amulek’s genealogy bolsters that assertion. He traces his lineage through an illustrious ancestor (Aminadi) known by name to all those present and then to the most illustrious of all, Nephi and Lehi. Monte Nyman notes that only here is Lehi’s genealogy clearly traced to Manasseh. We must assume that this lineage was either related to—or may actually have partially been the source of—Amulek’s prominence in the community.
Amulek’s mention of Aminadi and Yahweh’s writing on a wall is intriguing, but the story does not appear elsewhere in the Book of Mormon, even though it obviously had some importance for Amulek’s listeners. It is not known how distant an ancestor Aminadi may have been. Possibly this event occurred before Mosiah1 led his people of out the city of Nephi and Aminadi was a prophet (assumed because of he could interpret Yahweh’s message). If this placement is correct, his story would have appeared in the large plates, not the small plates kept by Jacob’s line.
Reference: The story of Aminadi clearly parallels Daniel 5:5–17 with a prophet interpreting Yahweh’s writing on a wall, although there is no language dependency. There can be no textual depencency because Daniel describes events during the Babylonian captivity that postdates Lehi’s departure from Jerusalem. Just as Alma’s conversion experience was similar to, but different from, Paul’s (see commentary accompanying Mosiah 27:10–11), it is probable that, if we had a fuller version of Aminadi’s story, we would see both similarities and differences.