“Many Kindreds and Friends”

Brant Gardner

After reciting his lineage, Amulek notes the more immediate reason that he should be known to the audience. He recites his success in endeavors that are of importance to them. The first is that he has “many kindreds.” In addition to the line of genealogy, the breadth of his kin connections is given. In kin-based societies, the larger the kin base, the more support and potential one has. Amulek lets his audience know that he is from a large kin group, which would make him of some power for that reason alone. On top of that, however, he has become rich through his industry. He does not define riches, and does not say the way his wealth was accumulated (other than that it came “by the hand of …industry.”

Multidimensional Commentary on the Book of Mormon

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