“Thou Hast Separated Us from Our Brethren”

Brant Gardner

This recited prayer has two functions in Zoramite society. The public nature of the declaration (particularly assuming the open air platform as proposed) creates a unification in the society. These are all people who have elected to follow Zoram to this new location, and this public declaration serves to create community solidarity by openly displaying the commonality of belief in their community.

The second function after internal unity is to emphasize the external separation from the Nephite religion (and therefore politics). Specifically, the belief statement of the Zoramites specifically identifies themselves as apart from “our brethren.” Those brethren are the believing Nephites, from whom the Zoramites and religiously and physically separated themselves. This statement of internal unity creates much of that unity by directly focusing everyone on a common disunity. They are defining themselves by their separation from the Nephites.

It is not enough to be apostate Nephites, they are defining themselves by dramatic contrast to the religion (and government) which they have left. Notice the explicit statements of contrast to the Nephites: “we do not believe in the tradition of our brethren; … there shall be no Christ.” These statements constitute declarations of separation. They are defining themselves by what they are not as much as by what they are. Nevertheless, the overall result for the Zoramites would have been a heightened internal consistency and unity.

Multidimensional Commentary on the Book of Mormon

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