In the great tradition of diplomacy, Giddianhi begins by flattering Lachoneus. Whether the two ever knew each other personally, Giddianhi certainly knows about Nephite beliefs and confidently assumes that the Nephites see themselves as “supported by the hand of a god, in the defence of… liberty, and… property, and… country.” It is not inconceivable that some of the Nephites who had recently dissented to the Gadiantons had been recently in power in Zarahemla. Therefore, they understand the Nephite worldview, which Giddianhi immediately acknowledges.
Culture: “Lachoneus” is easily recognized as a Greek name, but Greek influence was widespread when Lehi left Jerusalem. Hugh Nibley explained in 1957:
The occurrence of the names Timothy and Lachoneus in the Book of Mormon is strictly in order, however odd it may seem at first glance. Since the fourteenth century B.C. at latest, Syria and Palestine had been in constant contact with the Aegean world; and since the middle of the seventh century, Greek mercenaries and merchants closely bound to Egyptian interest (the best Egyptian mercenaries were Greeks) swarmed throughout the Near East. Lehi’s people, even apart from their mercantile activities, could not have avoided considerable contact with these people in Egypt and especially in Sidon, which Greek poets even in that day were celebrating as the great world center of trade. It is interesting to note in passing that Timothy is an Ionian name, since the Greeks in Palestine were Ionians (hence the Hebrew name for Greeks: “Sons of Javanim”), and—since “Lachoneus” means “a Laconian”—that the oldest Greek traders were Laconians, who had colonies in Cyprus (Book of Mormon Akish) and of course traded with Palestine.
Therefore, it would not be unusual for a Greek name to reach the New World either with the Lehites or Mulekites. The best explanation for why it remained a viable name for six hundred years is that one of the earliest emigrants had this name and that it remained a family name. This putative emigrant was most likely a Mulekite, since we know more about the Lehites and have more masculine names for them than for the Mulekites.