Moriancumr Moriancumer

Alan C. Miner

In 1999, the Zarahemla Research Foundation (RLDS) finished an exhaustive review of all known manuscripts and editions of the Book of Mormon in order to restore the text "to its purity." The result was the Restored Covenant Edition of the Book of Mormon. One of their "restorations" involves the geographical place name "Moriancumr" (Ether 2:13), which they have changed to read "Moriancumer." [Zarahemla Research Foundation, "Geography Concordance" in The Book of Mormon: Restored Covenant Edition, p. 1005]

This must be considered tentative subject to the verification of Royal Skousen, director of the Book of Mormon manuscript project, who will not comment at this time relative to such changes. [Personal communication, 11/22/1999]

“They Called the Name of the Place Moriancumer”

According to Warren and Palmer, after many years of travel in the wilderness the Jaredites arrived at the "great sea which divideth the lands." They called their settlement "Moriancumr" (Ether 2:13, apparently after the name of the brother of Jared. Although the actual name of the brother of Jared is not mentioned in the scriptures, many Latter-day Saints quote the following story related by George Reynolds to indicate that his name was revealed to the prophet Joseph Smith after the translation of the Book of Mormon:

"While residing in Kirtland, Elder Reynolds Cahoon had a son born to him. One day when President Joseph Smith was passing his door he called the prophet in and asked him to bless and name the baby. Joseph did so and gave the boy the name of Mohonri Moriancumer. When he had finished the blessing he laid the child on the bed, and turning to Elder Cahoon he said, 'The name I have given your son is the name of the brother of Jared; the Lord has just shown (or revealed) it to me.' Elder William F. Cahoon, who was standing near, heard the Prophet make this statement to his father; and this was the first time the name of the brother of Jared was known in the Church in this dispensation." [George Reynolds, "The Jaredites," in The Juvenile Instructor, Volume, 27, p. 282. Also Improvement Era VIII:705; Also Sperry, 1968]

Step by Step Through the Book of Mormon: A Cultural Commentary

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