DiscussMormonism.com

So I was playing around with a list of Book of Mormon names, and came up with this fun little oddity.

It appears that there are eight recurring name-themes within the book, names that seem to vary and alter themselves slightly over extensive periods of time.

For example:

Abinadi, Nephite prophet sent to people of Lehi-Nephi - converted
Abinadom, son of Chemish, Nephite historian
Aminadab, Nephite dissenter living among the Lamanites
Aminadi, descendant of Nephi1

And:

Akish, son of Kimnor, Jaredite king
Kish, Jaredite king
Riplakish, Jaredite king
Kishkumen, leader of robbers
Kumen, one of twelve Nephite disciples (ca AD 34)
Kumenonhi, one of twelve Nephite disciples (ca AD 34)
Pacumeni, son of Pahoran1 fifth Nephite chief judge (ca 52 BC), Teancum, Nephite military leader (ca 67 BC)
Cumenihah, Nephite commander (ca AD 385)

Here's an interesting theme, repeated between Mulek/Amalickiah and Amaron/Ammoron (leader, record keeper, spy, killed by Teancum):

Mulek, son of Jewish king Zedekiah
Muloki, Nephite missionary
Amulek, son of Giddonah, Nephite missionary, companion of Alma2
Amaleki1, Nephite record keeper (ca 130 BC)
Amlici, Nephite dissenter (ca 87 BC)
Amaleki2, seeker of Zeniff's people (ca 121 BC)
Amalickiah, Nephite traitor who becomes king of the Lamanites and wars with Nephites - killed by Teancum

Amaron, son of Omni, Nephite record keeper
Ammaron, Nephite record keeper (ca AD 306)
Amoron, a Nephite spy
Amnor1, Nephite spy in Amlicite campaign (ca 87 BC)
Ammoron, Nephite traitor, brother of Amalickiah, king of Lamanites after Amalikiah's death - killed by Teancum (ca 66-61 BC)

So I was wondering if anyone else had noticed this pattern of recurring name variations, and what it might mean, aside from, well, you know, there are only so many names out there...

P.S. Here is a link to a list of Book of Mormon names, if anyone wants to play along:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Bo ... mon_people

.

The idea here is that the characters with similar names reflect the real-world "conversion" stories of those who wrote the book.

For example:

Abinadi, a prophet, becomes Aminadab, a dissenter
Mulek, a king, becomes Amlici, a dissenter
Moroni, a Nephite commander, contrasts with Ammoron, a triator

Kish, a king, becomes Kishkumen, a robber, who becomes Kumen, a Nephite disciple

Coriantumr, a king, becomes Coriantumr, an apostate

Laman, a dissenter, becomes Helaman, a leader

Basically, following that line, the characters move from two opposing belief systems into one - with Joseph being the central figure bringing those two systems together.

This requires, of course, a shift in thinking about the chronology of the book. However, if you trace the cognate names through the book, some interesting story lines develop.

Anybody have any thoughts?

AlmaBound wrote:
Anybody have any thoughts?

I think they just ran out of imagination and started recycling.

harmony wrote:

AlmaBound wrote:
Anybody have any thoughts?

I think they just ran out of imagination and started recycling.

You may be right and I may be reading far too much into it, but I think there might be something to the limited extent of those names used, especially in light of things like the below, and those names found within the "United Order":

[Sec 81:4a] Therefore, verily I say unto you, that it is expedient for my servant Alam and Ahashdah, Mahalaleel and Pelagoram, and my servant Gazelam, and Horah, and Olihah, and Shalemanasseh, and Mehemson, be bound together by a bond and covenant that cannot be broken by transgression except judgment shall immediately follow, in your several stewardships...

From that starting point, the Book of Mormon proper names can be seen as serving a different purpose.

Hi AlmaBound,

Interesting topic! :-)

From that starting point, the Book of Mormon proper names can be seen as serving a different purpose.

What purpose do you think the names serve?

Are you suggesting that the Book of Mormon folk are representing various authors of the Book of Mormon? And what would this indicate, or why do you think this would be pertinent?

I think the names are a conglomeration of names that sounded ancient with a few added syllables to make them sound cool, along with some names that were Biblical again, some with a few added flourishes.

What strikes me is that there are no names in the Book of Mormon that even remotely resemble anything that is similar in any way to the names used in Mesoamerica in Book of Mormon times.

Of course apologists claim that it is because these names are from the old world, however, I think it would be rather unusual to have even the enemies, isolated from their origins who merged with native culture to keep old world names, unchanged for a thousand years. :-)

~td~

truth dancer wrote:Are you suggesting that the Book of Mormon folk are representing various authors of the Book of Mormon? And what would this indicate, or why do you think this would be pertinent?

Yes, I think the names within the book represent the various authors of the book.

The pertinence? Well, the name variations tell a story all of their own, and I think reflect inner conflicts, both individually and as a struggle for leadership as a whole.

truth dancer wrote: I think the names are a conglomeration of names that sounded ancient with a few added syllables to make them sound cool, along with some names that were Biblical again, some with a few added flourishes.

I think there is something to the repeated consonants of each name, frankly.

MH, SR, CORI, and etc.

Too simple?

I tend to think Prince had some interesting observations along these lines, though with some variations such as the consonants above.

http://www.solomonspalding.com/docs/1901schr.htm

MH, SR, CORI

Martin Harris, Sidney Rigdon, John Corrill? Definitely a stretch, but it's an interesting observation, nonetheless. I happen to know that Don Bradley's work on Book of Mormon origins will explore a similar idea in great detail. Don is an excellent researcher. Keep an eye out for his book in the years to come.

CaliforniaKid wrote: CORI - John Corrill?

Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of COwdery RIgdon, to keep it simple.

Sure, a stretch, but then, I did call it "Fun with Names."

lol