|
600 BC - 121 BC
Lehi Leaves Jerusalem. Nephi was "exceedingly young" at this time but "large in stature" this make me think 16 or 17 but I think the whole thing fits better if we add 2 years. 3 Nephi 2:5-7
Jacob is born. 1 Nephi 18:7
Joseph is born.
Lehi's company arrive at the sea shore and begin construction on a ship.
Lehi dies and is buried. Laman and Lemuel immediately begin revile against Nephi's leadership. It is likely that they separated into Nephites and Lamanite that same year. 2 Nephi 4:13
The Nephites and Lamanites have separated themselves. Nephi has established the church with Jacob and Joseph as priests. 2 Nephi 5:26, 28
Nephi chooses a king and gives him charge of the large plates of Nephi. He passes the small plates on to Jacob with strict commandments for their care. Jacob 1:1 Jacob 1:9
Nephi dies and is buried. Jacob 1:12
Enos is born to Jacob in his old age. For Enos to "be old" in the year 420 BC, while Jacob was born around the year 598 BC, and for Enos to remember his Father teaching him, they both had to have lived long lives. For this estimate I'll assume that they both lived to nearly 100 years of age and that Enos was 10 years old when Jacob died. Enos 1:1,3d
Jacob dies and is buried. He passes the record to Enos.
Enos is old. He passes the record onto his son Jarom before he dies. Enos 1:25-26
Enos dies.
The Nephites are well established in the land. They keep the law of Moses. They have had many battles with the Lamanites who are more numerous than the Nephites. Jarom 1:5
Omni receives the plates from his father, Jarom. Jarom had them in his possession for 59 years. Omni mentions that the Kings are still keeping records in the large plates of Nephi. Jarom 1:13
Amaron receives the plates from his father, Omni. Omni had the plates for 44 years. Omni 1:3
A large part of the population of Nephites is destroyed by the Lamanites. The more righteous are spared. Omni 1:5
Chemish gets the plates from his brother, Amaron. The average time the plates have been held is 51 years. If we assume that for the next 3 generations of men who possessed the plates, held them for around 51 years each, the timeline works out quite well.
Abinadom receives the plates from his father, Chemish. Since Chemish was Amaron's brother instead of his son I have given him half the usual time for possessing the plates; just 25 years.
Mosiah, the King of the Nephites, flees from the Land of Nephi with the most righteous portion of the Nephite population. They find the city of Zarahemla, the Nephites and the Mulekites join together with Mosiah as their king. This date is just a wild guess. I like it because it gives over 30 years before Zeniff tries to go back and I am guessing that King Mosiah would be about 40 years old at this time.
Benjamin is born to King Mosiah. This is just an estimate based solely on King Benjamin being really old when he died in 121 BC.
Zeniff and his colony depart to the land of Lehi-Nephi to reclaim their inheritance.
Amaleki receives the plates from his father, Abinadom. If Abinadom had them for 49 years then this date fits.
The Lamanites attack the people of Zeniff but are driven back. His colony has been in the land of Lehi-Nephi for 13 years. Mosiah 9:14
King Mosiah (the father of King Benjamin) dies. King Benjamin reigns in his stead.
The Lamanites attack the people of Zeniff again. Again they are driven back.
Alma is born in the Land of Lehi-Nephi, under the rule of King Zeniff. Alma and Mosiah both die in the year 91 BC and their ages are given. Mosiah 29:44-46
King Zeniff confers his kingdom upon his son Noah.
Mosiah is born to King Benjamin. These estimated ages fit in well with the apparent Nephite tradition of having children (or perhaps,having more children) late in life. Mosiah 6:4
Abinadi preaches to the people of Zeniff and in King Noah's court. Alma believes him and is driven out of the king's court. Abinadi is put to death by fire. Alma begins preaching in secret.
Alma organizes the Church of God at the Waters of Mormon.
King Noah believes that Alma is stirring up the people against him. He sends his amy to destroy them. Alma and his people escape into the wilderness. There are about 450 of them.
Alma the Younger is born. Alma has been living in the Land of Helam for 8 years now. Alma the Younger's age is unknown. My guess is that he was a teenager during the time when his community was brought into bondage by Lamanites and then miraculously liberated. That would account for him not remembering very well how God was involved. The also makes the angel's admonition to "remember the captivity of your fathers" more poignant.
Amaleki passes the small plates of Nephi to King Benjamin. Amaleki was born in the days of Mosiah and lived to see him die so he is older than Benjamin.
King Benjamin teaches his people from the tower. Every Nephite is converted to the Doctrine of Jesus Christ. He consecrates his son, Mosiah, to be King. Mosiah 6:4
King Benjamin dies. Mosiah 6:5
|
Laban
Mosiah