View source for Mulek

{{short description|Figure in the Book of Mormon}}
{{Religious text primary|date=April 2024}}
{{for|the village in Poland|Mułek, West Pomeranian Voivodeship}}{{Figures in the Book of Mormon}}
'''Mulek''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|j|uː|l|ɛ|k}}),<ref>[https://journal.interpreterfoundation.org/say-now-shibboleth-or-maybe-cumorah/ "Book of Mormon Pronunciation Guide"], [[Wikipedia:IPA for English|IPA]]-ified from «myū´lĕk»</ref> according to the [[Book of Mormon]], was the only surviving son of [[Zedekiah]], the last [[Kingdom of Judah|King of Judah]], after the [[Babylonian captivity|Babylonian conquest]] of [[Jerusalem]]. The Book of Mormon states that after escaping from Judah, Mulek traveled to the [[Americas]] and established a civilization there.

The word ''Mulekite'', after Mulek, is commonly used to refer to his group. It is one of four groups (the others being the [[Nephites]], the [[Lamanites]], and the [[Jaredites]]) described in the Book of Mormon as having settled in the ancient Americas, although the name ''Mulekites'' does not appear in the Book of Mormon itself. [[Archaeology and the Book of Mormon|Archaeological evidence]] for the existence of any of these groups has not been documented.<ref>Terryl L. Givens, ''By the Hand of Mormon: The American Scripture that Launched a New World Religion'' (New York: Oxford University Press, 2002), pp. 146-147.</ref>

==Mulek and his nation==
According to the Book of Mormon, when Jerusalem was destroyed by [[Babylon]], during the reign of Zedekiah, all of the sons of Zedekiah were killed except Mulek.<ref>{{Mormonverse|Helaman|8:21}}</ref><ref>{{Mormonverse|Omni|1:15}}</ref> Along with "as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord," Mulek escaped into the wilderness, traveled "across the great waters" to the [[Americas]], and founded a new nation.<ref>{{Mormonverse|Omni|1:16}}</ref> The people of Mulek established their capital at [[Zarahemla]], north of where Lehi and his people landed.<ref>{{Mormonverse|Helaman|6:10}}</ref>

==Encounter with Jaredites==
The last surviving Jaredite, [[Coriantumr (Last Jaredite King)|Coriantumr]], encountered the Mulekites, who he lived with for several months before he died.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Omni 1:20-22 |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/omni/1?lang=eng |access-date=2024-11-16 |website=www.churchofjesuschrist.org |language=en}}</ref>

==Encounter with Nephites==
When the [[Nephite]]s were commanded to leave their historic homeland of Lehi-Nephi to flee from the [[Lamanites]], the exiled remnants discovered the city of [[Zarahemla]], to their north. The Book of Mormon records that the Mulekites spoke a language that was largely unintelligible to the Nephites. When taught the Nephite language, the Mulekites recounted their descent from Mulek, which was then recorded.

The Mulekites had in their possession a stone that told the story of Coriantumr, a survivor of the Jaredites who had encountered the Mulekites and lived among them until his death. Much of the prior Mulekite history was lost because of their lack of records.<ref>{{Mormonverse|Omni|1:17}}</ref>

==References==
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