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ZarahemlaAccording to the Book of Mormon, the Land of Zarahemla (popularly attributed to Biblical Hebrew זרע־חמלה Zraʿ-ḥemlāh / Zāraʿ-ḥemlāh "seed of compassion"; BoM Arabic بلاد زاراحملة Bilādi Zārāḥamlah) was the Nephite capital for many years, and it was discovered by Mosiah sometime between 323 and 130 B.C. Its original inhabitants were Jews who went out from Jerusalem at the time of Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, and were called the Mulekites. At some point before Mosiah discovered Zarahemla, the people there had discovered Coriantumr, who was the last of the Jaredites. Coriantumr stayed in Zarahemla "for the space of nine moons" (Omni 1:21). Shortly after discovering the Mulekites in Zarahemla, Mosiah is made king over them sometime between 361 BC and 130 BC. Mosiah's son, Benjamin, then succeeded him as king. King Benjamin was also victorious in driving the Lamanites from the Zarahemla region. During the crucifixion of Christ, or shortly after, the Book of Mormon records that Zarahemla caught fire, and the city and its inhabitants burned. However, it was later rebuilt, and once again became a great city. The city is said to have existed for about 500 years, and its final end is uncertain. It may have later been used by the Lamanites (who have been speculatively identified by some Mormon scholars as the Mayans, Aztecs, and/or some other Native American tribes or civilizations). The location of Zarahemla (and surrounding lands) in not specified nor implied by official doctrine of the LDS Church. But today in Mormon culture the most popular traditional location of the land of Zarahemla is the Mexican state of Chiapas. The LDS tourism service Israel Revealed provides "Book of Mormon Lands" tours that include various spots in Chiapas. In 2003, a board game "The Settlers of Zarahemla" was produced. This game was intended to be similar to the popular Settlers of Catan but targeted at a Mormon audience.
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