_II. Ancient Nations of America._ Y. M. M. I. A. Manual 1. Jaredite Empire, Its Center of (No. 7), Chap. xiii. Notes National Life--Form of Government. 8, 9, 10. 2. Nephite Kingdom, When and How Established--Character of Government. 3. Nephite--Zarahemla Kingdom, How Formed, Nature of Its Laws. 4. The Nephite Republic. Distinction Between this Form of Government and the Monarchy. 5. Lamanite Confederation, Evidence of such Confederation--Its Extent and Nature. _NOTES._ 1. _Jaredite Colony:_ The Book of Mormon contains the history of two distinct races. The first came from the Tower of Babel and was destroyed a little less than six hundred years before Christ. The story of their national life is given very briefly, but sufficient is said to prove that they were one of the mightiest nations of antiquity, and in the days of their righteousness a people highly blessed of the Lord. Their fall and final destruction were the result of their gross wickedness and rejection of God's Prophets. These people were called the Jaredites, their history in the Book of Mormon is contained in "the Book of Ether." Ether was their last Prophet, and wrote his account of his people on twenty-four plates of gold." (The Myth of the Manuscript Found, p. 43.) 2. _The Nephite Colony:_ The next race that inhabited this continent was of Israelitish origin, the descendants of Joseph and Judah. The Nephites, the ruling branch, were principally the descendants of Manasseh (and Ephraim). By divine guidance their first prophet and ruler, Lehi, was brought out of Jerusalem with a small company of his relatives and friends, eleven years before the Babylonian captivity (B. C. 600). They sailed from south-eastern Arabia across the Indian and Pacific oceans, and landed on the American shore not far from where the city of Valparaiso now stands. In the first year of the captivity another small colony was led out from Jerusalem, Mulek, one of the sons of King Zedekiah, being their nominal leader. This party landed in North America some distance north of the Isthmus of Darien, and soon after migrated into the northern portion of the southern continent, where for nearly four centuries they grew in numbers, but not in true civilization. (Myth of the Manuscript Found, p. 44.)