An important change in the division of the people is noted in this connection. Hitherto, the tribal arrangement into Nephites, Jacobites, Josephites, Zoramites, Ishmaelites, Lamanites and Lemuelites had been maintained for civic and genealogical purposes. Now, Jacob says, "I, Jacob, shall not hereafter distinguish them by these names, but I shall call them Lamanites that seek to destroy the people of Nephi, and those who are friendly to Nephi I shall call Nephites, or the people of Nephi."
The term Nephites or Lamanites is generally supposed to refer only to the literal descendants of Lehi, through Nephi and Laman, respectively. This is not strictly correct.
A few years after this change in giving names after tribal ancestors, as indicated, was made, we read,
"And it came to pass that whosoever would not believe in the tradition of the Lamanites, but believed those records which were brought out of the land of Jerusalem, and also in the tradition of their fathers, which were correct, who believe in the commandments of God and kept them, were called the Nephites, or the people of Nephi, from that time forth...." (Alma 3:11)
May not the reason for this deviation from the original and obvious rule of naming the people in accordance with their lineage been necessitated by the accession to the pioneer colonies of people, those whose genealogies were not known? Descendants of the Jaredites, for instance? Or from other arrivals here, of whom the Book of Mormon has no record? It is easier to understand what follows concerning the wickedness of the people at that early day of their history and their having a temple with temple ordinances and service, if we suppose that they had been joined by other elements.