How were these rebellious Nephites able to join forces with the Lamanites so quickly?

Thomas R. Valletta

“[This] encounter … certainly must have required rapid negotiations. That requirement, in turn, implies that there was some system for communicating nonhostile intentions and, furthermore, some recognized mechanism for joining forces. The priests of Noah were able to achieve the same goal quite easily. Therefore, the Amlicites’ ethnic identity (as Nephites) was apparently no inherent impediment. Apparently they shared some type of lingua franca that facilitated rapid and clear communication, otherwise the possibility of interpreting the situation as hostile would be strong” (Gardner, Second Witness, 4:63).

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References