“I Was Journeying to See a Very near Kindred”

Culture/Translation: “Very near kindred” is somewhat awkward, suggesting that it translates a term that Joseph might not have known, one that captures a particular relationship known to the Nephites but which would be out of the range of standard English terms. Such a term probably stood in contrast to “distant kindred” yet would not have been part of Amulek’s immediate family, since he could then have used father, brother, etc.

A possible model for this relationship term may be found in the Nahuatl (Aztec) language. Pedro Carrasco, an anthropologist, indicates that Nahuatl distinguished between lineal and collateral (in-law) kin. The term uecapan “distant” is used to mark the collateral kin. This indicator was a flexible one that might be attached to many specific terms. Possibly Amulek’s language had a similar marker that would indicate “distant” and “very near” kin.

It is also interesting that Amulek was “journeying” to visit this person, suggesting that his relative lived out of the city. Residence in the “land” is possible but seems more routine than the elaborate effort suggested by “journey.” If the kinsman lived at some distance, possibly a different city, then not all descendants of Nephite lineage would live in the same place. Perhaps one reason for the political ties between cities is the lineage connections to the other cities under the Nephite polity. If the hypothesis the near/distant were markers for lineal and collateral relatives, it would seem that for some reason, Amulek had not followed the typical patrilocal pattern and settled with the “near kindred.” His need to journey to meet with them suggests that he relocated to his wife’s city.

Variant: When Oliver Cowdery copied the original manuscript, his eyes skipped a line and he inadvertently left out a phrase.

and he shall bless thee and thy house;

and the blessing of the Lord shall rest upon thee and thy house.

The first “thee and thy house” (in strikethrough) was missing from the first draft of the printer’s manuscript. However, Oliver caught the error when he was checking it against the original and restored the missing phrase as a correction.