According to the Book of Mormon, the Anti-Nephi-Lehies were a group of people who, after a significant religious conversion, made a covenant that they would not participate in war and buried their weapons.[1][2]
The plural form of the name, Anti-Nephi-Lehies, was taken on by Lamanite Christian converts. Later, they were called Ammonites to honor the primary missionary of their conversion. Anti-Nephi-Lehies differed from other Book of Mormon people in that they were pacifists as a reaction to their previous extreme warlike behavior. Anti-Nephi-Lehies preferred death over killing in self-defense.
Anti-Nephi-Lehi, who succeeded his father as king of all the Lamanite lands except the land of Ishmael, was also one of the converted Lamanites, and a brother to Lamoni.
The term "anti" has confused readers since the Lamanites made a covenant to serve the Lord. These readers assume the Latin/Greek meaning of the prefix "anti," which means "opposing" or "against." However, the Book of Mormon record states that it was written reformed Egyptian,[3][4] so a Greek or Latin meaning is unlikely. "Anti" may be a reflex of the Egyptian "nty:" 'he of, the one of.' Thus, rather than having the sense "against," it may have the meaning "the one of Nephi and Lehi."