Onidah, known as “the place of arms,” served as a significant gathering site for Lamanites during a period of internal political upheaval. In approximately 72 B.C., it became the refuge for a faction of Lamanites who opposed their king’s orders to engage in conflict with the Nephites. These Lamanites sought safety in Onidah, under the assumption that aggression was imminent from an advancing army they presumed to be hostile and bent on their destruction. The strategic significance of Onidah is noted in its role during the ascent of Amalickiah, a cunning and ambitious leader, who, aiming to become the king of the Lamanites, manipulated his way into power. Amalickiah capitalized on the unrest and leveraged the location to consolidate his support among those Lamanites who were already dissatisfied with their king, ultimately leading to a radical shift in Lamanite leadership and a renewal of hostilities against the Nephites (Alma 47:5). The site of Onidah thus played a pivotal part in the unfolding narrative of political machinations and military campaigns between the Lamanites and Nephites.