Melchizedek’s unnamed father was a royal figure whose influence helped shape Melchizedek’s early life and leadership. The Book of Alma states that Melchizedek "did reign under his father" (Alma 13:18), indicating a lineage of rulership that laid the foundation for Melchizedek's eventual rise as a religious and political leader.
The New Testament describes Melchizedek as “without father, without mother, without descent,” (Hebrews 7:3) which has been interpreted to suggest a mystical or eternal nature. However, the Book of Mormon, in Alma 13:18, contrasts this by asserting that Melchizedek did in fact have a father under whose reign he initially served.
A growing scholarly consensus1 identifies Melchizedek’s father as Bera, the King of Sodom mentioned in Genesis 14. This view is based on linguistic, redaction, and narrative evidence that suggests that the city of Salem, which Melchizedek ruled, was actually Sodom. Bera‘s reign ended during a battle against a coalition led by Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, resulting in his demise in the vale of Siddim, an area known for its slime pits (Genesis 14:10). If this identification is correct, it would mean that Melchizedek's emergence from such a background of moral and social turmoil to a ruler of peace and righteousness was particularly remarkable.