Mulek is recognized within the narrative of the Book of Mormon as the lone surviving son of Zedekiah, who was the last king of Judah before the Babylonian conquest. According to this account, while his brothers were slain and his father was blinded and taken captive to Babylon, Mulek eluded death and was led by the hand of God to the Promised Land (Helaman 8:21). This event is not chronicled in the biblical record but holds significance within the context of the Book of Mormon.
Upon arrival in the promised land, Mulek played a foundational role as the progenitor of a people who would later be discovered by a group led by Mosiah. This group, the Nephites, who themselves were descendants of Nephi, found Mulek’s people, who became known as the Mulekites and eventually blended with the Nephites to form a united nation (Omni 1:14-19). The land where Mulek’s group settled was referred to as the land of Zarahemla, after their leader at the time they were located by the Nephites. Mulek’s legacy continued through his descendants, and it is suggested that the Nephite discoverer Zarahemla was among them, as he was described as a descendant of Mulek (Mosiah 25:2).
In summary, Mulek’s significance is twofold: as a preserve of the royal lineage of Judah and as the ancestral figure of a prominent group in the Book of Mormon narrative. His role is pivotal in the merging of two separate migrations from Jerusalem into one people, enriching the cultural and political landscape described in the text.