One challenge in producing a plain-English version of the Book of Mormon is dealing with terms that are both nonstandard and ambiguous. One such term is “seed,” which, with a few obvious exceptions, means “progeny” throughout 1 Nephi, not “the ripened ovule of a plant”. That usage of “seed” is largely absent from modern English, but substituting “progeny”—which remains in current use—hardly advances the cause of plain English. Furthermore, investigating the definitions of “progeny” yields yet more ambiguity. According to Websters, it can refer to either biological descendants or to “a body of followers, disciples, or successors.”

The former definition of “progeny,” which seems consistent with Lehi and Nephi’s own interpretation, would imply—as was generally believed by Mormons for over 100 years—that the Native Americans found in the New World by Europeans were literal descendants of Nephi’s brothers. The fluid definitions of “Nephite” and “Lamanite” later in the book, however, make it impossible to identify the biological heritage of those surviving the final battle. Furthermore, DNA evidence has failed to link any present-day Native Americans to Lehi. Hence, the latter definition of “progeny” seems more appropriate. Of the three possible synonyms, “followers” and “disciples” both imply a particular ideology, but none is consistently maintained by either group throughout the book. Thus, “successors” seems the most appropriate interpretation, and that only in nominal, not legal, form.

Under that interpretation, the seed of Nephi could include anybody self-identifying as a Nephite and the seed of Nephi’s brethren could include anybody self-identifying as a Lamanite (or, perhaps, anybody not self-identifying as a Nephite). Rejecting the connection between “seed” and biological descent has a precedent in the official interpretation of “seed of Abraham.” According to D&C 84:34 the “seed of Abraham” are all those who fulfill the oath and covenant of the Priesthood without regard to their biological heritage

So how to render this usage of “seed” into plain English? Here are four possibilities with their pros and cons:

1. Replace “seed” with “descendants.”

Pros: (1) plainer English than “seed,” (2) conforms to the meaning that Lehi and Nephi seem to have intended.

Cons: Implicitly assumes a particular geographic model (i.e. hemispheric) that is not supported by present-day DNA evidence.

2. Replace “seed” with “nominal successors.”

Pros: most accurate rendition given the fluidity of the Nephite and Lamanite populations in the Book of Mormon and the present-day DNA evidence.

Cons: (1) not exactly plain English, (2) seems counter to Lehi’s and Nephi’s intent.

3. Replace “seed” with “Nephites,” “Lamanites,” or “Lehites” as appropriate.

Pros: (1) plainer English than “seed,” (2) does not contradict Lehi’s or Nephi’s intent, (3) does not imply a particular geographic theory.

Cons: Assumes a familiarity with terms not formally introduced until the Book of Jacob.

4. Retain “seed.”

Pros: (1) does not contradict Lehi’s or Nephi’s intent, (2) does not imply a particular geographic theory.

Cons: not exactly plain English

In general, I felt that the con arguments outweighed the pro arguments for all options except 4. Therefore, I have retained the term “seed” for this project even though I prefer the interpretation implied by option 2. There are two cases in which I selected other options because the con arguments didn’t seem to apply:

• 1 Nephi 7:1 (descendants)

• 1 Nephi 6:6 (successor)

Finally, my preferred interpretation of “seed” as nominal successors is challenged by 1 Nephi 13:30. Here, Nephi uses the phrase “mixture of thy seed, which are among thy brethren,” promising that they will not be annihilated in the final battle. According to Alma 45:13-14, all survivors of the final battle would be nominal Lamanites, so Nephi’s “seed” cannot refer to his nominal successors. Furthermore, the passage in Alma implies that some biological descendants of the original Nephites would become “like unto them,” (i.e., the Lamanites), presumably through intermarriage, making them physically indistinguishable from other nominal Lamanites. The combination of those scriptures seems to imply that some biological descendants of Nephi would survive the battle in which nominal Nephites are annihilated. This presents a challenge to DNA researchers, as it essentially promises that some Nephite DNA would be preserved and should, in theory, be findable.