They are said to descend from Nephi, who the book places leaving Jerusalem for the Americas around 600 BC.
It is divided into smaller books named after their main narrator or hero, such as Nephi, Alma and Mosiah.
The Nephites descend from Nephi, a son of the prophet Lehi.
Nephi leads them first, and then a line of judges and kings.
The Lamanites descend from Laman, Nephi's elder brother, who rebelled against him.
The Anti-Nephi-Lehies, Lamanite converts of around 90 BC, made a covenant never to go to war and buried their weapons.