For a few years now I’ve thought that Laman and Lemuel were twins. The reason is because they seem to always speak of themselves as a single unit. For example, the claim is not that Laman should lead the family instead of Nephi, it’s instead that the two of them should do it and specifically because they are the eldest:
Yea, they did murmur against me, saying: Our younger brother thinks to rule over us; and we have had much trial because of him; wherefore, now let us slay him, that we may not be afflicted more because of his words. For behold, we will not have him to be our ruler; for it belongs unto us, who are the elder brethren, to rule over this people.
In Alma we get another example:
For behold, your fathers did wrong their brethren, insomuch that they did rob them of their right to the government when it rightly belonged unto them.
Normally I would presume one of them was born first and would therefore be the singular eldest with the right to rule. If so, I would expect the claim to be that he alone should be the ruler. But instead, these two claim it is their joint right to rule due to being the eldest. I assume, then, that they are twins. And not only that, but that there is either ambiguity about who came out first or that somehow they both got a body part out at the same time before being birthed individually — unless there is some way I don’t know of to birth two children at the exact same time.
Maybe an ancient cesarean wherein the two were holding onto each other? Perhaps they are Siamese twins? I don’t know. But I think they are indeed twins.
This idea of them as twins just hit me one day several years ago like a given fact. Kind of a “oh just so you know, those two are twins”. And ever since that is how I view them, right or wrong.
Well anyway, today quite out of the blue a similar idea came in much the same fashion that Ingwe is also not one individual, but two and they are twins. I don’t really have much to back up this idea yet, but I was curious enough to take a quick look on Eldamo.
And wouldn’t you know, there is an entry for the word “twins” that is phonetically practically identical to Ingwe. The word is “yungwi”:
Update after posting:
I suddenly remembered this movie from the 80s featuring Arnold Schwarzenneger and Danny DeVito:
Bill has done a lot of work associating Arnold Schwarzenegger in his story in various ways. I don’t know how well it will fit with this wild idea about Ingwe but it at least made me chuckle.
Update #2
Apparently I am not the first person to think Laman and Lemuel were twins. I also found this interesting theory that Jacob and Joseph were also twins because this verse from 1 Nephi 18 seems to imply they may have both been nursing at the same time and hence dependent on Sariah for “nourishment” when Laman and Lemuel got cheeky on the boat:
And Jacob and Joseph also, being young, having need of much nourishment, were grieved because of the afflictions of their mother; and also my wife with her tears and prayers, and also my children, did not soften the hearts of my brethren that they would loose me.
