According to the Book of Mormon, when Jerusalem was destroyed by Babylon during the reign of Zedekiah, all of the sons of Zedekiah were killed except Mulek.Helaman 8:21 Along with "as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord," Mulek escaped into the wilderness and traveled "across the great waters" to the Americas, founding a new nation. The Mulekites established their capital at Zarahemla, north of where Lehi and his people landed.