Again we will start with Alma chapter 22 with the relization that by that
date (about 80 B.C.) the land have developed from the 'prestine' land of the
southern reserve of the Jaredites to the stage where the Lamanites for the
most part dwelt in the national land of Nephi and the Nephites as defined
by the Book of Mormon dwelt in the national land of Zarahemla. And thus again
we begin with that generalized perspective as shown by the graphic map as was
seen before in part one. Now how the Lamanites came to live in a nation called
Nephi and the Nephites came to live in a nation called after a descendant of
Mulek the son of Zedekiah is very much a part of the story line of the Book
of Mormon itself. But we must understand that the Book of Mormon is a
Nephite record and not a Lamanite record, and thus it is written from the
Nephite perspective. And the Nephites once lived in and did possess much of
the national land of Nephi as first established under Nephi the son of Lehi
in the beginning of the book. Then the Lamanites forced the Nephites out of
that land due to their constant persecutions of the Nephites and the Lord
allowing such because of the general wickedness which had crept in among the
Nephites. And when the more righteous part of those Nephites did withdraw
from their land of Nephi under the direction of a prophet named Mosiah, they
traveled north and back down into a land which was already by then inhabited
by a another group which the Lord had brought into the promised land from
the time of the destruction of Jerusalem called the people of Zarahemla after
their then king Zarahemla who was a descendant of Mulek, the only known son
of king Zedekiah to survive the Babylonian destruction of the city of
Jerusalem. And now since the Book of Mormon is written from the Nephite
perspective, they continued to call that first land where they did first
come to settle in the land of promise by that name they had named it then, the
land of Nephi, their prophet and civil leader whom they had made their king.
Undoubtedly if we were to come to read a record which had been kept by the
Lamanites, they would have most likely have called it by the name which they
had given it. We do not know that original Lamanite name, but eventually due
to the many descensions of Nephites and because the Lamanites had later been
instructed in the Nephite written language—they having basically lost
their written language over time—it may will be that even the Lamanites
at some point in time did also reference their land as the land of Nephi as
did the Nephites. And as we have in the previous parts of this text dealt
with the national land of Zarahemla, we now turn to what we might ascertain
concering the national land of Nephi.
Original 1830 Book of Mormon Text with Parallel Commentary
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I Nephi V
[only pertinent portion of chapter presented]
. . .
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did guide the
ship, that we sailed again towards the promised land. And it came to pass
that after we had sailed for the space of many days, we did arrive to the
promised land; and we went forth upon the land, and did pitch our tents;
and we did call it the promised land.
And it came to pass that we did begin to till the
earth, and we began to plant seeds; yea, we did put all our seeds into the
earth, which we had brought from the land of Jerusalem. And it came to
pass that they did grow exceedingly; wherefore, we were blessed in
abundance.
And it came to pass that we did find upon the Land
of Promise, as we journied in the wilderness, that there were beasts in
the forests of every kind, both the cow, and the ox, and the ass, and the
horse, and the goat, and the wild goat, and all manner of wild animals,
which were used for the use of men. And we did find all manner of ore,
both of gold, and of silver, and of copper.
And it came to pass that the Lord commanded me,
wherefore I did make plates of ore, that I might engraven upon them the
record of my people. And upon the [large]
plates which I made, I did engraven the record of my father, and also
our journeyings in the wilderness, and the prophecies of my
father; and also, many of mine own prophecies have I engraven upon
them [large plates]. And I knew not at that time when I made
them [large plates], that I should be commanded of the Lord to make
these plates [small plates]; wherefore, the record of my father, and
the genealogy of his fathers, and the more part of
all our proceedings in the wilderness, are engraven upon those
[large] plates of which I have spoken; wherefore, the things
which transpired before that I made these plates, are of a truth, more
particularly made mention upon the first [large] plates.
. . .
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Relevant Commentary
(note step logic that division into chapters 18 & 19 disrupts)
The continuing progressive story of Nephi takes logical
steps from when they do land upon the land of promise:
1)
Lehi's party arrives in the promised land and set up their tent camp as
they had done many times in the 8 year journey in the eastern hemishere.
2)
Once so organized in their structured encampment, like they must have
done each season over their eight year journey previousely, they did commence
to plant their seeds and over this planned growing season they did harvest
in abundance in this new 'bountiful' land.
3)
After harvest they consulted the Liahona and accordingly
they did take their journey in the wilderness first finding the remnant of
the domestic herds of the Jaredites which had wandered into the land for food
(Alma 22:30), which they gathered to replace those animals they had left
behind in the east. And they continued their journey until they found a land
rich in metal ore, gold, sliver, copper.
4)
Having arrived at this land of minerals the Lord commanded Nephi to make
plates of ore and engraven upon them the record of his people. They had
reached that 'first land of their father's inheritance' (Alma 22:28; Mosiah
9:1 & 10:13). So telling of the commandment of God to create his 'large
plate' record as he records on the small plates, he also explains why there
was no more than a single long statement (1 Nephi 18:25) regarding their
journeyings in the promised land. That more particular account he had already
recorded on the his large plates. And it was there to be had by Mormon's
abridged account but was lost to us in the loss of the 116 pages.
This logical step by step presentation that
allows us to see Lehi's journey in the wilderness from the 'bountiful' land
of landing to that land of his first inheritance is
obscured by the dividing of Nephi's story statements into two separate
chapters, chapters 18 and 19 of today's Book of Mormon.
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This 'and it came to pass' step presentation is in an order of what
comes next sequentually may seem obvious and could even be read in the old
melodrama style of 'and then' - 'and then'. Yet it is very
important to mantian that step by step procedure of presenttion to maintain
a proper application of what is being said to the current 'and then'
sequence and not attempt to thrown is back to some far spent statement which
DOES NOT propertly fit in the 'and then' logical presentation
sequence. For example many attempt to apply or 'throw back' Nephi's immediate
'and then' sequentual statement, concerning 'the journey' 'now' being
reported more particularlly, as applying all the way back to since Lehi left
Jerusalem or since Lehi left the valley of Lemuel. This is an interpretive
error given Nephi's plain and simplified manner of presentation of the
'and it came to pass' or 'and then' sequentual pattern. In other words, this
just does not fit the simplied 'and then' intent of the step
sequentual presentation style being imployed by Nephi.
And while it is a very plain and simple literary style, it ought
not be ignored for what it is doing, giving a step by step presentation of
what the author considers important from amid the enlarged history and
selection that which is selected and abridged in a sequentual pattern so the
reader will realize not only that events are transpiring (passing by) but
that they are properly sequenced though due to the abridgen nature of the book
not all is being reported or inclueded in detail. That 'and then' sequince of
presentation is disrubed due to the 'artificial' chapter division which was
not a part of the original text. And thus some of the 'and then' relationship
is lost due to the inserted chapter division which cuts the sequentual thought
pattern in two, thus for many readers dissecting the meaning of relationship
between the journey to find the land of metal ores, then being commanded of
God to make a record on metal plates, and then Nephi's explanation why other
details of their journey in the wilderness of the promised land are not being
kept upon his small plates, they having been recorded on his large plates.
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Why Nephi DID NOT Include the Particulars
In this same sequence of paragraphs of the 1830 edition and verses
in today's edition, Nephi proceeds to further explain why the particulars of
the journeys in the wilderness of the new world promised land ARE NOT
particularly given. He states:
"And after I had made these plates [the large plates] by way of
commandment, I, Nephi, received a commandment that the ministry and the
prophecies, the more plain and precious parts of them, should be written
upon these plates [small plates]; . . ." ~ 1 Nephi
19:3
Aparently the particulars of the events of their journeyings in the new
promised land, other than the discovery of domestic animals and of metal ores
for record preparation, WERE NOT of the high level of spiritual
calibur to be included upon the more plain and precious small plates
of Nephi. In Alma chapter 37, verses 36 to 43, it speaks of the Liahona and
its use, that it worked according to faith and diligent righteousness. And
when slothful and without the exercise of faith 'they did not progress in
their journey' but did 'tarry in the wilderness' and 'did not travel a direct
course'. This reminds one of the the wanderings of the 16 investigative
explorers of Ammon when they went in search of the people of Zeniff, that
'they wandered many days in the wilderness, even forty days did they
wander' before they came to the hill north of Shilom (Mosiah 7:4-5). One
can just imagine Lehi's party also having such difficulty of navigating the
wilderness between what would become the national lands of Zarahemla and
Nephi after having left the relatively easy course to follow up river and
having to navigate the highland wilderness of valleys and passage ways of
the caldera ridden merging cordillera maze of the southern highlands of Zarahemla. If
one has ever hiked in and through the High Unintas, that would yield a
comparison of how easy one could become lost and to wander aimlessly about in
such highland mountainous terrain. This would be like those 'strange roads'
or paths of Lehi's dream which the spiritually unguided found themselves
wandering in (1 Nephi 8:32). And all this speaks to just what attitude
Laman and Lemuel would have likely instilled in the travel party and that
growing resentment for following after Nephi's lead with the Liahona (see the
'Gem' which follows).
And so, since those journeyings in the promised land provided little
spiritual enrichment relative to Nephi's ministry, it being more of a lark
and more of Laman's and Lemuel's rebellious and slothful natures coming
through in the land of promise; Nephi did not, according to God's command,
include these particulars. They WERE NOT worthy of inclusion as a part of
Nephi's ministry, prophecies or the more plain and precious spiritual parts
of them to have been written upon Nephi's small plate religious record.
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A 'Gem' Concerning Those Initial Journeyings in the Land of Promise?
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Mosiah 10
12 They [the Lamanites] were a wild, and a ferocious, and a blood-thirsty
people, believing in the tradition of their fathers, which is
this—Believing that they were driven out of the land of Jerusalem
because of the iniquities of their fathers [Lehi & Ishmael], and they were
also wronged in the wilderness by their brethern [Nephi/Sam], and they were
also wronged while crossing the sea;
13 And again, that they were wronged while in the land of their first
inheritance, after they had crossed the sea, and all
this because that Nephi was more faithful in keeping the commandments of the
Lord—therefore he was favored of the Lord, for the Lord heard his
prayers and answered them, and he took the lead of their
journey in the wilderness.
14 And his brethren were wroth with him because they understood not the
dealings of the Lord; they were also wroth with him upon the waters because
they hardened their hearts against the Lord.
15 And again, they were wroth with him when they had arrived in the promised,
because they said that he had taken the ruling of the
people out of their hands; and they sought to kill him.
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Now when we come to understand that Lehi's party did journey from the
site of their landing to that land of first inheritance we may then begin to
see other items which relate to that journey from their landing in that
second Bountiful land to the Land of their father's first inheritance.
Now Nephi explained why he had not spoke more particularly about those
journeyings other than to point out the discovery of the remnant of the
Jaredite domestic herds and that they came to find metal ores in the land.
But in the traditions of the Lamanites is to be found a 'GEM' concerning
those journeyings.
Now because of the nature of Laman and Lemuel, their children grew up
believing many false traditions. Within these false traditions taught them by
Laman and Lemuel is hiden a truth concerning the nature of those early
journeyings in the land of promise. While in the east, Nephi had particularly
made the effort to insure that his father Lehi did maintain his leadership
of the family. Even during the broken bow incident when even Lehi did
complain against the Lord, Nephi was sure to still honor Lehi as the group's
leading in requesting him to inquire of the Lord where Nephi should go to
find food with his hand made wooden bow and arrow. But in the land of
promise Lehi's health was failing and thus the leadership roll fell to Nephi
to so address the Liahona and become the leader of their group in the
wilderness of the promise land. This fact is preserved in the traditions
of the Lamanites and also in that reasoning which Laman and Lemuel did use
against Nephi in the end to once again seek to take away his life.
Laman and Lemuel were wroth with Nephi because they said he had taken the
ruling of the people out of their hands; so they sought to kill him. In this
half truth accusation against Nephi there was the falsehood that Nephi had
taken charge of things of himself. Since he was the one who could properly
use the Liahona since the incident upon the sea, it was Nephi who by the hand
of the Lord and out of necessity had 'taken the lead of their journey in the
wilderness of the promised land (Mosiah 10:13). That fact was true. And
Laman and Lemuel held it against him, though they benefited from the
discovery of the remnant of the Jaredite herds and their coming into that
land of first inheritance, still they did take cause against him saying that
in so leading them on that journey according to the directions of the Liahona,
Nephi was taken to 'ruling over them' and taking the rule of the people out
of their hands. Certainly Laman and Lemuel could not have of themselves laid
the foundations of a sucessful new world colony in such a foreign land but
regardless of that, they could still become angry with Nephi for having taken
such a lead in that untamed wilderness of the promised land's southland. And
they did.
Now this is a 'gem' that in Lehi's failing old age, Nephi did step in to
take such as the lead and care of the people, the family. It is one of those things lost
perhaps upon those 116 pages, but certainly upon the large plates of Nephi.
For Nephi did take the helm of priesthood leadership upon the face of the
promised land as promised him by the Lord. And he did sucessfully lead his
people, including Laman and Lemuel from the site of Lehi's landing to the
sight of his father's first inheritance upon the western shores of the land
which would become known in the Book of Mormon as the land of Nephi. And what
better name, for despite their false traditions it was only by and through
Nephi's leadership that the whole of the family of Lehi did benefit and
succeed in land of promise. And this added little gem speaks volumes that
Nephi led the people and was he who found the ore to provide us this record.
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Reclaiming the Land of Inheritance
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Mosiah 9
1 I, ZENIFF, having been taught in all the language of the Nephites, and
haveing had a knowledge of the land of Nephi, or the
land of our fathers' first inheritance, and having been sent as a spy
among the Lamanites that I might spy out their forces, that our army might
come upon them and destory them—but when I saw that which was good
among them I was desirous that they should not be destoryed.
Alma 22
28 Now, the more idle part of the Lamanites lived in the wilderness, and
dwelt in tents; and tehy spread through the wilderness on the west, in the
land of Nephi; yea, and also on the west of the land of
Zarahemla, in the borders by the seashore, and on the west in the land of Nephi, in the
place of their fathers' first inheritance,
and thus bordering along by the seashore.
Mosiah 7
21 And ye all are witnesses this day, that Zeniff, who was made king over this
people, he being over-zealous to inherit the land of his fathers, therefore
being deceived by the cunning and craftiness of kin Laman, who having entered
into a treaty with king Zeniff, and having yielded up into his hands the
possessions of a part of the land, or even the city of
Lehi-Nephi, and the city of Shilom; and the land round about—
Mosiah 11
12 And it came to pass that he [king Noah] built a tower near the temple
[in Lehi-Nephi]; ye,
a very high tower, even so high that he could stand upon the top thereof and
overlook the land of Shilom, and also the land of Shemlon
[from the city of Lehi-Nephi], which was
possessed by the Lamanites; and he could even look over all the land round
about.
13 And it came to pass that he caused many buildings to be built in the land
of Shilom; and he caused a great tower to be built on the
hill north of the land of Shilom, which had been a resort for the children of
Nephi at the time they fled out of the land; and thus he did do with
the riches which he obtained by the taxation of his people.
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The Land of Our Fathers' First Inheritance
The enigma of 'the land of first inheritance' is compounded by
progressive interpretation of what the 'Book of Mormon says' from those who
read it carelessly and 'jump' to conclusions. One of the 'misconceptions' of
careless traditions concerning the Book of Mormon is the association of 'the
land of first inheritance' being the same as that site and place of Lehi's
landing in the promised land. A careful reading and study of the Book of
Mormon reveals that they ARE NOT one in the same location.
After Lehi's landing they did take their journey into the wilderness first
discovering the remant of the domestic herds of the Jaredites which came into
the land south for want of food and they did not end their journey until they
came to a land rich in metal mineral deposits of gold, silver and copper.
There God commanded Nephi to make a record of his own on plates beyond that
which was being kept by Lehi. That was 'the land of first inheritance' which
is identified by Alma 22:28 as that land in the borders by the sea shore west
in the land of Nephi. This is the same land which Zeniff did seek after, the
'land of our fathers' first inheritance'. When it states 'fathers' it may
likely have reference to Lehi, Laman, Lemuel, Sam, Nephi, Jacob, Joseph,
Zoram and the two sons of Ishmael; Ishmael having died in the east before
arrival in the land of promise. That 'first land' was jointly inherited by
all those of the Lehi party. They all had a joint interest in it.
When Zeniff came into the land he sought to make a deal with the Lamanites
who did posses this 'land of first inheritance'. He dealt with a King Laman,
the king of the Lamanite land they called 'Shemlon' it being located in that
land of first inheritance which has been established as being west in the
nation of Nephi by the shores of the sea, the west sea. This makes the
Lamanite land of Shemlon being a part and partial of that same 'land of first
inheritance'.
King Laman made an agreement with Zeniff that he would let them posses the
two cities and lands which ran adjacent to the land of Shemlon
'Sn' named 'Lehi-Nephi'
'N'and 'Shilom'
'Sm'. The Nephites of Zeniff
over time shorten the
name of the city of 'Lehi-Nephi' to just 'Nephi' perhaps in part to
facilitate record writing as well as in favor of thier separate
ancestral father Nephi from the joint ancestral father of 'Lehi' shared with
the Lamanites. Both these cities were in
'visual distance' of the Lamanite land of Shemlon as from king Noah's tower
he could over look both the land of Shilom and the land of Shemlon of the
Lamanites (Mosiah 11:12). Here a second misomer or quick asumption of those
who make of the
Book of Mormon a 'quick study' may be found. According to the mile distance
facts of the Book of Mormon the city of 'Lehi-Nephi' and 'Shilom' are but
a 'day's travel' worth of miles in visual serveillance distance from
Shemlon, which was in and a part of the land of first inheritance by the sea
shore. This is hardly the picture of 'many days journey and many miles away'
which the first city and land of Nephi was located in relationship to the
land of first inheritance (2 Nephi 5:7). Yet many have and still do make the
city of 'Lehi-Nephi' to be the same city as that which Nephi first built with
the temple like unto that of Solomon (2 Nephi 5:16). The Book of Mormon never
does give the name of that original city of Nephi, many days journey distance
into the wilderness though many assume it to have been 'Nephi'. When one
logically considers it, it would seem that the city name of 'Nephi' is no
more likely than say the name of 'Jeruslem' which is the name of that other
city they had left which also house the temple, the temple of Solomon.
This misconception of 'Lehi-Nephi' being Nephi's original city is often fueled by
the fact that the 'hill' of last meeting of the people of Mosiah I when
leaving the land of Nephi was near the city of 'Lehi-Nephi'
(Mosiah 11:13). When pondered, this site of gather of 'Mosiah I' realy only
establishes a 'northern' boundry upon the wilderness north to that original
land of Nephi at one particular point, which was in fact a national land
reported to be that had became a land of 'lands and cities' and that the
Nephites rather than remaining at one site did 'wax strong in the land'and
'they were scattered upon much of the face of the land', that they did
'multiply exceedingly and spread out upon the face of the land'
(Jarom 1:5-8 in 399-361 B.C). This is a picture of the Nephites radiating
out from their first city, establishing other cities and lands about those
other cities over much of the national land of Nephit, likely until they and
the Lamanites began to have their boundries of their lands bordering upon and
adjacent to each other as was the case of Lehi-Nephi, Shilom and Shemlon. The
Nephites did not depart out of the land of Nephi until after 280 B.C. (Omni
1:5). Thus from 570 B.C. to some 300 years later, the Nephites did multiply
exceedingly and spread out over much of the land forming a number of cities
and lands.
Interestingly the 'City of Nephi' is not mentioned in the Book of Mormon
until after the people take possesion of the 'City of Lehi-Nephi'. And it is
an apparent fact that it is the people of Zeniff through time who begin to
call the 'City of Lehi-Nephi' by the shortened name of just the 'City of
Nephi'. That the Lamanites later do take possesion of the 'City of
Lehi-Nephi/Nephi' and make it the chief city of the entire land of Nephi is
no surprise. There is no direct evidence which makes the city of 'Lehi-Nephi'
of about 200 B.C., the same as the orignial city which Nephi initially built
for his people in 570 B.C. But there is evidence that it is not the same city
as already so presented. It is merely a matter of assumption that the city of
Lehi-Nephi is the origianl city first built by Nephi is not supported by the
facts, while the argument against it being the same city is support by the
facts of the Book of Mormon.
Again, the site of 'final resort or refuge' upon the northern wilderness
during Mosiah's led flight from the national land of Nephi does not make it
an indicator of anything but what it is alone.
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Shilom
The name or word Shilom is a variant of the word shalom. Its meaning in
given in various Bible Name Dictionaries as being 'tarrying'; 'peace-maker'.
Considering where the city of Shilom is, adjacent to the historical lands
fo the Lamanites (Shemlon/Land of First Inheritance), it may well be that
over the years of conflict between the Lamanites and Nephites in the land
of Nephi before the Nephites departed, that the city of Shilom was named
in respect to some peace efforts between the Lamanites and Nephites which
likely effected some treaty or treaties between them over the years from
560 B.C to 280 B.C. It also works to describe Zeniff's efforts as a
'tarrying peacemaker' between the Nephites and Lamanites of his day and time.
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The Evolution of the Land
It is well to step back a bit and establish the nature and evolution of the
land from the perspective of the 'internally developed' mapping of the Book
of Mormon lands. This is in order so that the land may be sequentually
evolved over the span of time from that which it was prior to Lehi's and
Mulek's landing to whence we may take it from there.
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Ether 10
21 And they did preserve the land southward for a wilderness, to get game.
And the whole face of the land northward was covered with inhabitants.
Jacob 5
44 And thou beheldest that I also cut down that which cumbered this spot of
ground, that I might plant this tree in the stead thereof.
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The Land About 580 B.C.
Unlike the Jaredite lands north of the narrow or small neck of land where
'the whole face of the land northward was covered with inhabitants', the
Jaredites had preserved the land southward as a natural wilderness land where
they might hunt and get game. Therefore the land south might be considered
from the Jaredite perspective as their ecological answer to preserving the
land. And yet the Jaredites were very much in a postion whereby they did
'cumber' that land. That is by their use and purposed control of the land
for their own purposes, they did weigh down and burden the land, being in the
way for that land south to be used for other purposes and intentions. And in
their 'safaris' into the land to retrive 'game' and bring it back to that
city of commerce which did so traffic in the products of the wilderness,
the did so to speak 'litter' or 'hinder' by their very presence and use of
the land stand in the way for the Lord to use the land as he would. Thus the
where they did not actually live and inhabit full time in land as it being
made their permanent homes, they so in effect 'cumber' the land and due to
their rippened wicked state the Lord would cut down the Jaredites who did
so 'cumber' the land that he might plant the tree of the remnant of Joseph
in the stead thereof.
Now thus when Lehi's and Mulek's parties did land in the land of promise and
so come to establish themselves in the land they did so at various points
upon the land with 'wilderness' and or sea all about them and their initial
'pockets' of colonization and civiliation were but isolated splotches upon
the land of this wilderness preserve. Now some have conjectured as influenced
by outside sorces that others other than Lehi's and Mulek's were already
upon the land. But the Book of Mormon does not so state it and to consider it
so is beyond the scope of creating an 'internally generated map' of the Book
of Mormon lands.
As preveiously established Lehi landed upon the land south but near the
bases or bottom of the narrow neck of land. The reasonings for this have been
given. Then they journeyed south, up an into the land further south until
they reached what would become know as the 'land of first inheritance'. The
Mulek's did 'first land' at the top of the narrow neck in the land north,
there likely discovering Coriantumr who had wandered the land back down
from Cumorah that he might find some survivor or people other than just
himself. From that 'first landing' the Mulekites did set sail again south
along the coast until they presumably came upon the mouth of the navigable
river they'd name Sidon, which they sailed up deep into the heart of the
land and there establish their colonies and civilization along that river
from the sea to deep into the center of the land which would become known as
the land of Zarahemla. Back south in what would become known as the land of
Nephi, Nephi had been warned of the Lord to depart into the wilderness from
that site of the 'land of first inheritance'. It journeyed east for many
days as guided by the Lord's Liahona, coming to a site in the interior
of that land east of the 'land of first inheritance where he estabished
his people, the Nephites. These were then the three colonial centers of
the land with wilderness and or seas surrounding them from about 570/560 B.C.
It is important to have this perspective of 'evolutionary development' of the
land. It did not just all of a sudden appear as that land presented in Alma
chapter 22, nor did it remain as such from that time of about 80 B.C. on to
the end of the Book of Mormon. It did continue to evolve and develop over
the course of time and the events thereof and did so even after that down to
today.
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28 Now, the more idle part of the Lamanites
lived in the wilderness, and dwelt in tents; and
they were spread through the wilderness on the west, in the land of Nephi
; yea, and also on the west of the land of
Zarahemla, in the borders by the seashore
, and on the west in the land of Nephi, in the place of
their fathers’ first inheritance, and thus bordering along by the seashore
.
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At this juncture in time, some of the Lamanites had development life-style
patterns of dwelling in cities. Others continued in the traditions of the hunter, gatherer, and scavenger. The prior descriptions of the Lamanites where that they would go about practically naked, eating raw meat, and living in tents. This life style continued for was is termed 'the more idle part of the Lamanites.' These are the ones who spread through the wilderness on the west both in the Land of Nephi and on the west in the wilderness of the land of Zarahemla. It is of interest that the place of their fathers' first inheritance was on the west of the Land of Nephi bordering along by the seashore. This was their first land of settlement from which Nephi had depareted having been warned of the Lord to do so. These nomadic more idle part of Lamanite groups did not seem to be as much threat all alone and by themselves until various forces were wrought to join the Lamanites together against the Nephites. This was always theunifying force that kept the Lamanites one people, was the their hatred for
the Nephites. Otherwise they would have separated into various associations and tribes and began to fight amoungst themselves a lot earlier than they did.
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Cities, Lands and Sites in National Land of Nephi
The folllow is a listing with references of such cities, lands and land sites
and featrues which may be associated with the national Land of Nephi, that
land which had become the land of the Lamanites.
ALMA, VALLEY OF—a day's travel north of city of Helam
Mosiah 24:20 named after Alma1;
Mosiah 24:21 people poured out thanks in A.
AMULON, LAND OF—settled by Amulon and priests, between Zarahemla and
Nephi
Mosiah 23:31 priests of Noah3 are found in A.;
Mosiah 24:1 Amulon and brethren appointed teachers in A.
ANI-ANTI—Lamanite village in land of Nephi
Alma 21:11 Aaron3 finds Muloki and brethren preaching in A.
ANTIONUM*, LAND OF—east of Sidon, south of Jershon, bordering near
east sea and upon south wilderness which is filled with Lamanites.
Alma 31:3 Zoramites gathered in A.;
Alma 43:5 Lamanites arrive under Zerahemnah;
Alma 43:22 Lamanites retire from A.
[* The land of Antionum, of the Zoramites, was once a part of the nation
of Zarahemla but when the Zoramites defected or dessented from the Nephite
nation they certainly took their land and homes with them. It was ever the
righteous policy of the Nephites to not fight a war of agression against the
lands of its enemies and certainly the Nephites never did march through the
land of the homes of the wives and children of the Zoramites. Many a Book of
Mormon scholar will brush over this point and casually keep Antionum as a
location in the national lands of Zarahemla. This is NOT the case and was and
is the primary reason for the People of Ammon having to be moved permanently
to the land of Melek, because the land of Antionum had joined itself to and
had become a part of the nation of the Lamanites, the nation of Nephi. (See
also Onidah and Hill Onidah).]
ANTIPAS, MOUNT—mountain of southeastern range on eastern side in land of
and near the foot hill of Onidah
Alma 47:7 Lamanites gather on A.;
Alma 47:10 Amalickiah sends message to Lehonti, leader of Lamanites on
A.
HELAM—convert from among people of Noah3 [c. 147 B.C.]
Mosiah 18:12–14 baptized by Alma1.
HELAM, CITY OF (see also Helam, Land of)
Mosiah 23:20 built by people of Alma1 in land of Helam;
Mosiah 23:25–26 people flee to H. when Lamanites come.
HELAM, LAND OF—land inhabited by people of Alma1
Mosiah 23:3–4 beautiful land, eight days' journey from land of Nephi;
Mosiah 23:19 given name;
Mosiah 23:20 people multiply, prosper, build city of H.;
Mosiah 23:25 Lamanites invade;
Mosiah 23:29 Lamanites take possession of H.;
Mosiah 23:35 Amulon and his brethren discover H. while searching for
land of Nephi;
Mosiah 23:37 Lamanites set guards around H.;
Mosiah 23:38 Lamanites bring families to H.;
Mosiah 23:39 Amulon appointed king over H.;
Mosiah 24:18–20 people of Alma1 flee from H.;
Mosiah 27:16 remember the captivity of thy fathers in land of H.;
Alma 24:1 Amalekites and Amulonites stir up Lamanites in H. against
people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi.
HILL OF RESORT—Hill north of Shilom
Alma 11:13 tower built on hill north of the land Shilom, last resort of
people of Mosiah.
ISHMAEL, LAND OF—portion of land of Nephi
(converted)
Alma 17:19 Ammon2 goes to land of I.;
Alma 17:21 (20:14–15) Lamoni king over land of I.;
Alma 21:20–21 synagogues built and word preached in land of I.;
Alma 22:4 Ammon2 and Lamoni returned to land of I.;
Alma 22:4 Ammon2 called by the Spirit to teach people in land of I.;
Alma 23:7–9 converted Lamanites in land of I. lay down arms;
Alma 24:5 council held in land of I. to plan defense against Lamanites;
Alma 25:13 other Lamanites join people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi in land of I.
JERUSALEM2—Lamanite city and land in land of Nephi
Alma 21:1–2 Aaron3 journeys toward land called by Lamanites J.;
Alma 21:2 Lamanites and dissenters had built great city, called J.;
Alma 21:4 Aaron3 comes to city of J.;
Alma 24:1 dissenters stir up Lamanites in land of J. against people of
Anti-Nephi-Lehi;
Alma 3 Ne. 9:7 the Lord causes water to come upon city of J.
LAMAN, CITY OF
3 Ne. 9:10 is burned at time of Crucifixion.
LAND OF FATHERS' FIRST INHERITANCE—west on sea coast of land of Nephi
Mosiah 9:1 Zeniff had knowledge of land of fathers’ first inheritance;
Mosiah 10:13 Lamanites believe ancestors wronged in land of their
fathers’ first inheritance;
Alma 22:28 Lamanites dwell in place of their fathers’ first
inheritance, west in land of Nephi by seashore;
Alma 54:12 Moroni warns he will follow Lamanites even into their land,
the land of our first inheritance;
Alma 54:13 Moroni warns if Lamanites persist in seeking to destroy
Nephites the Nephites will seek the land of our first inheritance.
LEHI, LAND OF2—apparently the entire land south
Hel. 6:10 land south was called L.
LEHI-NEPHI, CITY OF AND LAND OF—also called land and city of Nephi,
of which land it is a part (see also Nephi, Land of)
(converted)
Mosiah 7:1–4 Mosiah2 sends expedition to find those who had returned
to land of L-N.;
Mosiah 9:1, 6 Zeniff is allowed to possess land;
Mosiah 9:8 Zeniff repairs walls of city of L-N.
LEMUEL, CITY OF—Lamanite city
(converted)
Alma 23:12–13 inhabitants are converted to the Lord.
MIDDONI—Lamanite land (converted)
Alma 20:2–3 the Lord tells Ammon2 to go to M., where brethren are in
prison;
Alma 20:4–7 Lamoni offers to go with Ammon2 to M. to release brethren;
Alma 20:14–15 Lamoni refuses his father's order not to go to M.;
Alma 20:28–30 (21:12–13) brethren of Ammon2 had been cast into prison
in M., released by Ammon2 and Lamoni;
Alma 21:18 Ammon2 and Lamoni return from M.;
Alma 23:8–10 Lamanites in M. are converted unto the Lord.
MIDIAN, LAND OF—Lamanite land east of Lehi-Nephi
Alma 24:5 Ammon2 meets his brethren in M.
MORMON, FOREST OF—near waters of Mormon (see also Mormon,
Place of; Mormon, Waters of)
Mosiah 18:30 beautiful to eyes of those who there came to knowledge of
the Redeemer.
MORMON, PLACE OF—region near city of Lehi-Nephi
(see also Mormon, Forest of; Mormon, Waters of)
Mosiah 18:4–7 those who believe Alma1 go to M., where he is hiding,
to hear him;
Mosiah 18:30 Alma1 establishes order of Church;
Mosiah 18:31–33 people in M. are discovered by king;
Mosiah 18:34–35 people depart into wilderness.
MORMON, WATERS OF—fountain in land of Mormon
Mosiah 18:5 in M. fountain of pure water;
Mosiah 18:8–16, 30 (25:18; 26:15; Alma 5:3) converts are baptized in
waters of M.; 18:30 beautiful to eyes of those who there came to
knowledge of the Redeemer.
NARROW STRIP OF WILDERNESS—narrow strip of wilderness from bordering even
to the sea on the east and on the west, and upon the national land of
Zarahemla on the borders of Manti by head of river Sidon on the north and the
land of Nephi on the south
Mosiah 24:25 after been in wilderness twelve days to Zarahemla (Manti);
Alma 22:27 narrow strip of wilderness divided the land of Zarahmela from
the land of Nephi (the Lamanites).
NEPHI, CITY OF—(vs. original city of Nephi) chief city
(?*) in land of Nephi (see also Lehi-Nephi, City of and
Land of; Nephi, Land of) (converted)
Mosiah 9:15 persecuted Nephites flee to N. for Zeniff's protection;
Mosiah 20:3 priests of Noah3 are ashamed to return to N.;
Mosiah 21:1, 12 Limhi and his people return to N. after battles;
Alma 23:8, 11 Lamanites in N. are converted;
Alma 47:20 chief city in land of Nephi;
Alma 47:31 Amalickiah takes possession of N.
[* The references to the City of Nephi made here are certainly
in refernce to the city first named as 'LEHI-NEPHI', which is likely
NOT the same as the first city which Nephi built thus confussing the
issue. But the LAND OF NEPHI does take its name from Nephi and 'perhaps' that
first naming ot the land as referenced in 2 Nephi 5:8.]
NEPHI, LAND OF—land of Lehites' first inheritance, also a smaller
part of that land, sometimes called land of Lehi-Nephi (see also
Lehi-Nephi, City of and Land of; Limhi; Nephi, City of; Noah3;
Zeniff)
2 Ne. 5:8 named after Nephi1;
Omni 1:12 Mosiah1 flees from N. as directed;
Omni 1:27–30 large number of Nephites return to N.;
W of M 1:13 Lamanite armies come from N. to battle Nephites;
Mosiah 7:6 Ammon2 and brethren go to N.;
Mosaih 7:7–8 Ammon2 and brethren imprisoned in N.;
Mosiah 7:9 (19:26) Limhi, king of N.;
Mosiah chs. 9–22 record of Zeniff's people in land of N.;
Mosiah 9:1 Zeniff has knowledge of land of N.;
Mosiah 9:6 Zeniff obtains possession of land of N.;
Mosiah 9:14 Lamanites invade, steal flocks;
Mosiah 10:1 peace established in N.;
Mosiah 11:1 Noah3 succeeds father as king in N.;
Mosiah 11:20 Abinadi preaches in N.;
Mosiah 18:4–5 Alma1 teaches in Mormon, in borders of land of N.;
Mosiah 19:15 Lamanites carry away Nephites' wives and children in N.;
Mosiah 19:24 husbands return to N.;
Mosiah 20:7 Lamanites go to destroy Nephites in N.;
Mosiah 20:11 Lamanites repulsed;
Mosiah 21:1–4 Limhi's people in bondage in N.;
Mosiah 21:11 Limhi's people escape from N.;
Mosiah 21:21 wicked priests come into land of N. to steal;
Mosiah 28:1–9 (Alma 17:6–8) sons of Mosiah2 are permitted to go on
mission to N.;
Mosiah 29:3 (Alma 22:1) Aaron3 goes to N.;
Alma 2:24 Amlicites join Lamanites in N.;
Alma chs. 17–26 account of mission of sons of Mosiah to Lamanites in
N.;
Alma 18:9 Lamoni's father is king over land of N.;
Alma 20:1 Lamoni desires Ammon2 to accompany him to N.;
Alma 20:2 the Lord tells Ammon2 not to go to N.;
Alma 22:28 idle Lamanites inhabit borders of N.;
Alma 22:32 land of N. nearly surrounded by water;
Alma 22:34 Nephites kept Lamanites to south in N.;
Alma 24:20–23 Lamanites invade and slaughter many converted Lamanites
in N.;
Alma 25:13 many Lamanites join converts in N.;
Alma 27:1 Lamanites return to N.;
Alma 27:20 (28:8) sons of Mosiah2 tell of mission in N.;
Alma 27:26 Ammonites leave N.;
Alma 47:1, 20 Amalickiahites go to N.;
Alma 50:8 land of N. runs in straight course from east sea to west;
Alma 53:6 Moroni1 captures city of Mulek in N.;
Alma 58:38 Lamanites flee to N.;
Alma Hel. 4:12 Nephite dissenters join Lamanites in N.;
Alma 5:20 Nephi2 and Lehi2 go to N.
NOAH’S TOWER 1—tower near temple in city of Lehi-Nephi;
Mosiah 11:12 Noah builds very high tower near temple which over looks
Shimlon and Shemlon;
Mosiah 19:5 king Noah flees to tower near temple in skermish with
Gideon.
NOAH’S TOWER 2—tower north of land of Shilom, hill been resort
for children of Nephi during first flight from land
Alma 11:13 tower built on hill north of the land Shilom, a resort by Mosiah.
ONIDAH—gathering place for dissatisfied Lamanites (see also Antipas, mount)
Alma 47:5 Amalickiah goes to place of O. - the place of arms.
ONIDAH, HILL—in land of Antionum
Alma 32:4 Alma2 speaks to multitude from hill O.
SEBUS, WATERS OF—watering place in land of Ishmael
Alma 17:26 Ammon2 goes where flocks are watered, called S.;
Alma 17:34 Ammon2 contends with Lamanites who stand by waters of S.;
Alma 18:7 practice among Lamanites of scattering flocks at waters of S.;
Alma 19:20 king slew servants whose flocks were scattered at S.
SHEMLON, LAND OF—region bordering on land of Lehi-Nephi
(converted)
Mosiah 10:7 Zeniff sends spies round about S.;
Mosiah 11:12 is possessed by Lamanites;
Mosiah 19:6 Lamanites come from S. to attack people of Noah3;
Mosiah 20:1–5 Lamanites' daughters gather in S., are carried captive by
priests of Noah3;
Alma 23:8, 12 Lamanites in S. are converted to the Lord.
SHIMNILOM—city in land of Nephi
(converted)
Alma 23:8, 12 Lamanites in S. are converted to the Lord.
SHILOM, CITY OF AND LAND OF—small region next to land of Lehi-Nephi
(converted)
Mosiah 7:7 Ammon1 meets the king in S.;
Mosiah 7:21 city of S. is given to Zeniff by Lamanite king;
Mosiah 9:6 S. is possessed by Zeniff;
Mosiah 9:8 walls of city of S. are repaired;
Mosiah 9:14 Lamanites steal flocks in S.;
Mosiah 10:8 Lamanites come upon S.;
Mosiah 10:19–20 Lamanite army attacks, is repulsed;
Mosiah 11:12–13 tower and buildings are built in S.;
Mosiah 22:8–11 Limhi's people travel around S. during escape;
Mosiah 24:1 Amulon and brethren are made teachers over people in S.;
Alma 23:8, 12 Lamanites in S. are converted.
SIRON, LAND OF—land by borders of Lamanites
Alma 39:3 Corianton goes into land of S. after harlot.
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Alma 22
27 And it came to pass that the king sent a proclamation throughout all the
land [national land of Nephi], amongst all his people who were in all his
land, who were in all the regions round about, which was bordering even to
the sea, on the east and on the west, and which was divided from the land of
Zarahemla [national land of Zarahemla] by a narrow strip of wilderness, which
ran from the sea east even to the sea west, and round about on the borders of
the seashore, and the borders of the wilderness which
was on the north by the land of Zarahemla, through the
borders of Manti, by the head of the river Sidon, running
from the east toward the west—and thus were the Lamanites and Nephites
divided.
Mosiah 24
25 And after they had been in the wilderness twelve days they arrived in the
land of Zarahemla; and king Mosiah did also receive them with joy.
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Discerning Distances and the Narrow Strip
Often when the quick read artist who has a subjective intent in mind
messures distances in the Book of Mormon, they will take the 'shortest'
seemingly logical distance and attribute that to a mapping of the Book of
Mormon lands. Say for example from the city of Nephi to the city of Zarahemla,
that is the distance they will attempt to define as about a day plus from
'Lehi-Nephi' to the Waters of Mormon, eight days from Waters of Mormon to
Helam, a day plus from Helam to the Valley of Alma, and from the Valley of Alma
to Zarahemla twelve days (1.5 + 8 + 1.5 + 12 = 21 days) and a 'generous'
allowance of 10 miles per day for about 180 to 220 miles from the City of
Nephi to the City of Zarahemla. Reasonable? Of course! But objective?
Objectively lets begin with the Narrow Strip of Land. That narrowness is
logically a north-south directional narrowness unlike the narrwoness of the
Narrow Neck of Land, which is an 'east-west' narrowness. It seem quite funny
how a Narrow Neck of Land can suddenly blossom into a 'wide waist' size
distance of a land while the 'narrow strip of land' can almost diminish to but
a ribbon's width size in comparison. Why aren't the two 'narrows' comparatively
of an equal distance? If one were objective you would so suppose it to be
more likely than to have them a multiply factor's difference from each other.
Now remember the land south was a wilderness land, it did not just all of a
sudden appear with a narrow strip of wilderness between a nation land of
Zarahemla and a national land of Nephi. That took time to develop. And in
particular that wilderness between the lands of Zarahemla and the lands of
Nephi began to narrow over time as population expanded and as additional
settlements were made cutting that wilderness distance down to that narrow
strip of wilderness as presented by Mormon in Alma chapter 22. One of those
developments was the creation by Alma of the city of Helam and it is from
that Helam to the national land of Zarahemla which took Alma's people some
13 days to travel. But also notice that according to Alma 22, the 'National
land of Zarahemla' had a southern border in the head waters area of the river
Sidon. The city of Zarahemla was further north, downstream in the heart
center of the land. Thus when Alma's people traveled from Helam to the land
of Zarahmela in 13 days, that did not mark the distance between the city of
Helam and the city of Zarahemla. It marked the distance from the city or
immediate land of Helam to the southern border of the national land of
Zarahemla, which was Manti, near the headwaters of Sidon still many miles
distance down the river Sidon north from the city of Zarahemla.
Interestingly enough, when one takes the 12-13 day distance from Helam to
Manti, then one then does have a favorable comparison of what the term
'narrow' did denote concerning both the 'narrow neck of land' and the 'narrow
strip of land', for they indeed then become much more comparible in size and
distance. And instead of one being multiples in size than the other, their
ratio becomes quite similar and comparible one to the other, that is nearly
the same, which is what one would expect of an objective analysis of two
separate sites, both being denoted as 'narrow'.
Now given that the 'national' land of Zarahemla on the south begins with
the city, province and land of Manti near the head waters of the Sidon river,
then an objective consideration of the width of the narrow strip of
wilderness would be that distance from the Valley of Alma and the city and
land of Helam to the southern border of the national land of Zarahemla of
Manti. And roughly two weeks worth of journey as led by the prophet Alma
could be from about 70 to 140 miles distance or say about 100 miles wide from
border to border. Now that does not include the 8-10 days distance that
Helam would be from the city of Lehi-Nephi or Nephi nor does that include the
distance from Manti down along the Sidon river valley through the wilderness
between Manti and the greater mid valley of the province of Zarahmela through
or by Minon and/or past the eastern valley of Gideon before actually
reaching the city of Zarahemla.
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The Realm of the Dissenting Nephite Lamanites
There is a pattern that is being deduced from the pages of the
Book of Mormon concerning the primary locations of the Realm of the
Dissenters. Beginning with those wicked priests of king Noah who founded
city and land of Amulon and then also come into possession of the city and
land of Helam, the returning dissenter led Lamanites returning to their
homes by crossing the headwater of Sidon from west to east does first
establish where the location of Amulon and Helam were as previously
established. Then there is the facts of those of the Lamanites who did convert
to Christianity being the cities and lands of Shemlon, Shilom, Lehi-Nephi
(Nephi), and such others which may well be upon the west along the seashore
of the sea west and those lands of the Lamanities which were of the pure
Lamanite from which the converts of Ammon and his brothers were majorly taken
from. And then when Antionum defected from the Nephite nation of
Zarahemla and joined themselves to the Lamanites, this seems to all but
solidify a strong presence of Nephite descenters mixed with the Lamanites
from the central lands of Amulon and Helam east. There is also a developing
indication that the southern border of the national land of Zarahmela
about Manti is somewhat skewed to the west, which would reduce the distance
from Amulon and Helam southeast of the head waters of Sidon to the lands
of Lehi-Nephi, Shilom and Shemlon less than if Manti had been more central or
to the east itself. But from Helam, Amulon and then also Antionum makes for
a grouping of Nephite dissenters in the lands north central and northeast of
the greater national land of Nephi of the Lamanties; just where they may
so stir up the Lamanites and bring them to come down against the faithful
Nephites of the nation of Zarahemla.
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Locating the City of Jerusalem Etc.
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Alma 21
1 . . . Ammon and his brethren separated themselves in the borders of
the land of the Lamanites, behold Aaron took his journey
towards the land which was called by the Lamanites, Jerusalem,
calling it after the land of their father's nativity; and
it was away joining the borders of Mormon.
2 Now the Lamanites and the Amalekites and the
people of Amulon had built a great city city, which was called
Jerusalem.
Alma 24
1 And it came to pass that the Amalekites and the Amulonites and the
Lamanites who were in the land of Amulon, and also
in the land of Helam, and who were in the land of Jerusalem,
and in fine, in all the land round about, who had not been
converted and had not taken upon them the name of Anti-Nephi-Lehi, were
stireed up by the Amalekites and by the Amulonites to anger against their
brethren.
3 Nephi 9
6 And behold, the city of Gilgal have I caused to be
sunk, and the inhabitants thereof to be buried up in the depths of the
earth;
7 Yea, and the city of Onihah and the inhabitants
thereof, and the city of Mocum and the inhabitants
thereof, and the city of Jerusalem and the
inhabitants thereof ; and waters have I caused to come up
in the stead thereof, to hide their wickedness and abominations from
before my face, that the blood of the prophets and the saints shall not come
up any more unto me against them.
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Now when Ammon the descendant of Zaramela and Mulek did lead his 16 men
in search of the people of Zeniff they wandered in the wilderness some 40
days before finding any land occupied and it happened to be that land of
Shilom and Lehi-Nephi (Alma 7:2-7). It would seem that this would eliminate either the
lands of Amulon or Helam being north of Lehi-Nephi/Shilom/Shemlon and south
of the southern border of the nation of Zarahemla from Manti. Ammon would
have understood that Zeniff was moving toward the land of the father's first
inheritance. This pretty well moves Amulon and Helam east of Lehi-Nephi
where it is also varified that they are located according to the retreat of
Lamanites from Ammonihah. And though perhaps a 'jump' this also seems to
so locate the land and waters of Mormon east of Lehi-Nephi as well.
Now looking at the relations between the cities of Smilom, Lehi-Nephi (Nephi),
Helam and Amulon we may begin to infuse into this relationship both where the
land and waters of Mormon may be located as well as where the land and great
city of Jerusalem might be located. Again Ammon's 16 explores wandering out
the course from Manti to the land of first inheritance would do much to
eliminate or at least support the understanding that the cities of Helam
and Amulon were not in the lands between Nephi and Zarahemla on that general
line between Manti to Lehi-Nephi (Nephi) and Shilom. Now we might invision
the land, fountain and waters of Mormon being between Helam and Lehi-Nephi
and perhaps nearer Shilom than the king's city of Nephi (Lehi-Nephi). And
as stated in Alma 21:2, Jerusalem will border upon this land, forest, fountain,
land and waters of Mormon and also it would be near and associated with
both Helam and Amulon, for it is the dissenters of Amulon and Helam along with
the Lamanites who do build this great city, being understandably near those
location.
Now here it also becomes quite obvious that the land of Amulon, the land of
Helam, and the land of Jeruslem are not only so associated with each other,
but they are also the 'backbone' of the opposition against the people of
Ammon, the Anti-Nephi-Lehies, who after waring against the people of Ammon
then in their anger turned upon the land of Zarahemla and did destory the
Nephite city of Ammonihah. And this was the not only the Nehors destroying
the Nehors but also the 'cousins', descendants of the wicked priests by their
Lamanite wives destorying their 'cousins' of the wicked priests by their
Nephite wives and concubines. And thence we are back to the return of these
Nehor Nephite/Lamanite dissenters attempting to return with their captives
from the city of Noah to their lands east of Sidon's headwaters and whose
retreat were thwarted by the Nephite army led by captain Zoram and his sons.
The Fate of Jerusalem
When one reads the list of cities destoryed at the time of the death of
Christ, Jerusalem may be there found. And it states that 'waters have I
caused to come up in the stead thereof'. This might lead the 'quick study'
artist to attempt to locate Jerusalem near the seashore some where that it
might be buried in the sea. But this is NOT what it says. Unlike the
fate of the city of Moroni which does state that it is was 'sunk in the
depths of the
sea' (3 Nephi 9:4), if one reads carefully, Jerusalem is but one city that is
FIRST 'buried up in the depths of the earth' (verse 6) and then
further 'waters have come up in the stead thereof'. Some of the highest
LAKES in the world can be found hidden in
the cracks and crevasses of mountain valleys with their highest peaks making
spectacular imagery by being reflected there by. What better way to hide
the sins of such wicked cities to first bury them in the earth and to further
cover them with the waters of such lakes? Leave Jerusalem inland bordering
the land, waters, fountains and forest of Mormon, as well as being near Helam
and Amulon inland, in the center of he land, in the high mountains
of the national land of Nephi.
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~ The Placement of the Rest ~
Now as so stated previously, there is not much to go on to facilitate the
accurate placement of the majority of the lands and cities in the nation of
Nephi. Other than the grouping of Shemlon, Lehi-Nephi (Nephi) and Shilom
on the northwest; Helam, Amulon and Jerusalem in the north central; and
eventually the land of Antionum, Siron and Onidah in the very northeast of
the land of Nephi the rest of the lands and cities are not particularly known
where they are little alone what many of their names are. It is only from the
generalization that the coverts of the sons of Mosiah seem to be particularly
revailent more to the west about Lehi-Nephi (Nephi), Shemlon, and Shilom; and
that the movement against conversion is headed by the dissenters of the
Nephites of Amulonites and Amalikites so associated with the cities and lands
of Helam and Amulon and thier influence upon all the rest of the Lamanites
'round about' and assuming to the east of those cities as well, that we
may be objectively arbitrary in perhaps placing the cities and land of
coversion to the south central and west and the rest of the land of Nephi,
Central, north and east as those places against the conversion movement.
Therefore the cities and lands of conversion are depicted upon the west,
namely: Shemlon (Sn), Lehi-Nephi (N), Shilom
(Sm), Lemuel (Ll), Ishmael
(I), Middoni (Md), and Shimnilon
(Smn). And then the other lands and cities
which were not converted and more under the influence of the Nephite
dissenters being: Helam (H), Amulon (A),
Jerusalem (J), Midian (Mn), Ani-Anti
(Aa), Laman (Ln), and all the rest of unknown
names (?)
do cover the rest of the land of Nephi. And as so stipulated in
YELLOW, as according to this senario it
is from this pocket of lands and cities upon the west that are extracted the
People of Ammon as they seek safety and exile in the land of Zarahmela. The
'neighborhood' of conversion cities and lands closely located together would
help explain the logistics of the successful extraction of these converts
without the resistance of the Lamanites of the rest of the land. The people of
Ammon could be up and gone without much of a disturbance upon the rest of the
Lamanite lands and people.
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2 Nephi 10
20 . . . we have been led to a better land, for the Lord has made the sea our
path, and we are upon an ilse of the sea.
Helaman 3
8 And it came to pass that they did multiply and spread, and did go forth from
the land southward to the land northward, and did spread insomuch that they
began to cover the face of the whole earth, from the sea
south to the sea north, from the sea west to the sea
east.
Alma 22
32 . . . and thus the land of Nephi and the land of
Zarahemla were nearly surrounded by water, there being a small neck of
land between the land northward and the land southward.
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Parting Conclusions, Thoughts and Suggestions
Now whether Jacob's conclusion did take into all considerations and was such
that he did truly decide that the promised land was and Inland is of some
external discussion but internally it is what is said. We much address that
in all possible likelihood Jacob may well have seen the east, west, and south
seas which are spoken of in Helaman 3:8. And depending on one's perspective of
the north sea, perhaps that also. And whether Jacob ever did know that there
was a narrow neck which led to a further land north is arguable. Thus
internally we are left with a picture somewhat like that at the left which
features I'll review by number.
1 Is that area of the second land
Bountiful where Lehi landed a bit south
of the small neck of land, thus being brought by the hand of the Lord into
the land south or the greater land of Lehi. From thence Lehi's party
journeyed south up the western river valley which would one day host the
regional lands of Ammonihah and Melek with their cities, lands and features.
2 This region is west of the western mountain range or cordillera and is not
spoken of much nor ever tried by the Lamanities as a route to the narrow
neck, though they did dwell in the lower regions of it and on down along the
west coast into the land of Nephi; thus it is considered as being natural
feature prohibitive to land travel.
3 Already addressed in number one this valley was a passage way for Lehi's
landing party south, the river valley taken in error by Lemhi's 43 explores
into the land northward, the river and valley which Alma traveled three days
down stream from the land of Melek to that of Ammonihah. It is also that
valley passage taken by captain Moroni from the southwestern defensive line
to come to the aid of Teancum in repelling the Lamanites from pressing upon
Bountiful and the narrow passage.
4 This is the main central valley of the great river Sidon which flowed from
the extreme south of the land of Zarahemla, from its head waters above Manti,
down to the sea north or so being a little skewed from a south by southwest
location to a north by northeast determination. the valley of Sidon's water
basin was bound by the upper joining cordilleras in the south, the central
cordillera upon its west separating it from the parallel valley of Melek and
Ammonihah, and the eastern cordillera range upon its east. This house a great
river which could cause that thousands of human bodies cast into it above
Manti could and would be swept all the way down its course until they reached
and were deposited into the sea. The local land and city of Zarahemla laid
about mid course of this river upon its western bank where the people of
Mulek built their chief city in the center and heart of the land likely having
navigated up the course of the lower Sidon to that place; a site of subsequent
landing from their first landing just on the north edge of the norrow neck
east.
5 This is the wide range of the eastern cordillera which has a distinct
central east-west valley of its own which Gideon's group would come to
populate. The width and denseness and ruggedness of this range forced the
Zoramite/Lamanite to travel round about it on the south east before coming
into the upper Manti valley in their attack; Moroni having taken the 'shortcut'
through the valley of Gideon to arrive there first. And on the north end it is
so wide as to allow Moroni to set its defense with a set of east sea coastal
cities from Moroni, Lehi, Morianton, Omner, Gid, Mulek to Bountiful.
6 Is the east coast land regions which are inhabitable from the regional land
of Jershon on the north bounded by the regional land of Bountiful to the
regional land of Antionum on the south bounded by the southernwilderness which
had become filled with Lamanites. Upon that border of Jershon and Antionum was
a great plains area called Nephihah and Moroni set its defense from Aaron on
the east by the foothills of the eastern Cordillera to the great city of
Nephihah upon those plains central to the city of Moroni upon the eastern
seashore in a line marking the border of the Nephites between Jershon and
Antionum.
7 This is the highlands which when traveling from Zarahemla to Nephi one
would have to cross. It is were the three cordillera ranges join in a maze of
caldera riden mountain tops and wilderness. The valley of Alma, Helam,
Amulon and the rest of the central land of Nephi would be immediately south
of the Sidon headwaters above Manti and through that 12 day travel narrow
strip of wilderness south.
8 This would be that 'land of father's first inheritance' later marked
beginning with the land of Shemlon on it north and the cities of Lehi-Nephi
and Shilom just inland also upon the northwest corner of the greater national
land of Nephi. Other original lands of inheritance of Lamam, Lemuel and even
Ishmael are thought to be along down that stretch of western coast of the
land or lands of first inheritance with the first city of Nephi being many
days journey inland from that west coastal set of lands.
9 This is the rest of the greater land of Nephi. It is thought that that first
city of Nephi would be centrally located in the center of this land away
from the coastal lands of Laman, Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael. That city of
Nephi is NOT considered to be the same city of Lehi-Nephi which would eventually
be shortened in it name to just 'Nephi', it becoming the capital city of the
Lamanite land of Nephi after the departure of the people of Limhi and thus
the primary city of Nephi indexed in the Book of Mormon though NOT Nephi's own
original city. As to the rest of the greater lands of the nation of the
Lamanites which the Nephites did call Nephi in their record not much is
known from the pages of the Nephite record, giving such a vage presentation
as has been presented here concerning this land.
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Now, stop, consider. When I first realized what Mormon was saying in his
abridgment, a thrill traveled my spin and goose bumps formed. Mulek landed a
little north of the Isthmus of the Narrow Neck, likely on the East Coast. And
Lehi landed a little south of the Isthmus of the Narrow Neck of land on the
West Coast. Thus the Lord brought Mulek into the land north and Lehi into the
land south. And while the immediate land just north of the narrow neck was
known as Desolation, the name associated with all the land north was Mulek.
And while the immediate land just south of the narrow neck was known as
Bountiful, the name associated with all the land south was Lehi.(Hel. 6:10)
And 'Lehi' was divided into two great nations recored by the Nephites as
the Land or Nation of Nephi where the Lamanites dwelt having forced the
Nephites to be removed from their first original lands of occupation. And
the other great nation of Lehi was that of Zarahemla which was occupied by
the Nephites and Mulekites during this juncture in time.
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A Small Narrow 'Neck' of Land
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32 And now, it was only the distance of a day
and a half’s journey for a Nephite, on the line Bountiful and the land
Desolation, from the east to the west sea; and thus the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla were nearly
surrounded by water, there being a small neck of land between the land
northward and the land southward.
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The 'Narrow Neck' was a day and a half's journey for a
Nephite on the line Bountiful and Desolation from the East to the
West Sea. Much is discussed about the size of this width.
Depending on mode and ease of travel it could well range from 45 to well over
100 miles and that was a 90 BC measurement. But there are more telling
matters about the 'small neck of land' than its measured width. First
is
what is next said, if Mormon is taken at his word with no ifs, ands, or buts.
The land of Zarahemla was nearly surrounded by the Lamanites on the south,
east, and west except the Land of Bountiful which led into the narrow
neck of land. Mormon knew what being nearly surrounded meant! The lands of
Nephi and Zarahmela were nearly surrounded by water. There was water to the
east of them, there was water to the west of them, and there was water to the
south of them. Only in the north was this not the case. That is what being
surrounded means! The only exception was the 'small neck of land'
between the land northward and the land southward.
Second, NO LAND TODAY in America fits the
description as it is mapped TODAY. South America is too wide
AS MAPPED TODAY to be the Lands of the Book of Mormon. MesoAmerica is
attached in the south by the Isthmus of Panama AS MAPPED TODAY. Whatever
you conceive as the Lands of the Book of Mormon, they will be significantly
different from how the lands of America map TODAY in 2001 AD. Mormon's
description was of the land of 90 BC, before the destruction at the
Savior's death. A lot of twisting and turning of words with fallacious
manipulations would have to be used to get the Book of Mormon lands to
exactly fit a map today. The Church is wise in not publishing a map.
Lastly, but not least, Mormon says that it is a neck of land not a
waist. A neck is elongated and in verse 30 it said that Bountiful 'came into
the land' of Desolation. Bountiful reached from south of the nap of the neck
where it had sealed off the Lamanites up into the neck until is reached the
lowest regions of the Jaredite remains, the Jaredite City that was by the
narrow neck of land. And the 'neck' was at least as tall as it was wide.
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Mormon's Abridged 'Time Capsule'
There any number of points to consider in Mormon's 'Time Capsule'
abridged description of the geography of the lands in 90-77 BC. One is that
Mormon lived some 300-400 years removed and after this time and the
destruction at the time of the Savior's death. Another is, Mormon lived over
1600 years before today. While Mormon is trying to remain true to the
description of the land in 90 BC, he also faces the likelihood that it may
not be the same hundreds of years from his time. Another point is in
Mormon's abridged record, not all times and descriptions are to scale as he
is condensing. One tool of this condensation that Mormon uses is the phase,
'And it came to pass.' It usually means that time has passed and removes
what he is about to say from what has been said by an indefinite distinction.
And whether Mormon does this by the nature of abridging the account while
knowing the details or recording the events not knowing the details is beside
the point. It is important to take note that he is using the tool 'And it
came to pass,' to bridge information given in his abridgement. Next we have such a 'And it came to pass.'
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33 And it came to pass that the Nephites had
inhabited the land Bountiful, even from the east unto the west sea, and thus
the Nephites in their wisdom, with their guards and their armies, had hemmed
in the Lamanites on the south, that thereby they should have no more
possession on the north, that they might not overrun the land northward.
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Whatever the state of the land of the Nephites at the precise dating of
the King of the Lamanites' proclamation, which Mormon here jumps from, the
Nephites would in short order occupy the narrow neck region of the land of
Bountiful as Mormon indicates with its stated purposes. This occupation
was an evolution in defense of the lands of the Nephites and likely was not
the exact state of the land at the precise time of the proclamation. Mormon
indicates this with the 'refrain,' "And it came to pass." And since this was
more of a military purpose statement, it well may not have been totally the
state of affairs until the time of Captain Moroni, when such needs of securing
the passages to the land north was right at hand. Later it will be further
noted that Mormon's description here is somewhat generalized over a space of
time, as there are other details which are missing from his presentation of
this simple mapping, which Mormon in his abridged Book of Mormon will
add in and further stipulate in other passages.
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~ Northward and Southward ~
It is now time to the point that we can discuss a little further the
relationship between the land 'northward' and the land 'southward.' The word 'northward' is used every time Mormon refers to the Land North which has been five times. And though it is not as frequently used, as the common perspective is from south to north, the word 'southward' has been used twice from the perspective of north to south. Each of this instances of use you will have noticed, I have underlined the work in the scriptural verses. When something is not precisely north or precisely south in resect to each other, the more generalized words of northward and southward are used. Mormon, or the divinely inspired translation of the Book of Mormon text by the Prophet Joseph Smith, has persistantly given this more generalized aspect to the relationship between the land 'northward' and the land 'southward.' What this indicates is that the relationship between the two lands was somewhat skewed in relationship to each other and not exactly on top of each other in a precise north-south relationship.
~ Northern North Hermounts is Bountiful ~
Another point that is now ready for discussion is the particular term or
phase 'round about.' I associate well with this phrase. Where I live there
is a lake near by called the Great Salt Lake. There are no bridged highways
that transverse across the lake. From Clearfield to a little west of
Stansbury which is a part of my course to work, I have to drive 'round about'
the lake through Farmington, Bountiful, North Salt Lake, and on out I 80 by
Magna before I can arrive a little west of Stansbury. If the would build a
bridged highway across the Great Salt Lake between Clearfield and Stansbury,
my commute to work would be shortened substantially. In relation to the City
of Zarahemla and the immediate land of that city and the Land of Bountiful,
the Nephites would travel 'round about' the wilderness. This wilderness's
name was Hermounts which was both west and north of Zarahemla the locally
regional land about the city Zarahemla proper. The fact that the Mulekites
and Nephites had been prone to settle along the Sidon river and follow
that river valley all the way up to its head waters where Manti was located,
is an indication that the river either runs from southwest to the northeast
or at leas has a 'northeasterly' turn which takes a traveler northeast,
'round about' that portion of the wilderness of Hermounts which is directly
north of the City Lands of Zarahmela which would have to be 'cut' through to
reach Bountiful on a straight north to south line. This adds to the concept of the lands being skewed one from the other. It moves the River Sidon's passage to the east of the north-south line from Zarahemla to Bountiful. It means that there are lands out in that direction including the River Sidon to the east of Bountiful, and it places the 'Isthmus of the Narrow Neck' to the west of the River Sidon's passage to the sea. Thus it has already shown a tendence to skew the land Northward to the west a bit from the traveled routes from the land southward. Further evidence of this skewing is found elsewhere, but it can already be implied from Mormon brief, precise, compacted, and abridged description here in Alma 22.
This last verse is a reiteration and summary statement of the stated
purpose and design of the previous verses. It also is with the coverage of
Mormon's 'And it came to pass' refrain and therefore should be considered
with the same consideration as previously stated. There is no further direct
comment to make in regard to this last verse as it is just an ending summary
statement, and no new information is found in it .
34 Therefore the Lamanites could have no more possessions only in the
land of Nephi, and the wilderness round about. Now this was wisdom in the
Nephites—as the Lamanites were an enemy to them, they would not suffer their
afflictions on every hand, and also
that they might have a country whither they might flee, according to their
desires.
The Nephites where prepared and ready to 'flee' for their lives if ever
the conflict with the Lamanites ever grew to an unmanageable degree. While
stated in conjunction with a report that was being historically given from
the 4th century AD about the time around 90-77 BC, it is Mormon
who states the reasoning of holding the Lamanites back from occupying the
land to the north. This is the same leader of the military of the Nephites
during their last days of existence. The concept of fleeing from the enemy
into other lands was not a foreign concept to Mormon. While this relates to
other considerations covered in respect to Cumorah's last stand, it is
mentioned here just to point out a perspective that Mormon would have.
Mormon would have considered this perspective during the last days when he
was fighting the wars with the Lamanites as it was at this same time that he
was preparing his abridged record from which we read.
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After finding the remnant of the herds of the Jaredites, Lehi's party did
continue their journey south until they did find metal ores of every kind. It
must have been there that the Lord did command Nephi to make his record which
was his 'large plate' record in that land of their father's first inheritance.
This land of first inheritance or of the land or the
'place of their father's first inheritance' was
west upon the borders of the sea in the land of Nephi. 'The land of
Nephi' also being referenced in Alma 22 as meaning the entire nation of
Nephi.
First off it well be remembered that the lands and cities of Shemlon,
Lehi-Nephi and Shilom were associated with the 'Land of the Father's First
Inheritance', which land was along the western sea shore, west of the rest
of the national lands of the nation of Nephi. And that the last place of
resort for Mosiah I and his people was upon a hill north of Shilom. This
making that city and land of Shilom bordering upon the wilderness north, that
wilderness between the nation of Zarahmela and Nephi. And so this would so
locate Shemlon, Lehi-Nephi and Shilom in the northwest corner of the national
land of Nephi as so depicted in the accompanying graphic.
When in the course of developing an internal map of the Book of
Mormon, it matters as to the presumptions one makes and follows as two very
different results may evolve. Many who develop such maps presume that the
Nephites reclaimed the land of Antionum and it remained a part of the nation
of Zarahemla. With this internal map we have presumed that Antionum remained
the home land of the dissenting Zoramites and it became a part of the
'Lamanitie' lands and a part of the nation of Nephi as depicted in the left
graphic.
Now as previously set forth in Alma 22 the Lamanites at that time
had come in upon the seashores west and east and on up the sides of the land
of Zarahemla kind of surrounding Zarahmela on three sides (Alma 22:28-29),
all but upon the north where the land Bountiful protected the northern narrow
neck passage. And it ought to be considered in the presenting of 'maps
through time', developments and alterations do and will occur. This is one
such case. For after Moroni had defeated the joint Lamanite and Zoramite army
just above Manti (Alma 44), he proceeded to secure and defend the Nephite
lands as here partly describe in Alma 50 at the far left.