Part Five

The Land Northward

From a chronological respect relative to the Book of Mormon, the land northward, north of the narrow neck of land, was first settled by the Jaredites after the flood of Noah and the waters had receded from off of the land (Ether 13:2/Genesis 7:19-24; 8:3), or at least for the most part leaving this land as a promised land yet with many bodies of water still found upon its face. Now since the Book of Mormon states that the land northward was most deformed by the three day destruction (3 Nephi 8:12-20; 3 Nephi 11:1; Helaman 14:21-27; 3 Nephi 6:8; 1 Nephi 12:4-5) at the death of Jesus, it is most difficult to presume that any Jaredite place may be still mapped properly upon it. And the Nephite record gives little upon which to build such a map, thus those who so pretent to do so without proper revealed knowledge are but guessing at a game that cannot be won. In fact no exact site can be denoted as the Book of Mormon does not so relate any such detailed assignment upon our modern maps of today.

As a matter of course one might think that an overview of the land of promise might be best presented at the start. But the Book of Mormon itself does not do it that way, in fact the history of the Jaredite nation, they who inhabited the land northward first, is not presented until the end of the Book of Mormon. Thus we are left to presenting that overview were it might best fit, and in this case it will be presented as we begin to discuss the internal mapping of the land northward. And then once began, just were does one so begin? One must just jumbp in relying upon what background there is and what is yet to be presented as it comes its turn to so be presented.

As generically as possible, the lay of the overall land of promise is actually best given in an 'hourglass' form with the land northward being in the north and the land southward being on the south and the small 'neck' (NOT WAIST) being that which connects the two lands together, be they what they may be. In Helaman 6:6 it states:

"Now the land wouth was called Lehi and the land north was called Mulek, which was after the son of Zedekiah; for the Lord did bring Mulek into the land north, and Lehi into the land south."

Now this in itself is taken by most readers as being the general names given to the land north of the narrow neck and the land south of the narrow neck as the site of Mulek's first landing was in the land northward and the site of Lehi's landing was in the land south of the narrow neck. And the text by this point in time 29 B.C. is about 25 years after the time when the Nephites did first begin to further inhabit the land northward (see Alma 63), and now the lands were being trafficed by both Lamanites and Nephites as the land northward continued to grow and develop.

Now prior to this time the land northward had been but referenced as the land of Desolation, it having been left desolate and covered with the bodies of the dead by the Jaredites. And some have proposed that the entire land southward was also once called Bountiful though that is not supported internally in the Book of Momron. As the lands of the Book of Mormon develop through time, both the stipulations of 'land of Desolation' and 'land of Bountiful' become more localized denoting just the land region immediately above (north of) the narrow neck of land as Desolation, and that land of the narrow neck and just below becoming known as the region or province of Bountiful.

Now there is one school of thought which would just relate the 'Land of Mulek' and the 'Land of Lehi' to just the land southward, being synonymous with the Land of Zarahemla and the Land of Nephi respectively. But within the context of Helaman 6 speaking of the greaters lands northward and southward, that does not seem to as well supported internally however logically they may be otherwise in relating the nature of the two lands of Zarahemla being first inhabited by Mulek's group and that land of first inheritance being that of Lehi's time.

On the other hand, eventually due to the 24 gold plates of Ether found by the 43 explorers of Limhi, the land northward becomes known as that land which the Jaredites did inhabit. And from the perspective of the Jaredites, the land southward of the narrow neck of land we held in reserve as a 'Natural Preserve'.

Now all this being said, perhaps the simplest manner in which to address the two lands is simply the Land Northward and the Land Southward. And when one begins to address the arrangement of that land, one must consider that there are two major perspectives from which to view the land, that of the Jaredites and that of the Nephites. And though one cannot be successful in assigning specific place sites, one can in some respect set forth a 'relational' relationship of location in respect of some places and sites to others, which may be helpful to some degree.

The Jaredite Perspective Though not presented first in the Book of Mormon, in time the lands of the Jaredites do precede those of the Nephites. And it will be with those lands and places of the Jaredites with which we will begin in respect to the two perspectives of the land northward. And that we will begin with a listing of Jaredite land, city, place and sites names.
The Jaredite Sites ABLOM, BY THE SEASHORE—Jaredite city of Omer Ether 9:3 Omer flees to A. by seashore. AGOSH, PLAINS OF—Jaredite area Ether 14:15-16 Lib pursues Coriantumr to plains of A. AKISH, WILDERNESS OF Ether 14:3-4, 14 scene of battles of Coriantumr. BORDERS BY THE SEASHORE Ether 14:12 Lib fled to the borders upon the seashore; Ether 14:26 Shiz did pursue Coriantumr eastward to the borders by the seashore. COMNOR, HILL—hill near valley of Shurr Ether 14:28 Coriantumr gathers armies near hill Comnor. COHOR, KINGDOM OF Ether 7:20 Cohor rules one of two kingdoms. CORIHOR, LAND AND VALLEY OF—Jaredite area Ether 14:27-28 scene of battles of Coriantumr and Shiz. EPHRAIM, HILL OF Ether 7:9 iron ore for swords obtained from hill E. HESHLON, PLAINS OF Ether 13:28 Coriantumr pursues Shared until he comes to plains of H. HETH, LAND OF Ether 8:2 Jared came and dwelt in the land of H. LAND OF LANDING Ether 6:12, 13 did land upon shore of promised land - went forth upon the face of teh land to till the earth. LAND OF THEIR FIRST INHERITANCE Ether 7:16 he [Noah] gave battle unto shule obtaining land of thier first inheritance. MARY CITIES Ether 9:23 Coriantum builds many mighty cities; Ether 10:4 [Shez father of Shez] did build up many cities upon the face of the land - over all the face of the land; Ether10:12 Morianton built up many cities; Ether 14:17 Shiz overthrows many cities slaying women and children and burning the cities. MORON, LAND OF—north of great land of Desolation Ether 7:5-6 is invaded by Corihor, king taken captive; Ehter 7:6 is near Desolation; Ehter 7:16 Shule is carried captive into Moron; Ehter 14:6 brother of Shared places himself on throne of Coriantumr in Moron; Ether 14:11 Coriantumr battles Lib in M. NARROW NECK CITY Ether 10:20 Jaredites built great city by narrow neck of land, by place where the sea divides the land. NEHOR, CITY/LAND OF—Jaredite city Ether 7:4; Corihor dwelt in the land of N. Ether 7:9 Shule battles Corihor in city of Nehor. OGATH—place near hill Ramah Ether 15:10 Jaredites pitch tents in O. OMER, KINGDOM OF ETHER 9:1 secret combination of Akish overthrows kingdom of O. OUT OF THE LAND Ether 9:3 Omer departs out of the land travels many days, passed by hill of Shim, over by place where Nephites were destroyed, thence eastward to Ablom by seashore; Ether 9:9 Nimrah and small number of men fled out of the land and came over and dwelt with Omer; Ether 10:8 Riplakish killed and his descendants driven out of the land; Ether 10:9 Morianton gains power over many cities and over all the land so king over all the land. RAMAH, HILL—Jaredite name for Hill Cumorah (see Cumorah, Land and Hill of) Helaman 3:4 they did travel an exceeding great distance, insomuch that they came to large bodies of water and many rivers; Mormon 6:4 land of Cumorah, hill Cumorah; land of many waters, rivers, and fountains; hope to gain advantage over Lamanites; Mormon 6:6 Mormon hides up in hill Cumorah all the records; Ether 15:11 army of Coriantumr pitch tents by hill Ramah, where Mormon hid records. RIPLIANCUM, WATERS OF Ether 15:8 borth Coriantumr and Shiz and his people pitch tents by waters of R., which by interpretation is large, or to exceed all. SHIM, HILL OF—in land Antum Helaman 3:4 they did travel an exceeding great distance, insomuch that they came to large bodies of water and many rivers; Mormon 1:3 Ammaron deposited records in hill called Shim; Mormon 4:23 Mormon takes records from hill S.; Ether 9:3 Omer and family travel many days, 'came over' near hill of S. and place where Nephites were destroyed. SHULE, KINGDOM OF Ether 7:20 two kingdoms, kingdom of Shule and kingdom of Cohor; Ether 7:22 Nimrod son of Cohor gives up kingdom of Cohor to Shule. SHURR, VALLEY OF Ether 14:28 Shiz pitched tents in valley of Corihor in land of Corihor, Coriantumr and army pitch tents in Shurr near hill Comnor.
Viewing the Jaredite Nation Since so little is known concerning the Jaredites land and what is known is so highly abridged, only snapshots of parts of the land might be first presumed. And some reliance upon that comparatively larger body of knowledge concerning the Nephite lands which does so relate to the Jaredite land might be 'carefully' so related to the manner of the Jaredite lands. One such manner is that concerning the great Jaredite city of commerce which 'guarded' the way into the natural land preserve of the land southward. Now drawing upon that which has already been concluded in setting out the lands of the Nephites, the 'people of Zarahemla', that is to say the party of Mulek—likely sailing upon Phoenician vessels to a site which the sea trading Phoenicians did previously know about (see sources on the Cocaine Mummies of Egypt)—did come and land at that great 'international' city of trade by the sea which the Jaredites had built. There Mulek's pary was the first to witness that part of the destruction of the Jaredites which had laid waste that particular Jaredite city on the border between Bountiful and Desolation and which would also be that which was later to be further witnessed by Limhi's own 43 explorers. As noted in Alma 22, this was but Mulek's party's 'FIRST LANDING' site. And as the scriptural reference continues, 'from there [they came] up into the south wilderness, likely by the great navigable river which they would name Sidon until they subsequently landed on one of its west banks and there founded the city of Zarahemla in the central heart middle of the wilderness and land southward. Now the particulars which have gone into this 'interally' derived mapping have already been gone into previously. But to briefly review, because the wilderness of Hermounts was both to the west and north of Zarahemla, any 'travel highway', be it by land or in this case by river, must have turned round about that blocked 'north and west wilderness. Thus the determined route of the Sidon river was beginning at it headwaters high in it mountainous beginnings flowing north to south until its course did turn to the northeast allowing the wilderness of Hermounts to be north of Zarahemla without any easy human passage way which the river Sidon would have so provided and divided that harsh wilderness of wild animals in which so many of the Lamanite army did perish in. And with the Sidon water way established upon the east of the narrow neck which was like Bountiful and Hermounts also north of Zarahemla, this would mean that the party of Mulek did land on the east coast so as to next continue their jouney up into the land southward by way of that same water way of the Sidon river. My the way, it would seem most logical that Coriantumr, the last surviving Jaredite, was there at that port city of the Jaredites, and that is were they did come upon him. Coriantumr would have wandered there not only in search of any of his own people who might have survived, but also in some anticipation that such international trade visitors as the Phoenicians may will one day return so that he might be there when they arrived. And he was. And it may have been there that Coriantumr was leaving upon that stone his people's last story, which stone told of their final demise. And it was also there that Ether likely left his 24 plates of gold which the people of Limhi did later find, and whether Ether did leave them there after or before the Mulek landing it is not given us to know from the Book of Mormon record. So now we come again full circle and it is at the land of the narrow neck upon which we have landed. Here in beginning what scarce mapping we might concerning the lands of the Jaredites we have but began at the 'rabbit hole' of the the maze, the bottom and the end; that land and city of the Jaredites last visited by Coriantumr and Ether in leaving their stone and gold plate records for who but Mulek and his companions to find as well as later Limhi's party of 43. And the Lord did bring Mulek into the land north, just north of the narrow neck at that internation port of trade of the Jaredites known by the Phoenicians. And as we have in a previous unit disclosed, the Lord had also brought Lehi into the land south of the narrow neck, just south of it where his party might find those surviving domestic animals of the Jaredites which had wandered south in the search for food. And this because Shiz's policy of destorying and burning the land totally as he did go in battle against Coriantumr.	Ether 10 19 . . . Wherefore they did go into the land southward, to hunt food for the people of the land, for the land was covered with animals of the forest. And Lib also himself became a great hunter. 20 And they built a great city by the narrow neck of land, by the place where the sea divides the land. 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. Alma 22 30 . . . [Bountiful] bordered upon the land which they called Desolation, it [Bountiful] being so far northward that it came into the land which had been peopled and been destroyed, of whose bones we have spoken, which was discovered by the people of Zarahemla, it being the place of their [the people of Zarahemla] first landing. 31 And they [the people of Zarahemla] came from there up into the south wilderness. Thus the land on the north was called Desolation, and the land on the southward was called Bountiful, it being the wilderness which is filled with all manner of wild animals of every kind, a part of which had come from the land north for food. 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; . . ." Helaman 6 10 Now the land south was called Lehi and the land north was called Mulek, which was after the son of Zedekiah; for the Lord did bring Mulek into the land north, and Lehi into the land south.
An Initial Summary of 'Desolation' of the Jaredites At this point it is felt that a review and points made summary would be beneficial in relationship to the land of the Jaredites and that same land which the Nephites did name Desolation. Though somewhat redundant in nature, the stress here will be to further and clearly define that land more particularly so that no misunderstanding may be contrived into further speculations which would lead one to many a false presumption concerning the lands of the Jaredites. First the 'limiting of the land Desolation' ought to be our prima facie consideration, for if one so misses this fundamental 'limiting' fact, one may drift into many an avenue, which just cannot be the case. (For example: Dr. Sperry states that the hill Ramah/Cumorah must be in the 'greater region of Desolation'. Well when speaking of the 90 B.C. definition of Desolation what is not a part of the 'greater region of Desolation' of all of North America? Even Moron and what Joseph Smith states in a letter to his wife of treking the lands of Desolation in Illinois of the Zion's Camp does fit in the 'greater region of Desolation' as may be presumed by the Alma chapter 22, 90 B.C. definition of Desolation. But then Dr. Sperry will mix oranges with apples and attempt to use the 'limited Desolation' of Moroni's 385 A.D. date definition and statement concerning Moron being 'near to (but not part of) the land of Desoaltion' to so indicate that Moron must need also be near to Ramah, with Ramah being a part of that greater Desolation. If one does not properly mind their p's and q's, in terms of the proper use of the 'limited land of Desoltion' of the 385 A.D. definition as compared with the presumed 90 B.C. definition, then one is apt to and in fact may easily make all sorts of erroneous conclusions, which the Book of Mormon just does not truly support.) There are certain points concerning the land of Desolation which needs be reviewed and sorted out as to which do and do not apply to the 'Desolation' which Moroni speaks of and that which his father so defines in respect to the lands of Alma 22. While both Mormon and Moroni do not live until the end of the Nephite record, Mormon in Alma 22 gives a run down concerning the relative positionings of the land at that point in time of Alma chapter 22, which is about 90 to 77 B.C. And that that picture has somewhat changed by the time of Moroni's current descriptions of the lands in his day of around 385 A.D., some 400 to 500 years later ought to be considered and understood. What further complicates that matter is that Moroni will use his 485 A.D. understanding of the land to describe that relationship which they have to the much more anceint lands of the Jaredites. And thus we have actually three sets of land layouts from which to word, Mormon's abridged layout of about 90 B.C., the more anceint Jaredite layout, and the book's most modern layout used by Moroni in around 385 A.D. From the 90 B.C. perspective of the land, Bountiful was but a land region upon the northern end of the greater national lands of Zarahemla. Bountiful was sort of an upside down cork in the bottle of the land southward. And Bountiful did reach up into the narrow or small neck of land so far as to come to border upon the land which Mormon introduces there by the name of Desolation. And that 'borderline' between Bountiful and Desolation ran from the east sea to the west sea, it being a day and a half's journey for a Nephi from the east to the west sea, specically denoting the direction of that day and a half's journey being from east to west and not from west to east. At any rate the resulting picture of the land which results is that Bountiful sets atop Zarahamela to its south and borders upon Desolation to its north, with the west sea and the east sea being its west and east borders. And it also yields the concept concerning 'Desolation' that it was the whole of the extent of the land northward that was know by that name, Desolation, at that particular point in time, 90 B.C. Now this would change is its perspective by the day and time of Moroni. By about 55 B.C., a man named Hagoth began to build ships and the 'Nephites' began to venture forth into the land northward to settle in that land northward. It must be understood that as the Nephites did so venture in and settle in that land northward, they began to give their various locations of settlement new names. That is this commenced the beginning of the time that the land northward would not merely be denoted as the land of Desolation of the land of Meluk, as various parts of the land would be so called by the new names the settlers were giving to the land. In fact by the time of Moroni, the designation of the 'land of Desolation' no longer referenced the whole of the land northward but it only referenced that much small region of land which laid just to the north of and bordered upon the land Bountiful. Thus it is that when Moroni speaks of Desolation in his day, or even when Mormon speaks of Desolation in the days of the smaller book of Mormon, from 321 to 385 A.D., they are addressing the more limited land of Desolation which is bordering upon Bountiful just to its north and not the entire expanse of the whole of the land northward. This is readily ascertained when Moroni mentions that the Jaredite land or kingdom of Moron is 'near' the land of Desolation. If Moroni did not have the understanding of a very much more limited land of Desolation than that which is attribitable to Alma 22, then just where would Moron be? Greenland? Greenland is a land which is relatively 'near' the whole of North America, but that is not what Moroni meant, obviously. Yes, obviously Moroni is speaking of an extremely more limited land of Desolation than was preceived in the days of Alma the younger in 90 B.C. relative to the land of Desolation north of Bountiful. Re-Relating the Senario of Discovery In terms of just where the 'desolation' found by Mulek's people upon their landing and the 43 explorers of Limhi when they also found Ether's 24 gold plates, it is central to understanding the internal nature of the land not to just jump to conclusions which meet a 'pre-prescribed' subjective criteria. It is important to read and understand what the book itself is saying. In Alma 22, while speaking specifically about the land region of Bountiful, it states exactly where Mulek's party 'first' landed. From verse 29 to verse 33 it speaks relative to and concerning 'Bountiful'. It 'Bountiful' being the the 'antecedent' of the pronoun 'it' in verse 30 as such: "And [Bountiful] bordered upon the land which they called Desolation, [Bountiful] being so far northward that [Bountiful] came into the land which had been peopled and been destroyed, of whose bones we have spoken, which was discovered by the people of Zarahemla, [Bountiful (this northern extent of Bountiful)] being the place of [the people of Zarahmela's] first landing." Now what bones of the Jaredites were just right there on Bountiful's northern border where it bordered upon the land of Desolation? There is but one simple answer to that question, for the Jaredites had built a great city of trade and commerce right by that eastern narrow passage by the sea east which led south into the land southward. And that city, along with all the other many, many cities and lands of the Jaredites were all left desolate and destoryed. Mulek's party did not have to land at Ramah/Cumorh to see desolation. Limhi's 43 explorers did not have to venture all the way to the hill Ramah to discover 'Desolation'. The whole of the land was left desolate beginning with that Jaredite city which 'guarded' the land north's southern border by which they would come into the land southward to get game. Does it not make more sense that Limhi's exlorers did not wander the whole of the land of the Jaredites and rather found the city of the Jaredites which guarded the passage by which those explorers used to come north into that land? When read with understanding Alma 22:30 points out that it was that northern border of Bountiful upon Desolation where the people of Mulek did 'first land' and there they also did find the bones of the Jaredites there about that city of the Jaredites. And it makes further sense that this is where Coriantumr would have wandered south in search of any remaining life and even perhaps to hopely await a sailing 'trade' ship of tarshish of the Phoenicians. And isn't this just where Ether would have placed his 24 gold plates so that they who came up from the south might so 'easily' find them? It is not only 'logical', it is what the book interally states when read with full understanding and not in an attempt to support some predetermined mindset of what the Book of Mormon lands must have been in order to fit them into an externally determined land stage. The step-sisters of Cinderella tried as they might to make the shoe fit, and if it did come on the foot, certainly the oversized foot came bulging out and was also so pinched by the small glass slipper too small for the size of foot attempting to be placed into it, that the squishing of toes would have been evident through the clear glass of the slipper. And when the Nephites did 'rebuild' that destoryed city of the Jaredites, what better name to call it by but the 'City of Desolation' which was by the sea, for Mormon and the Nephites did cast the dead bodies of the Lamanites into the sea from about that location of the later Nephite city of Desolation.

Jaredite Snapshot One

PICTURE 1 Ether 10:20  The Jaredites built a great city by the narrow neck of land, by the place where the sea divides the land.

Snapshot Analysis The prefered avenue of access between the land southward and the land northward seems to be the narrow passage by the east seashore where the Nephite city of Bountiful is established to have so protected that passage along the east coast of the narrow neck of land. It is the only passage we know of that the Lamanites did attack, though the other western pass is also alluded to (Alma 50:34). Thus it is also considered that the Jaredite city accessing the land southward would also be upon the eastern coast. Further it also yields the Mulek landing party its most logical site according to their seeming ready access to the Jaredite destruction as already presented (Alma 22:30). This also would make this Jaredite city site the possible site for the 'city of Desolation' of the Nephites and a most ironic selection of that name by which it was known, 'the city of Desolation' (Mormon 3:7). This seems so simplistic and obvious to have been over looked prior, that the Jaredite great city avenue to the land south was that first city of desolation discovered by Limhi's party of 43 (Mosiah 8:7-9) and the later Nephite city of Mormon's day was called by that name in reflection that that was just that one and the same city site of the Jaredites of that 'city of desolation'.

Original 1830 Book of Mormon Text with Parallel Commentary
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. . . .	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.
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.
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.

A 'Gem' Concerning Those Initial Journeyings in the Land of Promise?
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.	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.
Reclaiming the Land of Inheritance
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.	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.
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.
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.
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.	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.
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 .	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.
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.
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.	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.

Locating Helam and Amulon Now the exact location of many of the lands, cities and sites in the national land of Nephi can only arbitrarially be set. That is but for a few cities and lands. Though the exact placement of the city of Helan and Amulon is not feasible, at least these two cities and lands have some evidence which may help in establishing their general location upon an internally determined mapping in relationship to other places. 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. Now as for Helam and Amulon, though the presented 'relational' map does not accurately present distances, because of the actions of the Lamanite army under the leadership of the Amulonites which destroyed Ammonihah, Amulon and Helam (which was likely near Amulon) are located north in the greater land of Nephi. They would have so located apart from the people of King Noah and Lemhi and when they Lamanites sought after Lemhi's fleeing people, they came upon Amulon and then Helam being lost in the northern wilderness of the land of Nephi. And when the Nephite army intercepted the retreating Lamanite army south above Manti, crossing the head waters of the river Sidon to return from whence they came, it so indicated that Amulon would have been southeast of the Sidon head water, so locationg that city and land more in the middle of the land upon the new northern borders which did decrease the width of the wilderness to a 'narrow' width, making a narrow strip of wilderness between the northern border of the national land of Nephi about Helam and Amulon and the Southern border of the national land of Zarahmela about or south above Manti, the southern border of the nation of Zarahemla. It is important to take note that is was by the influence and under the 'leadership' of the dissenting Nephites, the Amulonites and Amalekites, that the Lamanites did rebel against their king who had converted to Christianity, and it was primarily those Nephites dissenters who killed the more part of the Anti-Nephi-Lehi people. And it would have been those Amulonite and Amalekite leaders who moved the Lamanite army against Ammonihah. And it was them who were returning to thier lands in the land of Nephi of the land of Amulon, Helam and also possibly Jerusalem, thus indicating that those lands of Amulon and Helam were located in the land of Nephi such that to arive in them they needed to travel east of the river Sidon, not west where Lehi-Nephi, Shilom and Shemlon etc. were located but on the east of Sidon, indicating that Helam and Amulon were more in the interior central land of the nation of Nephi in the course of their travel back into the land of Nephi from the national land of Zarahemla. And though the Book of Mormon is not a history of the Lamanites per say, it is of interest to note that after the departure of the people of Limhi, the government of the Lamanites had some how fallen into the hands of the those who were descendants of Ishmael, the king over all the land and his son Lamoni being Ishmaelites. And then as led by the rebellion of the Lamanites against their converted king and brethren under the direction of those of the Amulonites and Amalekites the government was again in a course of change. And who finally regained being king of the Lamanites before the deception of Amalickiah and his brother Ammoron is certain but unknown to us. All in all, the Lamanite nation itself was undergoing polictical unrest, change and upheaval.

Alma 16 6 And it came to pass that Alma inquired of the Lord concerning the matter. And Alma returned and said unto them: Behold, the Lamanites will cross the river Sidon in the south wilderness, away up beyond the borders of the land Manti. And behold there shall ye meet them, on the east of the river Sideon, and there the Lord will deliver unto thee thy brethren who have been taken captive by the Lamanites. 7 And it came to pass that Zoram and his sons crossed over the river Sidon, with their armies, and marched away beyond the borders of Manti into the south wilderness, which was on the east side of the river Sidon. Alma 24 & 25 1 . . . the Amalekites and the Amulonites and the Lamanites who were in the land of Amulon, and also the land of Helam, and who were in the land of Jerusalem . . . were stirred up by the Amalekites and by the Amulonites to anger against their brethren. 2 . . . insomuch that they began to rebel agaisnt their king . . . therefore, they took up arms against the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi. . . . 28 Now the greatest number of those of the Lamanites who slew so many of thier brethren were Amalekites and Amulonites, the greatest number of whom were after the order of the Nehors. — — — 1 . . . and they did no more attempt to slay the peopl of Anti-Nephi-Lehi at that time. 2 But they took their armies and went over into the borders of the land of Zarahemla, and fell upon the people who were in the land of Ammonihah and destoryed them.

Alma 32 4 Now, as Alma was teaching and speaking unto the people upon the hill Onidah, there came a great multitude unto him, who were those of whom we have been speaking, of whom were poor in heart, because of their poverty as to the things of the world. Alma 47 5 And now he had got the command of those parts of the Lamanites who were in favor of the king, and he sought to gain favor of those who were not obedient, therefore he went forward to the place which was called Onidah, for thither had all the Lamanites fled; for they discovered the army coming and, supposing that they were coming to destroy them, therefore they fled to Onidah, to the place of arms. . . . 7 . . . they had gathered themselves together upon the top of the mount which was called Antipas . . .

One Onidah ~ Two Onidah     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. If one has determined that Antionum was in the corse of captian Moroni's efforts invaded and recovered to the Nephite nation of Zarahemla then in respect to the hill and place named Onidah you are further left to make the conclusion that there are two Onidahs. The one where Alma did preach and the one in the land of Nephi which was also further stipulated at that later time as the 'place of arms'. However, if you 'correctly' presumed that the Zoramites did retain their land when they deffected, and that Antionum became a part of the Lamanite nation, then a different senario is revealed. Remember that when captain Moroni defeated the combined Zoramite and Lamanite army near Manti, he made them commit to an oath that 'they never would come to war again against the Nephites' Alma 44:5-6, 15, 19-20). And those who were not necessarily cowards and afraid of war but did honor that oath would be among those who desired not to fight again against the Nephites. And it would seem very logical that the Zoramites among them would seek to withdraw to a place of retreat and refuge against Amalickiah's Lamanite army in their own land of Antionum, even that very same location and area where was the place called Onidah were was the hill Onidah as well as being that valley near the mount Antipas. This pictures the place Onidah being at the foot of the eastern side of the eastern mountain range or cordillera where was the foothill Onidah from which Alma did preach as well as a valley into that range and an initial 'mount' of refuge called Antipas. And thus there would be only one Onidah as the Book of Mormon never does so stipulate that there were two such places by the same name of Onidah.

Alma 50 7 And it came to pass that Moroni caused that his armies should go forth into the east wilderness; yea, and they went forth and drove all the Lamanites who were in the east wilderness into their own lands, which were south of the land of Zarahemla [as newly established after the defection of Antionum]. 8 And the land Nephi [on the east] did run in a striaght course from the east sea to the west [at Aaron]. 9 And it came to pass that when Moroni had driven all the Lamanites out of the east wilderness, which was north of the lands of their own possessions [which now included Antionum], he caused that the inhabitants who were in the land of Zarahemla and in the land round about should go forth into the east wilderness, even to the borders by the seashore, and possess the land. . . . 14 And they also began the foundations for a city between the city of Moroni and the city of Aaron, joining the borders of Aaron and Moroni; and they called the name of the city, or the land, Nephihah.

The Defection of the Zoramites and Antionum 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. As Moroni proceed to secure the Nephite lands east and upon the southern border of the regional land of Jershon, he first drove out the Lamanites who had been dwelling up north along the seashore, moving them back into what he considered now Lamanite land, which by the way now include the land of Antionum. It says that Moroni drove the Lamanites out of the wilderness along the eastern seashore and it DOES NOT state that he invaded and removed the dissenting Zoramites from their homeland of Antionum as many a 'quick read and quick study' student of the Book of Mormon may presume. And then in the course of establishing Nephite defensive cities Moroni moved Nephites into the vacated lands. He built the city of Moroni right on the east seashore which would mark the eastern east sea line of the eastern southern border. And then he also constructed another new and great city upon the plains called Nephihah in a straight line running from the previously established city and 'captital' of the land of Jershon, Aaron. This straight line from Moroni to Nephihah to Aaron was that which was the 'straight course from the east sea to the west' where was the city of Aaron at the foothills of the natural west boundry in this sector of the land being spoken about. It is important to note that this particular 'east sea to west' line WAS NOT one that ran from east sea to west sea. It spoke only of that sector of the land which Moroni was securing on the south-eastern border with the cities of Moroni, Nephihah and Aaron as so depicted in the graphic above left. Here again we may see the digression which coming to the 'wrong' presumpts may lead. Many do not understand that Antionum was a regional land between the Lamanites and the regional land of Jershon and therefore the fail to be able to draw a straight course from Moroni through Nephihah to Aaron, east to west which properly marks the Nephite eastern southern at this juncture in time as set out in Alma 50:8 & 14. They fail to read the 'also' when verse 10 speaks of the western southern border apart from this eastern southern border. That western southern border was protected by the separate cities of Manti, Zeezrom, Cumeni and Antiparah (Alma 56:14), whcih were relatively much further south.

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.
Locating the City of Jerusalem Etc.
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.	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.
~ 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.
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.	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.
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.
A Small Narrow 'Neck' of Land
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.	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.
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.'
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.	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.
~ 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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Part Three ~ Home ~ Part Five

(Under Construction)

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(REV. 7-13-01)