The
East Seacoast Cities of the Nephites
The
land that we understand was settled by the Nephites, Lamanites, and Mulekites
was essentially separated into two main areas, both of which are in the land
southward as mentioned in the text.
The
first is the land of Zarahemla, which is mentioned in the Book of Mormon text
in three different ways:
1-
The local land of Zarahemla, which is similar to a county in a particular state
of the United States, with its associated county seat. The city of Zarahemla was also the
capital city of the Nephite nation for most of the timeline of the Book of
Mormon (Omni 1:13; Alma 5:1).
2-
The somewhat larger land of Zarahemla, which extended from the east sea (Gulf
of Honduras) to the west sea (Pacific Ocean), and from the narrow strip of
wilderness (Cuchumatanes and Sierra de las Minas) mountain ranges on the south
to the land of Bountiful on the north (Alma 22:29). The southern border of the land
Bountiful and the northern border of Zarahemla is ill-defined and ambiguous and
possibly contained only one city that is mentioned in the text, the city of
Bountiful (Alma 22:29-33).
3-
The greater land of Zarahemla included the land of Bountiful, which abutted the
land of Desolation on the north at the narrow neck of land (as well as the
shore of the Gulf of Mexico), and which also extended from the east sea to the
west sea (Mosiah 25:10, 23; 27:35; 29:44)
The
greater land of Zarahemla also included an un-named land between the larger
land of Zarahemla and the land of Bountiful. The river Sidon essentially flowed through the center of
this greater land, running from its source in the mountainous narrow strip of
wilderness to its mouth to the north of the land of Bountiful, emptying into
the Gulf of Mexico. The principal nation of the Nephites was the greater land
of Zarahemla (3 Nephi 3:23).
The second main area is known as the
greater land of Nephi. The narrow strip of wilderness is the Cuchumatanes and
Sierra de las Minas range that ran from the east sea (Gulf of Honduras) to the
west sea (Pacific Ocean) and separated the Nephite nation (the lowlands of
Guatemala, Belize, and Chiapas, Tabasco, and Campeche states of present-day
Mexico from the Lamanites, the land of Nephi, living mostly in the highlands of
Guatemala (Alma 22:27). The extent southward into Central
America of the Lamanite hegemony is unknown. The Nephite record keepers never mentioned any territory
south of the land of Nephi in the highlands.
Some
scholars and researchers have wondered why the Lamanites, if their inhabitable
territory was too small for their enlarging population didn’t simply move south
into the areas that are now known as El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa
Rica, and even Panama. Some have
speculated that the inhabitants of some of those areas were more belligerent
and hostile than even the Lamanites, so, rather than contend with those
peoples, it was easier to fight with and encroach upon the more pacific
Nephites to the north, to which they already had an undying hatred. Other researchers have also speculated
that until the change in topography at the time of the Savior’s crucifixion,
the lowlands of Nicaragua were such that there was a fairly wide and deep
channel of water, essentially affirming Mormon’s comment that the lands of
Nephi and Zarahemla were nearly surrounded by water (Alma
22:32).
With
regard to the greater land of Zarahemla, there were many smaller lands that are
named in the text similar to the city-states that were known to exist among the
Maya population at about the same time period. For most of the Book of Mormon, these lands were all part of
the Nephite nation and were subject to the kingships of Mosiah1,
Benjamin, and Mosiah2; and subsequently to the system of judges
beginning with Alma2, the first chief judge. It appears that most of the time these
smaller lands were discussed as both a land and a central city--essentially
like a city in the agrarian past of the United States with a central business
and residential location surrounded by farms, pastures, and ranches. Occasionally, a certain land was
mentioned without a corresponding city; and at times a city was identified
without the mention of an associated land. This may have simply been the record-keepers’ shorthand (or possibly
omission) but the suggestion is that probably all the local cities had their
surrounding lands of the same name.
Of
particular interest is the string of Nephite cities along the east coast of the
greater land of Zarahemla. In approximately 72 BC, the Nephites began the
foundation of a city near the seashore just north of the Lamanite territory,
called Moroni (Alma 50:13). There may have been a natural feature, such as a
river, stream, tidal inlet, etc., that would have separated the land and city
of Moroni in this land of Zarahemla from the Lamanite territory of the greater
land of Nephi; and that this city/land of Moroni was the first of many Nephite
cities that would be fortified against a future Lamanite attack. Such an attack occurred about 67 BC
when Amalickiah’s armies overcame the Nephite defenses and conquered the city (Alma 51:22-24).
Another
new city/land in the same general area in 72 BC was that of Nephihah, situated
inland from the city/land of Moroni, and between Moroni and an already-existing
city called Aaron (Alma 50:14). Some years earlier (82 BC), Alma2
left the city of Ammonihah and began a journey to the city of Aaron, although
he didn’t travel far before being told by an angel to return to Ammonihah (Alma 8:13).
If we understand that Ammonihah was in the more central parts of the
greater land of Zarahemla, the city of Aaron would have been in the area that
was referred to as the east wilderness (Alma 50:9). When the city/land of Nephihah was laid
out, we are informed that it joined the borders of both the cities/lands of
Aaron and Moroni (Alma 50:14). This would suggest that each of these
three lands, with their associated cities, were something on the order of five
to ten miles in diameter and connected one to another. One could imagine that the cities of
Ammonihah, Aaron, Nephihah, and Moroni were essentially in a straight line,
although the distance from Ammonihah to Aaron is never given nor implied. It probably was several days’ worth of
travel. The text never mentions
the city of Aaron after 71 BC. It
may have been too remote to be captured by invading Lamanites.
The
city/land of Nephihah was apparently just far enough inland that the Lamanite
army that had just conquered the city/land of Moroni bypassed it on the way to
the next city/land of Lehi northward along the coast and adjoining the
city/land of Moroni (Alma 51:25). Many of the refugees from the city of
Moroni managed to escape to the city of Nephihah, which suggests that there was
not a long distance between the two cities (Alma
51:24).
The
polity known as the land of Lehi does not mention the word ‘city.’ This is undoubtedly because of the
contention that developed by the inhabitants of the land of Morianton, which
lay immediately to the north of the land of Lehi, and also along the coast (Alma 50:25).
The citizens of Morianton disputed the boundary between their two lands,
indicating that the lands abutted one another in 68 BC (Alma
50:26). If each of the
lands surrounding their central cities were ten miles in diameter and the lands
came together, it would suggest that the city centers were only ten miles
apart. The rapidity with which the
Lamanite armies conquered the eastern seashore cities also suggests that the
distance between the land of Lehi was not very far from the land of Moroni.
The
next city/land to the north of Morianton was that of Omner. This location is mentioned only once,
as a victim of the Lamanite incursion along the eastern seacoast in 67 BC (Alma 51:26).
Interestingly, Mormon enumerates the cities that were conquered by the invading
hordes of Lamanites, city by city, including the city of Nephihah but makes a
scribal error, as he includes the city of Nephihah, which in Alma 51:25 he states that the Lamanites left the city
of Nephihah alone in their raiding up the coast.
The
city/land of Gid appears to be the next city going northward up the coast. Mormon mentions Gid as having been
captured by the Lamanite army in 67 BC (Alma 51:26). By 63 BC, the city is retaken by
Nephite forces by stratagem, as the Nephite armies under General Moroni begin
to defeat the Lamanites and recover their lands (Alma
55:7-26).
The
city/land of Mulek is the northernmost of this string of seacoast cities and is
just south of the city of Bountiful.
The Lamanite armies captured the city/land of Mulek in 67 BC (Alma 51:26) and were preparing to go against the
city Bountiful, thence to the narrow passage, which led to the land
northward. They were stopped,
however, by General Teancum and forced to retain the city of Mulek (Alma 52:2).
By 65 BC, Moroni, Teancum, and Lehi find a way to decoy the Lamanite
armies ensconced in the city of Mulek by having them chase Teancum’s forces
along the seashore heading toward the city Bountiful. Moroni then captures the unguarded city Mulek; and Teancum
leads the Lamanite army northward almost to the city Bountiful where they
suddenly meet the fresh Nephite forces under Lehi, who then chase them back to
the city Mulek, which has been captured by Moroni (Alma
52:16-34). The tired
Lamanite army then surrenders to Moroni and the Nephites. This whole event, going from the city
of Mulek almost to the city of Bountiful and back, takes less than a day, which
shows that the cities of Mulek and Bountiful are not very far apart – something
in the order of 8-15 miles.
By
61 BC, General Moroni, with assistance from Chief Judge Pahoran and the loyal
Nephite armies, had retaken all the cities previously lost to the Lamanites
beginning at the city/land of Mulek southward to the city/land of Moroni,
including the city/land of Nephihah.
Interestingly, the recapture of the city of Omner is not mentioned
although it had to have been retaken in turn between the cities of Gid and
Morianton (Alma 62:18-34).
This
account of the Nephite/Lamanite warring and movements along the eastern seacoast
infers that the cities/lands were fairly close to one another, each city/land
pair being not more than 10-20 miles apart. If we assume that the eastern seacoast of the Book of Mormon
is along the coast of what is now Belize, perhaps there are some sites and
ruins that can be seen and possibly identified that would corroborate with the
Book of Mormon text. Indeed, there
are several such ruins north of Belize City known nowadays by such names as
Potts Landing, Little Rocky Point, Condemned Point, Rocky Point, Sarteneja, and
a major ruin called Cerros, among others.
Book
of Mormon References -- Eastern Seashore Cities in the Greater Land of
Zarahemla
Land of Moroni – all
scriptures
Al. 51:22 – Lamanites
came into land of Moroni, which was in the borders by the seashore. (67 BC)
Al.
62:25 - Armies of Nephites within the walls of city of Nephihah, Moroni took
prisoners and the rest of the Lamanites fled to the land of Moroni, which was
in the borders by the seashore. (60 BC)
Al.
62:32 – Lamanites fled from generals Lehi and Teancum, even down upon the
borders by the seashore, until they came to the land of Moroni. (60 BC)
Al.
62:33 – And the armies of the Lamanites were all gathered together, insomuch
that they were all in one body in the land of Moroni. Now Ammoron, the king of the Lamanites, was also with them.
(60 BC)
Al.
62:34 – Moroni, Lehi, and Teancum encamped with their armies round about in the
borders of the land of Moroni, insomuch that the Lamanites were encircled about
in the borders by the wilderness on the south, and in the borders by the
wilderness on the east. (60 BC)
City of Moroni – all
scriptures
Al.
50:13 – Nephites began the foundation of a city, and they called the name of
the city Moroni, at it was by the east sea, and it was on the south by the line
of the possessions of the Lamanites. (72 BC)
Al.
50:14 – And they also began a foundation 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. (72 BC)
Al.
51:23 – And it came to pass that the Nephites were not sufficiently strong in
the city of Moroni, therefore Amalickiah did drive them slaying many. And it came to pass that Amalickiah
took possession of the city, yea, possession of all their fortifications. (67
BC)
Al.
51:24 – And those who fled out of the city of Moroni came to the city of
Nephihah, and also the people of the city of Lehi gathered themselves together,
and made preparations and were ready to receive the Lamanites to battle. (67
BC)
Al.
59:5 - … the people of Nephihah, who were gathered together from the city of
Moroni and the city of Lehi and the city of Morianton, were attacked by the
Lamanites. (62 BC)
3
Nep. 8:9 – And the city of Moroni did sink into the depths of the sea, and the
inhabitants thereof were drowned. (AD 34)
3
Nep. 9:4 – And behold that great city Moroni have I caused to be sunk in the
depths of the sea, and the inhabitants thereof to be drowned. (AD 34)
Plains of Moroni – no passages
Land of Nephihah – all
scriptures
Al.
50:14 - And they also began a foundation 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. (72 BC)
Al.
62:14 – And it came to pass that Moroni and Pahoran, leaving a large body of
men in the land of Zarahemla, took their march with a large body of men towards
the land of Nephihah, being determined to overthrow the Lamanites in that city.
(61 BC)
Al.
62:18 – After capturing a large body of Lamanites, many were covenanted and
were sent to live with the people of Ammon. And it came to pass that when they had sent them away they
pursued their march towards the land of Nephihah. And it came to pass that when they had come to the city of
Nephihah, they did pitch their tents in the plains of Nephihah, which is near
the city of Nephihah. (61 BC)
Al.
62:30 – Now it came to pass that Moroni, after he had obtained possession of
the city of Nephihah, having taken many prisoners, which did reduce the armies
of the Lamanites exceedingly, and having regained many of the Nephites who had
been taken prisoners, which did strengthen the army of Moroni exceedingly,
therefore Moroni went forth from the land of Nephihah to the land of Lehi. (61
BC)
City of Nephihah – all scriptures
Al.
50:14 - And they also began a foundation 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. (City of Aaron is farther inland than city of Nephihah.) (72
BC)
Al.
51:24 - And those who fled out of the city of Moroni came to the city of
Nephihah, and also the people of the city of Lehi gathered themselves together,
and made preparations and were ready to receive the Lamanites to battle. (67
BC)
Al.
51:25 – But it came to pass that Amalickiah would not suffer the Lamanites to
go against the city of Nephihah to battle, but kept them down by the seashore,
leaving men in every city to maintain and defend it. (67 BC)
Al.
51:26 – And thus he went on, taking possession of many cities, the city of
Nephihah, and the city of Lehi, and the city of Morianton, and city of Omner,
and the city of Gid, and city of Mulek, all of which were on the east borders
by the seashore. (A mistake, because in v. 25, he bypassed the city of
Nephihah. Further, city of Nephihah was farther inland from the seacoast.) (67
BC)
Al.
56:25 – Neither durst they (Lamanites) march down against the city of
Zarahemla, neither durst they cross the head of Sidon, over to the city of
Nephihah. (65 BC) (Helaman writing here.)
Al.
59:9 – And now as Moroni had supposed that there should be men sent to the city
of Nephihah, to the assistance of the people to maintain that city, and knowing
that it was easier to keep the city from falling into the hands of the
Lamanites than to retake it from them, he supposed that they would easily
maintain that city. (62 BC)
Al.
59:11 – And now, when Moroni saw that the city of Nephihah was lost he was
exceedingly sorrowful, and began to doubt, because of the wickedness of the
people, whether they should not fall into the hands of their brethren
(Lamanites). (62 BC)
Al.
62:18 - After capturing a large body of Lamanites, the Lamanites covenanted and
were sent to live with the people of Ammon. And it came to pass that when they had sent them away they
pursued their march towards the land of Nephihah. And it came to pass that when they had come to the city of
Nephihah, they did pitch their tents in the plains of Nephihah, which is near
the city of Nephihah. (61 BC)
Al.
62:26 – Thus had Moroni and Pahoran obtained the possession of the city of
Nephihah without the loss of one soul, and there were many of the Lamanites who
were slain. (61 BC)
Al.
62:30 - Now it came to pass that Moroni, after he had obtained possession of
the city of Nephihah, having taken many prisoners, which did reduce the armies
of the Lamanites exceedingly, and having regained many of the Nephites who had
been taken prisoners, which did strengthen the army of Moroni exceedingly,
therefore Moroni went forth from the land of Nephihah to the land of Lehi. (61
BC)
Plains of Nephihah – all
scriptures
Al.
62:18 - After capturing a large body of Lamanites, the Lamanites covenanted and
were sent to live with the people of Ammon. And it came to pass that when they had sent them away they
pursued their march towards the land of Nephihah. And it came to pass that when they had come to the city of
Nephihah, they did pitch their tents in the plains of Nephihah, which is near
the city of Nephihah. (61 BC)
Land of Lehi – all
scriptures
Al.
50:25 – Contention between the people of the land of Lehi, and the land of
Morianton, which joined upon the borders of Lehi, both of which were on the
borders by the seashore. (68 BC)
Al.
50:26 – The people in the Land of Morianton did claim a part of the land of
Lehi, contention arose, and the people of Morianton were determined to slay the
people of land of Lehi. (68 BC)
Al.
50:27 – But behold, the people who possessed the land of Lehi fled to the camp
of Moroni, and appealed unto him for assistance, for behold they were not in
the wrong. (People of Morianton were brought back to land of Morianton and both
peoples were restored to their lands, after Morianton was killed.) (68 BC)
Al.
62:30 - Now it came to pass that Moroni, after he had obtained possession of
the city of Nephihah, having taken many prisoners, which did reduce the armies
of the Lamanites exceedingly, and having regained many of the Nephites who had
been taken prisoners, which did strengthen the army of Moroni exceedingly,
therefore Moroni went forth from the land of Nephihah to the land of Lehi. (61
BC)
City of Lehi – no
passages
Plains of Lehi – no
passages
Land of Morianton – all
scriptures
Al.
50:25 – Contention between the people of the land of Lehi, and the land of
Morianton, which joined upon the borders of Lehi, both of which were on the
borders by the seashore. (68 BC)
Al.
50:26 – The people in the Land of Morianton did claim a part of the land of
Lehi, contention arose, and the people of Morianton were determined to slay the
people of land of Lehi. (68 BC)
Al.
50:36 – The people of Morianton were brought back, and covenanted to keep the
peace and they were restored to the land of Morianton, and a union took place
between them and the people of Lehi, and they were also restored to their
lands. (68 BC)
City of Morianton – all
scriptures
Al.
51:26 - And thus he went on, taking possession of many cities, the city of
Nephihah, and the city of Lehi, and the city of Morianton, and city of Omner,
and the city of Gid, and city of Mulek, all of which were on the east borders
by the seashore. (A mistake, because in v. 25, he bypassed the city of
Nephihah.) (67 BC)
Al.
59:5 – While Moroni was making preparations to go against the Lamanites to
battle, behold, the people of Nephihah, who were gathered together from the
city of Moroni and the city of Lehi and the city of Morianton, were attacked by
the Lamanites. (62 BC)
Plains of Morianton – no
passages
Land of Omner – no
passages
Plains of Omner – no
passages
City of Omner – all
scriptures
Al.
51:26 – And thus he (Amalickiah) went on, taking possession of many cities, the
city of Nephihah, and the city of Lehi, and the city of Morianton, and city of
Omner, and the city of Gid, and city of Mulek, all of which were on the east
borders by the seashore. (A mistake, because in v. 25, he bypassed the city of
Nephihah.) (67 BC) [The retaking of Omner by the Nephites is never mentioned.]
Land of Gid – no
passages
Plains of Gid – no
passages
City of Gid – all
scriptures
Al.
51:26 - And thus he (Amalickiah) went on, taking possession of many cities, the
city of Nephihah, and the city of Lehi, and the city of Morianton, and city of
Omner, and the city of Gid, and city of Mulek, all of which were on the east borders
by the seashore. (A mistake, because in v. 25, he bypassed the city of
Nephihah.) (67 BC)
Al.
55:7 – Now the Nephites were guarded in the city of Gid, therefore Moroni
appointed Laman and caused that a small number of men should go with him. (Laman gets the Lamanite guards drunk.)
(63 BC)
Al.
55:16 – And now this was according to the design of Moroni. And Moroni had prepared his men with
weapons of war, and he went to the city Gid while the Lamanites were in a deep
sleep and drunken, and cast in weapons of war unto the prisoners, insomuch that
they were all armed. Nephites
captured the city of Gid without a struggle. (63 BC)
Hel.
5:15 – Helaman’s sons, Lehi and Nephi, went from city to city, starting at
Bountiful, thenceforth to the city of Gid, and from the city of Gid to the city
of Mulek. (30 BC)
Plains of Mulek – no
passages (But see Al. 52:20 below.)
Land of Mulek – no
passages specifically of this title
City of Mulek – all
scriptures
Al.
51:26 - And thus he (Amalickiah) went on, taking possession of many cities, the
city of Nephihah, and the city of Lehi, and the city of Morianton, and city of
Omner, and the city of Gid, and city of Mulek, all of which were on the east
borders by the seashore. (A mistake, because in v. 25, he bypassed the city of
Nephihah.) (67 BC)
Al.
52:2 – The Lamanites abandoned their design in marching into the land
northward, and retreated with all their army into the city of Mulek, and sought
protection in their fortifications. (66 BC)
Al.
52:16 – Teancum receives orders to attack the city of Mulek, and retake it if
it were possible. (65 BC)
Al.
52:17 – Teancum sees that his army can’t retake the city of Mulek, so retreats
back to city Bountiful. (65 BC)
Al.
52:19 – Moroni and Teancum hold a war council on how to retake the city of
Mulek. (65 BC)
Al.
52:20 – Jacob, commander of Lamanites in city of Mulek, will not come out to
battle on the plains between the cities of Mulek and Bountiful. (65 BC)
Al.
52:22 – Teancum takes part of his army to the wilderness, which is to the west
of city of Mulek.
(65
BC)
Al.
52:23-26 – Moroni retakes the city of Mulek. (65 BC)
Al.
52:28-34– Lamanites pursue Teancum till they come close to city Bountiful
(probably not more than 10 miles), when they meet the army of Lehi, and hasten
back to city of Mulek, not knowing that city Mulek had fallen to Moroni’s army.
(65 BC)
Al.
53:2 – Moroni takes command of city of Mulek and hands it over to Lehi. (64 BC)
Al.
53:6 – City of Mulek had been one of the strongest held Lamanite cities (after
taking it from the Nephites).
Moroni’s armies had beaten one of the strongest Lamanite armies and had
retaken the city of Mulek. (64 BC)
Hel.
5:15 – Helaman’s sons, Lehi and Nephi, went from city to city, starting at
Bountiful, thenceforth to the city of Gid, and from the city of Gid to the city
of Mulek. (30 BC)
Plains of Bountiful – no
passages (But see Al. 52:20 above.)
Land of Aaron – no
passages
Plains of Aaron – no
passages
City of Aaron – all
scriptures
Al.
8:13 – Alma leaves the city of Ammonihah and begins a journey toward the city
of Aaron. (82 BC)
Al.
50:14 - And they also began a foundation 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. (City of Aaron is farther inland than city of Nephihah. Ammonihah, Aaron, Nephihah, and Moroni
could all be in roughly a straight line.) (71 BC)
