Continuing with the list shown in the last four posts (and below) of the various scriptural record descriptions of the Land of Promise and how any model must meet each and every one of these descriptions listed by Mormon. To make sure there are no partial scriptures or references are used here, as often found in such lists by other Theorists, we list the full scripture, the existence or lack of existence in other models (under “elsewhere”), and the existence in the Andean South America area.
• Scripture: “And it came to pass that they did not head them until they had come to the borders of the land Desolation; and there they did head them, by the narrow pass which led by the sea into the land northward, yea, by the sea, on the west and on the east” (Alma 50:34); and “he also sent orders unto him that he should fortify the land Bountiful, and secure the narrow pass which led into the land northward, lest the Lamanites should obtain that point and should have power to harass them on every side” (Alma 52:9); and “the Lamanites did give unto us the land northward, yea, even to the narrow passage which led into the land southward. And we did give unto the Lamanites all the land southward” (Mormon 2:29); and also “And it came to pass that I did cause my people that they should gather themselves together at the land Desolation, to a city which was in the borders, by the narrow pass which led into the land southward” (Alma 3:5).
To clarify:
• Narrow pass is by border of land of Desolation
• Pass led into the Land Northward
• Pass led into the Land Southward
• Pass between Bountiful and Desolation
• Sea on the east and sea on the west of the pass
• Jaredites built a city by the narrow pass
• Pass was narrow enough to be defended militarily
• If an enemy obtained entrance into the narrow Pass, they would have the advantage of obtaining a foothold in the Land Northward and with such, the Nephites in the Land Southward.
Thus, two things are obvious. The Pass was the only way through the narrow neck, both being the only land between the Land Southward and the Land Northward. To alter or change this makes the importance of the narrow neck and the pass meaningless from a military standpoint, to which Mormon refers.
Elsewhere: While other Theorists try to create their own narrow necks and passes, each misses the point of the military importance—which means the pass had to be the only way through the narrow neck and the narrow neck the only land mass between the Land Southward and the Land Northward, otherwise, blocking the pass or cutting off access to the pass would not have kept an enemy from getting into the Land Northward through other means. Mormon, in his descriptions makes this quite clear. This completely eliminates Mesoamerica (125-144 miles wide), the Heartland (the Great Plains and areas denoted are mostly flat and lack any strategic pass or neck), the Great Lakes, which leaves several approaches through and around the area; and the same is true with Central America and Malay. Baja California is 50 miles across at their narrow neck, and a mountainous area inland with two separate coasts with egress, plus the various canyons and valleys. There is simply no single area to defend.
The problem with all these other areas is that you can point out a narrow pass, or a narrow area, but it is not singular. In the many miles of width involved in each, there are numerous other ways to get beyond or through their so-called narrow necks. (In past posts, we have shown maps of each of these narrow necks and passes and how easy it would be to circumvent any one area)
Andes: As pointed out in the last post, the second image map, Andean South America has both a narrow neck (east of the Bay of Guayaquil, between the bay and the steep Andes mountains now, and the Sea East (Pebesian Sea) of antiquity.Through this narrow neck is a pass, called the Pass of Huayna Capac by the Inca, was identified by the Spanish conquistadores, written about in 1552 by the scholar soldier Pedro de Cieza de Leon and still identifiable as late as the 17th century.
• Scripture: “And it came to pass that Hagoth, he being an exceedingly curious man, therefore he went forth and built him an exceedingly large ship, on the borders of the land Bountiful, by the land Desolation, and launched it forth into the west sea, by the narrow neck which led into the land northward. And behold, there were many of the Nephites who did enter therein and did sail forth with much provisions, and also many women and children; and they took their course northward” (Alma 63:5-6), and “And in the thirty and eighth year, this man built other ships. And the first ship did also return, and many more people did enter into it; and they also took much provisions, and set out again to the land northward” (Alma 63:7).
This first ship took its course to “a land which was northward,” suggesting a land different from the land northward, and the second ship went to the same (again) land northward. Since they were never heard from more, two possibilities exist: 1) they went to a land not connected to the Land of Promise and, thus, were not in the land of then Nephites any longer, or 2) the ship sank and were lost to history.
However, since the first ship returned, it is understood that at least the first shipload reached its destination and, if they, too, were never heard from more, then it must be assumed that both ships and possibly others went to lands disconnected from the Land of Promise. This is seen especially in the final entry on this issue “And it came to pass that one other ship also did sail forth; and whither she did go we know not” (Alma 63:8). Thus, we should find a land to the north of the Land of Promise that shows Nephite-type culture and building.
Elsewhere: There are several points here. It is impossible to sail a ship from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Mesoamerica and have it take its course northward--at least not for over 1000 miles; All the rivers in the Heartland that could be used to sail northward and southward flowing waterways and almost impossible to sail into both the winds and currents; the Great Lakes northward sail from their west sea would be a very short trip and certainly not worthwhile to go by ship in such a short journey—nor could a ship sail down the Niagara River, not northward into the lakes against winds, etc. In addition, there are no great cities either in the Heartland or Great Lakes to the north of their Land of Promise, and nothing north of there to show Nephite development of groups that went north.
Andes: As shown in the drawings above, Hagoth’s ships launched from the South American Land of Promise narrow neck would immediately take their course northward as Mormon describes and land along a wide front of northern Central America and Mesoamerica, where ancient civilizations built magnificient cities, palaces and temples that rival those of Andean South America.
(See the next post, “Comparing Various Lands of Promise With the Scriptures – Part VI,” for more comparisons based on the original chart shown at the top of this post and the scriptural references cited)
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