This so-called Narrow Neck of Land, which Rosenvall chooses to label on his map as the Line of Defense, is about 45 miles across. The topography at this point is a gradual movement upward into the hills from both coasts and into the low mountains, with numerous canyons, passes, mountain-top ridges, and rifts—and all would be extremely difficult to guard against an attacking enemy across a 45-mile front. The amount of men necessary to guard such a defense line with only swords, spears and arrows, would be staggering. In addition, there would be no way to guarantee that this width could be guarded against a concentrated attack of a force coming out of one of the arroyos or cuts, and there are no tall peaks to look out over the rugged terrain to see if any force was amassing for an attack. This hardly agrees with the scriptural record suggesting that the Land Northward could be kept from an enemy.In addition, there is no one single pass or passage through this area from south to north that would allow a military force to bottle up an enemy and keep it from penetrating into the lands beyond. Mormon wrote: “Therefore Moroni sent an army, with their camp, to head the people of Morianton, to stop their flight into the land northward. 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 50:33-34). In Baja, there simply is no pass or passage through Rosenvall’s “narrow neck” that would allow an army to stop an advancing enemy in such a manner, for the enemy could simply change direction and take another route through Roenvall's narrow neck into the lands to the north.
Looking east to the coast from inland in the Rosenvall’s “narrow neck.” Note the considerable distance from the foothills to the shore and the lack of any type of pass or passageThus, there is no narrow pass leading from the Land Southward into the Land Northward (Mormon 2:29), that ran between the Sea East and the Sea West (Mormon 50:34). A pass that could easily be fortified to keep the Lamanites from getting around the Nephites on the north (Alma 52:9). Even a cursory look at this land of Rosenvall’s “narrow neck” shows it does not meet the scriptural requirement in any manner.
In addition, Mormon’s description of this area in the Land of Promise is that it was a “small neck of land” (Alma 22:32), a “narrow neck of land” (Alma 63:5). This obviously suggests a very noticeable narrowing of the land to provide an area nearly impenetrable by an attacking force and easily guarded against an enemy. We also find that this area was so noticeable, that it was used as the separation of lands for the treaty between the Nephites and the Lamanites (Mormon 2:29). By contrast, Rosenvall’s “narrow neck” slopes toward the seashore on the east and on the west for a considerable distance, which would have provided any army from penetrating the north countries in at least two different places besides the narrow pass.
Satellite view of Baja looking south. Note the 120 mile long straight area of the so-called narrow neck of land, which is about the same width of the entire length of Baja (See the next post, “The Fallacy of Extremist Theories—the Baja California Theory, Part V,” for more information on Rosenvall’s narrow neck of land)
I have raced in the Baja 1000, fished off the Midriff islands, dived at San Cristobal, climbing at El Triunfo, and sailed out of La Paz, partied at San Felipe, and lived near Rosarita. I wonder if this Rosenvall has ever been to Baja. It is a great place for recreation, but unless you live on the coast, there is almost nothing to draw anyone permanently inland. I cannot imagine anyone at any time growing crops in the southern half of Baja that grew exeedingly and produced an abundant crop. This is a land of cactus, snakes, and rock. Or sand on the beaches. I cannot think of any less place in the Americas that is so dissimilar to the land of promise Nephi and others describe.
ReplyDeleteFact Check:
ReplyDeleteFoul #1: "all would be extremely difficult to guard against an attacking enemy across a 45-mile front"
Fact #1: The Baja model places the Land of Bountiful right in front of the so-called 45-mile front just like the Book of Mormon says. In fact, almost the entire feature described by this article as a "45 mile front" is naturally defended by many impassible mountains. The only reasonable entrance to the Baja model's "Land of Desolation" is a narrow passage (perfectly described by Mormon) on the East near the coast which makes for a great place to put up a defense.
Foul #2: "there are no tall peaks to look out over the rugged terrain to see if any force was amassing for an attack"
Fact #2: There are Many, many, many, many, many tall peaks that are perfect for watching out for approaching armies. Open Google Earth and try for yourself.
Foul #3: "In addition, there is no one single pass or passage through this area from south to north that would allow a military force to bottle up an enemy and keep it from penetrating into the lands beyond"
Fact #3: See Fact #1