Using strictly the scriptures, I
would like to ask the following questions of those many Theorists who claim their pet theories about the
location of the Land of Promise are consistent with the scriptural record.
This fifth question is directed
to John L. Sorenson, and all those Mesoamerican Theorists who claim the Land of
Promise was located in Mesoamerica:
5. “Using your model of the Land of Promise, what makes you think that the
beleaguered Nephite Army, having retreated all across the entire Land of
Promise from the Land of Zarahemla (Mormon 1:10) clear to the Land Northward
before an overwhelming Lamanite army they had seldom been able to stand against
in battle, would suddenly decide to stop and fight a final battle when they
could have continually retreated northward into Mexico and the area of present
day United States?”
If Mesoamerica was the Land of Promise, then it was
foolhardy for Mormon to stand and fight a battle against overwhelming odds when
he had all of Mexico and North America into which he could have kept retreating
5a. In addition, a follow-up question would be “Why did those who
escaped from this battle at Cumorah travel south (Mormon 6:15), into
Lamanite-controlled land rather than flee northward into Mexico and the U.S.?”
First, the Nephites had been
retreating toward the north countries (Mormon 2:3) before the Lamanite forces
for most of the time between 327 and 385 A.D.--a period of 58 years!
Second, Even where they heavily
fortified themselves in cities, the Lamanites overran them and drove them out
(Mormon 2:4-5).
Third, it became one great revolution
throughout all the face of the land between the Nephites and the Lamanites and
Robbers (Mormon 2:8).
Fourth, thousands of Nephites
were killed in these battles by 344 A.D. (Helaman 2:15).
Fifth, as a result of these
battles, the Lamanites continued to drive the Nephites northward (Mormon 2:20).
Sixth, after some severe battles
where the Nephites proved stalwart and held their ground, the Lamanites and Nephites
divided the land between them in 349 A.D., with the Nephites getting the Land
Northward and the Lamanites obtaining all the Land Southward with the narrow
pass the dividing line Mormon 2:29).
Seventh, after a ten-year hiatus,
the Lamanites attacked once again. Mormon gathered all his people into the City
of Desolation, near the narrow pass and defeated the Lamanites over the next
two years, leading to the Nephites attacking the Lamanites and suffering a
major defeat (Mormon 4:2).
Eighth, thousands were slain on
both sides during the next several battles (Mormon 4:9), and the superior-sized
Lamanite forces drove the Nephites out of the City of Desolation, captured many
women and children and sacrificed them to their idols (Mormon 4:15, 21).
Ninth, the Lamanites drove the
Nephites out of their cities and the Nephites retreated northward, taking all
the inhabitants with them that they could gather in (Mormon 4:23).
Tenth, after a successful stand,
another Lamanite attack in 379 A.D. drove the Nephites backward, and
“whastsoever lands they had passed by, and the inhabitants thereof were not
gathered in, were destroyed by the Lamanites and their towns and villages and
cities were burned” (Mormon 5:5).
Eleventh, by 380 A.D., so great
were the numbers of the Lamanites, that the Nephites could no longer make any
stand against them, and “they did tread the people of the Nephites under their
feet” (Mormon 5:6).
Twelveth, the Nephites again took
flight northward “and those whose flight was swifter than the Lamanites’ did
escape, and those whose flight did not exceed the Lamanites’ were swept down
and destroyed” (Mormon 5:7).
Thirteenth, the Nephites were
continually “marching forth before the Lamanites” (Mormon 6:1), and it was at
this time that Mormon decided to make a stand at Cumorah (Mormon 6:4), where he
hoped to gain some advantage over the Lamanites, though he knew it would be the
“last struggle” of his people (Mormon 6:6).
Fourteenth, by 384 A.D., all the
Nephites were in this Land of Cumorah, which lay within the area Mormon
described as a Land of Many Waters, Fountains and Rivers (Mormon 6:4).
Fifteenth, the Lamanite army was
so large, far more numerous than the Nephite army, that the Nephites
experienced that “awful fear of death which fills the breasts of all the
wicked” (Mormon 6:7) as the Lamanites approached.
With
their backs to the wall at Cumorah, they still could have continued to retreat
northward. There was clear passage along both coasts, and the central area is
mostly high plateau flat land, easy to travel across
At this point, two unbelievable
things happened: 1) The Nephites stood and fought, knowing they had no chance
against such superior forces, knowing they, their wives and children would be
cut down and, no doubt many sacrificed to dumb idols, and 2) those few who
chose to run, headed south—into heavily controlled Lamanite lands. Yet, to
their backs, lay thousands of square miles of country in which to flee, in
which to try and save themselves and their families.
There is no rhyme or reason to
such an act. No military leader (or any person) would voluntarily sacrifice his
entire army if there was a possible means of escape.
So we ask again, “Using your model of the Land of Promise,
what makes you think that the beleaguered Nephite Army, having retreated all
across the entire Land of Promise from the Land of Zarahemla (Mormon 1:10)
clear to the Land Northward before an overwhelming Lamanite army they had
seldom been able to stand against in battle, would suddenly decide to stop and
fight a final battle when they could have continually retreated northward into
Mexico and the area of present day United States?”and also, “Why did those who
escaped from this battle at Cumorah travel south (Mormon 6:15), into Lamanite-controlled
land rather than flee northward into Mexico and North America?"
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