We have mentioned the importance of words many times in the past, but still find people who either write or talk about the geography of the Book of Mormon that misuse them, misinterpret them, or ignore them entirely when they read the scriptural record—specifically relating to the geographical setting and events described in Lehi’s Land of Promise.
This is easily seen when reading in the 63rd chapter of Alma, with the wordage: “into the land which was northward” (emphasis added). Throughout the scriptural record in any discussion about the Land Northward, that term is used in the assumptive manner, i.e., as already having been introduced. On fifteen occasions in Alma alone, the term “the land northward” is used.
The two exceptions are found in:
1. “the Nephites possessing all the land northward, yea, even all the land which was northward of the land Bountiful, according to their pleasure (Alma 50:11).
In this instance, the entire Land Northward is included in a description of its location and giving a specific place where it was located: “which was northward of the Land Bountiful.”
There are two indications where the Land Northward is mentioned in connection with Bountiful (Alma 51:30 and Alma 52:9), stating where the land which was north of Bountiful being described as the Land Northward: “That he might take possession of the land Bountiful, and also the land northward” (Alma 51:30) and “He should fortify the land Bountiful, and secure the narrow pass which led into the land northward” (Alma 52:9). However, in neither case is the description like the introduction of that land as being northward of these other descriptions (Alma 63:4).
2. “That they should flee to the land which was northward, which was covered with large bodies of water, and take possession of the land which was northward” (Alma 50:29).
In this case a land northward is connected with large bodies of water as seen in Helaman 3:4 (went forth unto the land northward to inherit the land), and in Mormon 6:4 (they did travel to an exceedingly great distance—away from the Lamanites to the south of the narrow neck, further into the and northward).
Further, the entire description (Mormon’s abridged one or “shortened one”) states: “And it came to pass that in the thirty and seventh year of the reign of the judges, there was a large company of men, even to the amount of five thousand and four hundred men, with their wives and their children, departed out of the land of Zarahemla into the land which was northward” (Alma 63:4)
• What: A large number of people migrated
• How: By ship to another land
• Where: A land which was northward
Northward of what? Not northward of
Bountiful since it did not make that inference as found in Alma 51:30 and Alma 52:9. Yet, in this same set of
descriptions (found in Alma 63), a “land northward” is connected with or north
of the land of Bountiful. And since Bountiful is so connected to a Land
Northward, why then use a different term in describing that land—into the land which was northward?
The ancient Central American Seaway (Panamanic Seaway, Inter-American Seaway or Proto-Caribbean Seaway) was a body of water that once separated North American from South America. This was verified by the deep-sea drilling rig Glomar Challenger which was a deep sea research and scientific drilling vessel for oceanography and marine geology studies
Obviously, this different description of a northward land was different than the Land Northward mentioned 15 times in Alma; 30 times overall in the Book of Mormon.
In addition, common words have specific meanings, as in the word down. In fact, there are usually, in any written story, event, or description, tell-tale words that aid in understanding what is written and if misunderstood or ignored limit understanding of what is really intended or occurring within these descriptions. As an example, the word “down” can be used in different ways, conveying different meanings:
• Movement in elevation: They came down from Timpanogos (11,753’) to Alpine (4951)—“Until they came down into the and which is called the Land of Zarahemla” (Omni 1:13); “the armies of the Lamanites came down out of the land of Nephi” (Words of Mormon 1:13); “the brother of Jared came down out of the mount” (Ether 6:2).
• Movement direction: “They traveled from Salt Lake (4226’) down to Cedar City (5846’)—“And he came down by the borders near the shore of the Red Sea (1 Nephi 2:5); They were encircled about as if it were by fire; and it came down from heaven, and the multitude did witness it, and did bear record; and angels did come down out of heaven and did minister unto them: (3 Nephi 19:14).
Others are:
• Downward in position: He is far down the chain of command”;
• In volume: “Turn down the TV”;
• In thought: “He has been remembered down through time.”
Nephi tells us his father lived “all his days” at Jerusalem, not in Jerusalem
Obviously, any single word is dependent upon how the word is used in context, meaning in conjunction with other words, in a sentence, thought, or idea—but it does have a specific meaning! And it had a single, specific meaning to the one who wrote it. The Lamaniters were located at such an elevation difference, that it was the descriptive term used when introducing pending battles: “they came down with a numerous army to war against the people of Moronihah, or against the army of Moronihah” (Alma 63:15);” And they came down again that they might pitch battle against the Nephites” (Helaman 1:15).
Mormon (like the others before him and whose records he abridged) chose his words wisely, after all, engraving with a stylus on metal plates (or pages) was a slow and laborious effort—extra or meaningless words were simply not used because if an error was made, it could not be removed—so an explanation was given to correct it: “Now behold, the people who were in the land Bountiful, or rather Moroni, feared that they would hearken to the words of Morianton and unite with his people, and thus he would obtain possession of those parts of the land” (Alma 50:32) or “but by Ammon and his brethren, or rather by the power and word of God, they had been converted unto the Lord; and they had been brought down into the land of Zarahemla, and had ever since been protected by the Nephites” (Alma 53:10), or “I have written unto you somewhat concerning this war which ye have waged against my people, or rather which thy brother hath waged against them, and which ye are still determined to carry on after his death” (Alma 54:5).
An example of comparing meanings is found when Mormon writes: “When Lehonti had come down with his guards to Amalickiah, that Amalickiah desired him to come down with his army in the night-time, and surround those men in their camps over whom the king had given him command, and that he would deliver them up into Lehonti's hands, if he would make him (Amalickiah) a second leader over the whole army. And it came to pass that Lehonti came down with his men and surrounded the men of Amalickiah, so that before they awoke at the dawn of day they were surrounded by the armies of Lehonti” (Alma 47:13-14).
Lamonti with his whole army surrounded the men of Amalickiah and made Amalickiah second in command of all his armies
Obviously, we can accurately conclude that Lahonti was located at a higher elevation—mount Antipas (Alma 47:10)—and came down to a lower elevation—foot of the mount (Alma 47:10) to meet with Amalickiah.
So when Mormon writes that “In this same year they [Lamanites Alma 63:14] came down with a numerous army to war against the people of Moronihah,” or “They had been brought down into the land of Zarahemla, and had ever since been protected by the Nephites” (Alma 53:10, 12); or “Two thousand of the sons of those men whom Ammon brought down out of the land of Nephi” (Alma 56:3); or “Neither durst they march down against the city of Zarahemla” (Alma 56:25); or “Let us gather together this people of the Lord, and let us go down to the land of Zarahemla to our brethren the Nephites, and flee out of the hands of our enemies, that we be not destroyed” (Alma 27:5); or “Notwithstanding their great loss, Amalickiah had gathered together a wonderfully great army, insomuch that he feared not to come down to the land of Zarahemla” (Alma 51:11).
”Therefore it became expedient for us, that we should put an end to their lives, or guard them, sword in hand, down to the land of Zarahemla” (Alma 57:15); or “we did resolve to send them down to the land of Zarahemla; therefore we selected a part of our men, and gave them charge over our prisoners to go down to the land of Zarahemla” (Alma 57:16); or “and did cause that they should march down to the land of Zarahemla to battle against the Nephites” (Helaman 1:17); or “they did come down against the Nephites to battle” (Helaman 4:5); or “many of the Lamanites did come down into the land of Zarahemla” (Helaman 6:4); “Go down upon the Nephites and destroy them” (3 Nephi 3:3,8,17).
Thus, there should be no question where the Land of Cumorah or the Land of Many Waters were located; or even the entire Land Northward. Nor should there be any question about the much higher elevation of the Land of Nephi was to the Land of Zarahemla. Neither should there be any question that the Land which was Northward was located, i.e., beyond Lehi’s Land of Promise.
Thus, we can conclude that the City of Nephi, or the Land of Nephi, was located at a much higher elevation than the city and land of Zarahemla, much to the chagrin of the Heartland theorists, and even to the Mesoamerican theorists as well.
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