Friday, April 6, 2012

The East Seacoast Cities of the Nephites


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)