This Land

 A previous blog article explored the likely meaning of the terms "this continent" and "this country" in Joseph Smith's day. Both could refer to the New World, the Western Hemisphere, all of North and South America. 

What did people from Joseph Smith's era mean when they used the phrase "this land?" Orson Hyde (1805-1878) gave a Fourth of July speech in Salt Lake City in 1853. His remarks are reported in Latter-day Saints Millennial Star Vol. 15 (29 October 1853) page 706. "This land" the Apostle said, "means both North and South America." 

John Taylor (1808-1887) preached a sermon in Salt Lake City on January 12, 1873 while Brigham Young was still alive. This is recorded in Journal of Discourses Vol. 15, page 279. Elder Taylor said:

"This land, North and South America, is the land of Zion, it is a choice land — the land that was given by promise from old father Jacob to his grandson and his descendants, the land on which the Zion of God should be established in the latter days."

As with "this continent" and "this country," "this land" among contemporaries of Joseph Smith could mean the entire New World.

John Taylor in Journal of Discourses

Taylor's thoughts coincide with the prophet Joseph's. Joseph Smith on July 19, 1840 said: "speaking of the land of Zion, it consists of all North and South America." See BYU Studies Vol. 19 No. 3 (Spring 1979) p. 392.

Nephi uses the phrase "this land" in an expansive, hemispheric context when he says "do ye suppose that the children of this land, which were in the land of promise, which were driven out by our fathers, do ye suppose that they were righteous?" 1 Nephi 17:33.

Nephi's Use of "This Land" in 1 Ne 17:33

Nephi was probably in modern Oman referring to modern Israel, locations that are 2,500 air kilometers distant.

In 1 Nephi 22:7 a mighty nation is referenced. That mighty nation is Spain. See the blog articles Prophecy Fulfilled 016 and Mighty Nation = Spain. "This land" in this context refers to all of Spanish America, both North and South America.

In 2 Nephi 1:1-11 Lehi prophesies about his seed in "this land" and others from multiple nations who will also be brought to "this land." The implication is "this land" refers to territory more extensive than a single modern nation. For context behind the phrase "land of liberty" in 2 Nephi 1:7 and 2 Nephi 10:11 see the blog article "Free Nations."