Land Northward

This is the land northward. The land northward is a distinct area with boundaries. It is northward of the land Desolation, the land southward, the narrow pass, and the narrow neck. A narrow pass next to the Sea West leads to the land northward. There is also a narrow passage (narrow length of passable land) that leads to the land northward. There is a general line from the land northward to the narrow pass, to the land Bountiful, and to the land of Mulek. The land northward either bordered or had access to the Sea West (for shipping). The land northward was far enough away from the narrow neck to make it beneficial to ship items there by sea and not over land. There are at least two large bodies of water in the land northward.

Commentaries (view it on a map)

OMNI 1:39 [1:22]: And his first parents came out from the tower, at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people; and the severity of the Lord fell upon them, according to his judgments, which are just; and their bones lay scattered in the land northward:

Commentary: This verse references the places of the land Northward, Moron, and Zarahemla. This is a brief account of Coriantumr when he lived with the first people of Zarahemla for nine moons. Coriantumr was the ruler of the land of Moron. The parents of Coriantumr were associated with the land northward.

ALMA 13:75 [22:31]: Thus the land on the northward was called Desolation, and the land on the southward was called Bountiful; it being the wilderness which is filled with all manner of wild animals of every kind; a part of which had come from the land northward, for food.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Bountiful, Desolation, the land northward, and the wilderness around Bountiful. This verse places the land Desolation northward of the land Bountiful. There is a wilderness in or around the land Bountiful. The phrase 'land on the northward' does not describe the land northward, but rather the land Desolation just being located northward of the land Bountiful. This is parallel grammar construction the same as the 'land north' referring to the land of Mulek and the 'land south' referring to the land of Lehi. This verse describes the land northward as being close enough to the wilderness around the land Bountiful for animals to migrate from the land northward to the land Bountiful in search of food.

ALMA 13:77 [22:32]: And thus the land of Nephi, and the land of Zarahemla, were nearly surrounded by water; there being a small neck of land between the land northward, and the land southward.

Commentary: This verse references the places of the land northward, the land southward, the narrow neck, Nephi, and Zarahemla. The land northward is northward of the narrow neck. The land southward is southward of the narrow neck. This verse does not really define the relative locations of the lands of Nephi and Zarahemla.

ALMA 13:79 [22:33]: And thus the Nephites in their wisdom, with their guards and their armies, had hemmed in the Lamanites on the south, that thereby they should have no more possession on the north, that they might not overrun the land northward;

Commentary: This verse references the places of the land northward and the South Wilderness. The Nephites had restricted the Lamanites to the area southward of the South Wilderness. The phrase 'no more possession on the north' refers to the area northward of the South Wilderness. The reference to the land northward would indicate that the Nephites placed special significance on the land northward.

ALMA 22:12 [50:11]: The Nephites possessing all the land northward; yea, even all the land which was northward of the land Bountiful, according to their pleasure.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Bountiful, the land northward, and the land which was northward. The land northward is northward of the land Bountiful. The phrase 'yea, even' applies the description 'all the land which was northward of the land Bountiful' to the land northward. This means that the entire land northward is northward of the land Bountiful.

ALMA 22:30 [50:29]: Therefore, Morianton put it into their hearts 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.

Commentary: This verse references the places of the land northward, the land which was northward, and Morianton. Morianton was in the land of Morianton at this time. The land which was northward had large bodies of water. Since 'bodies' is plural, there are at least two large bodies of water in the land northward. The 'land which was northward' is referred to as the land northward in Alma 22:32 [50:31].

ALMA 22:32 [50:31]: And it came to pass that she fled, and came over to the camp of Moroni, and told Moroni all things concerning the matter; and also concerning their intentions to flee into the land northward.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Bountiful, the land northward, the land which was northward, Morianton, and a ridge between Bountiful and Morianton. The land northward was earlier referred to in Alma 22:30 [50:29] as 'the land which was northward'. The phrase 'came over' indicates there is a ridge between the land Bountiful and the land of Morianton.

ALMA 22:34 [50:33]: Therefore Moroni sent an army, with their camp, to head the people of Morianton, to stop their flight into the land northward.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Bountiful, the land northward, and Morianton. The term 'their' refers to Morianton and his people. Moroni was in the land Bountiful at this time. So, the land Bountiful is in between the land of Morianton and the land northward.

ALMA 22:35 [50:34]: 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.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Desolation, the land northward, the narrow pass, the Sea East, and the Sea West. The term 'they' refers to an army sent by Moroni to stop Morianton and his people from going to the land northward. The term 'them' refers to Morianton and his people. Morianton was coming from the land of Morianton and moving towards the land Desolation. The land Desolation is by the Sea West, so the phrase 'narrow pass which led by the sea' indicates the narrow pass is also by the Sea West. The phrase 'yea, by the sea' modifies the object directly in front of the term 'yea'. So, the land northward is by the sea. The phrase 'on the west, and on the east' is difficult to interpret. On the one hand, phrases after a 'yea' term describe the phrases in front of the 'yea' term. So, 'by the sea' describes 'the land northward'. The phrase 'on the west' describes 'they did head them' indicating they were headed on the west parts of the land. The phrase 'on the east' describes 'the borders of the land Desolation' indicating the eastern border of the land Desolation. The phraseology in the Book of Mormon is not conclusive about how to interpret clauses that are not immediately in front or behind a 'yea' term. The phrase 'on the west, and on the east' could also mean that Teancum had split his army into a west part and an east part to protect the entire entrance to the narrow pass. Neither interpretation really contradicts the other nor adds unique information about the relative locations of the geography.

ALMA 23:36 [51:30]: And it came to pass that he headed Amalickiah also, as he was marching forth with his numerous army, that he might take possession of the land Bountiful, and also the land northward.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Bountiful, the land northward, and Mulek. The term 'he' refers to Teancum. Amalickiah was marching from the city Mulek. The land Bountiful is in the path of getting from the city Mulek to the land northward. To take possession of the land northward indicates that the land northward is something that could be taken (a defined area).

ALMA 23:39 [51:32]: And it came to pass that Teancum and his men did pitch their tents in the borders of the land Bountiful; and Amalickiah did pitch his tents in the borders on the beach by the sea-shore, and after this manner were they driven.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Bountiful, the land northward, the Sea East, and the Sea West. The borders of the land Bountiful are in proximity to a beach by the seashore. There is no direct reference whether the seashore is the Sea East or the Sea West. Alma 23:36 [51:30] describes Amalickiah trying to get to the land northward and Alma 24:2 [52:2] describes the army of Amalickiah abandoning the attempt to get to the land northward. So, the seashore would be by the sea leading to the land northward, which would be the Sea West. There is precedent for this seashore to be the Sea West shore. Morianton and his people came from the land of Morianton on the Sea East shore to the narrow pass on the Sea West shore that lead to the land northward. Amalickiah came from the city of Mulek on the Sea East shore with the intent to get to the land northward.

ALMA 24:2 [52:2]: And now when the Lamanites saw this, they were affrighted; and they 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.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Bountiful, the land northward, and Mulek. The Lamanites retreated away from the land Bountiful and retreated with all their army into the city of Mulek. The land northward is on the other side of the land Bountiful than the land of Mulek. There is a general line from the land northward to the land Bountiful to the city of Mulek.

ALMA 24:10 [52:9]: And he also sent orders unto him, that he should fortify the land Bountiful, and secure the narrow pass which led into the land northward, lest the Lamanites should obtain that point, and should have power to harass them on every side.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Bountiful, the land northward, and the narrow pass. The term 'he' refers to Moroni. The term 'him' refers to Teancum. The land Bountiful is in proximity to a narrow pass that led into the land northward. The land Bountiful is a strategic location to defend the narrow pass, possibly next to the narrow pass.

ALMA 24:13 [52:11]: And he also said unto him, I would come unto you, but behold, the Lamanites are upon us in the borders of the land by the west sea; and behold, I go against them, therefore I can not come unto you.

Commentary: This verse references the places of the land by the Sea West, the land northward, the narrow pass, and the Sea West. The term 'he' refers to Moroni. The term 'him' refers to Teancum. Teancum was in the land Bountiful. The land by the west sea (Sea West) is not the land Bountiful. Moroni was defending against Lamanites coming from the south, so the land by the west sea would be southward of the land Bountiful.

ALMA 24:18 [52:16]: And it came to pass that Teancum had received orders to make an attack upon the city of Mulek, and retake it if it were possible.

Commentary: This verse references the places of the land northward, Mulek, and the narrow pass. Teancum was securing the land Bountiful and the narrow pass (preventing Lamanites to get to the land northward). The city of Mulek is in a general line with the land Bountiful, narrow pass and the land northward.

ALMA 30:5 [63:4]: 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.

Commentary: This verse references the places of the land northward, the land which was northward, the narrow neck, and Zarahemla. The phrase 'land which was northward' is the same as the land northward. The term 'into' indicates that the land of Zarahemla is outside the boundaries of the land which was northward. This is quite obvious since the land which was northward is described as being northward of the land Bountiful. The term is commented on here only to show the consistency of how the term 'into' is used in the Book of Mormon.

ALMA 30:6 [63:5]: And it came to pass that Hagoth, he being an exceeding curious man, therefore he went forth, and built him an exceeding large ship, on the borders of the land Bountiful, by the land Desolation, and launched it forth into the west sea, by the narrow neck which led into the land northward.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Bountiful, Desolation, the land northward, the narrow neck, the narrow pass, and the Sea West. The land Bountiful borders the land Desolation at a point in the narrow neck by the west sea. It also implies that the land Bountiful is located in the area referred to as the narrow neck. The land Desolation is by the Sea West. The land northward is far enough from the narrow neck to warrant going there by ship rather than over land. The phrase 'into the land northward' indicates that the land northward is outside the area defined as the narrow neck. That a ship is needed to get to the land northward indicates the land northward is not close to the narrow neck; its boundary did not begin just northward of the narrow neck.

ALMA 30:7 [63:6]: And behold there were many of the Nephites who did enter therein, and did sail forth with much provisions, and also many women and children; and they took their course northward.

Commentary: This verse references the places of the land northward and the narrow neck. The land northward is northward of the narrow neck.

ALMA 30:10 [63:7]: And the first ship did also return, and many more people did enter into it; and they also took much provisions, and set out again to the land northward.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Bountiful, Desolation, the land northward, the narrow neck, and the Sea West. Hagoth's ship went to the land northward and returned in less than a year. The borders of land Bountiful and the land Desolation by the narrow neck by the west sea was the port for the ship. The phrase 'to the land northward' indicates that the land northward did not border the narrow neck and did not include the land Desolation (which did border the narrow neck).

HELAMAN 2:4 [3:4]: And they did travel to an exceeding great distance, insomuch that they came to large bodies of water, and many rivers;

Commentary: This verse references the places of Desolation, land Northward, waters of Ripliancum, and Zarahemla. The term 'they' refers to people from the land of Zarahemla. People were leaving the land of Zarahemla to go to the land northward. The term 'bodies' is plural, so there were at least two large bodies of water (lakes) and many rivers near, or in, the land northward. No fountains are mentioned in the description. The land Northward is northward of the land of Zarahemla by an 'exceeding great distance'. It is interesting to note that the land northward has at least one large body of water and that the Jaredites a few hundred years before the Nephites describe in the Book of Ether a large body of water in the northernmost parts of their land as the waters of Ripliancum.

HELAMAN 2:8 [3:8]: And it came to pass that they did multiply and spread, and did go forth from the land southward to the land northward, and did spread insomuch that they began to cover the face of the whole earth, from the sea south, to the sea north, from the sea west, to the sea east.

Commentary: This verse references the places of the land northward, the land southward, the Sea East, the Sea North, the Sea South, the Sea West, and Zarahemla. The terms 'from' and 'to' imply that the land southward and land northward were separate lands. This is the only reference to the sea north and the sea south and there is insufficient information in this verse to place the sea north and sea south in relation to any other location. There is a chiasmus matching this verse and Helaman 2:3 [3:3] that mentions the people spread from the land of Zarahemla. This puts the land of Zarahemla close to the land southward.

HELAMAN 2:10 [3:10]: And it came to pass as timber was exceeding scarce in the land northward, they did send forth much by the way of shipping; and thus they did enable the people in the land northward, that they might build many cities, both of wood and of cement.

Commentary: This verse references the places of the land northward, the narrow neck, and the Sea West. The term 'they' refers to the people in the land northward. Wood was scarce in the land northward. It was easier to get wood to the land northward by ship from the area around the narrow neck than by an overland route. This also indicates that there was a port near the land northward to offload the timber and either the land northward bordered the Sea West or there was a route from the port to the land northward.

III NEPHI 2:34 [3:24]: Now Lachoneus did cause that they should gather themselves together in the land southward, because of the great curse which was upon the land northward; and they did fortify themselves against their enemies;

Commentary: This verse references the places of the land northward, the land southward, and the one place. The term 'they' refers to thousands of Nephites. The term 'fortify' indicates the area where they were located had a distinct boundary since fortification is done around a specific area. The phrase 'in the land southward' also indicates an area distinctly different than the areas that the Nephites occupied. If the land southward referred to all of the lands southward of the narrow neck, then most of the Nephites would have already been in the land southward and there would have been no need to move to another area. This implies that the land southward is a specific area. The area had to sustain tens of thousands (III Nephi 2:21 [3:16]), so it is a fairly large area.

III NEPHI 2:71 [4:23]: And it came to pass that Zemnarihah did give command unto his people, that they should withdraw themselves from the siege, and march into the furthermost parts of the land, northward.

Commentary: This verse references the places of the land northward, the land southward, and the one place. This is not a reference to the land northward. The phrase 'parts of the land, northward' does not directly refer to the land northward, but to areas northward of the land southward and the one place.

III NEPHI 3:3 [6:2]: And they did return to their own lands and their possessions, both on the north and on the south, both on the land northward and on the land southward.

Commentary: This verse references the places of the land northward and the land southward. The term 'they' refers to the Nephites after defeating the robbers. The phrases 'on the north' and 'on the south' are general phrases that encompass more area than the land northward and the land southward.

MORMON 1:61 [2:29]: And the Lamanites did give unto us the land northward; yea, even to the narrow passage which led into the land southward.

Commentary: This verse references the places of the land northward, the land southward, the narrow neck, the narrow pass, the Sea East, and the Sea West. The term 'passage' is the only time this term is used in the Book of Mormon. The term 'pass' is also used differently than 'neck'. The narrow pass is between the land northward and the land southward. This puts it in or near the narrow neck. The narrow neck runs from the Sea West to the Sea East. The term 'passage' indicates a length. So, a narrow passage indicates that part of the distance from the narrow neck to the land northward is a narrow area that was navigable. The phrase 'into the land southward' indicates that the narrow passage is outside the boundaries of the land southward. This would put the narrow passage northward of the land southward. The phrase 'which led' indicates the boundary of the land southward is near to the narrow passage, so the northern boundary of the land southward is near the narrow neck.

MORMON 1:70 [3:6]: And there we did place our armies, that we might stop the armies of the Lamanites, that they might not get possession of any of our lands; therefore we did fortify against them with all our force.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Desolation, the land northward, and the narrow pass. The term 'we' refers to Mormon and his people. The city in the land Desolation where Mormon was defending the narrow pass is in a strategic spot to defend. So, the narrow pass is in a strategic spot. This verse also indicates that the narrow pass is key to preventing the armies of the Lamanites from getting to their lands (the land northward). There is no other way to get to the land northward except through the narrow pass.

Map