Moroni

This is the land and city of Moroni. The land of Moroni is next to and northward of the South Wilderness. It is on the Sea East shore, westward of the East Wilderness, eastward of and borders the land of Nephihah, and is southward of the lands of Lehi and Morianton. The land of Moroni borders the land of Lehi.

Commentaries (view it on a map)

ALMA 22:14 [50:13]: And it came to pass that the Nephites began the foundation of a city; and they called the name of the city Moroni; and it was by the east sea; and it was on the south by the line of the possessions of the Lamanites.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Moroni, the Sea East, and the South Wilderness. The city of Moroni is by the Sea East. The phrase 'on the south' indicates it was on the southern parts of the lands of the Nephites. The phrase 'by the line of the possessions of the Lamanites' refers to the South Wilderness. So, the land of Moroni is next to the South Wilderness.

ALMA 22:15 [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.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Aaron, Moroni, Nephihah, and the Sea East. The city of Nephihah (and the land of Nephihah) is between the city of Moroni and the city of Aaron. The phrase 'joining the borders of Aaron and Moroni' means that Aaron and Moroni are also 'lands' and all three lands were connected border-to-border. The phrase 'city, or the land, Nephihah' confirms the practice of giving both the primary city and the land the same name. The land of Moroni is on the Sea East shore. The land of Nephihah is near, but not on the Sea East shore. This means that the land of Aaron is likely not on the Sea East shore, but is inland. That the lands shared borders and the land of Moroni is by the Sea East indicates the lands of Aaron and Nephihah were in the general proximity of the Sea East.

ALMA 23:27 [51:22]: Behold, it came to pass that while Moroni was thus breaking down the wars and contentions among his own people, and subjecting them to peace and civilization, and making regulations to prepare for war against the Lamanites, behold, the Lamanites had come into the land of Moroni, which was in the borders by the sea-shore.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Moroni, the Sea East, and the South Wilderness. The land of Moroni is in proximity to the Lamanite possessions near the South Wilderness and the Sea East shore.

ALMA 23:30 [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.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Lehi, Moroni, and Nephihah. The land of Lehi is next to the land of Moroni. The Lamanites were coming from their lands southward of the South Wilderness. For the people in the city of Lehi to prepare for battle after the land of Moroni fell to the Lamanites would put the land of Lehi northward of the land of Moroni. The city of Nephihah is close enough to the city of Moroni to be used as a place of refuge.

ALMA 23:31 [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 sea-shore, leaving men in every city to maintain and defend it;

Commentary: This verse references the places of Moroni, Nephihah, and the Sea East. The city of Moroni is by the seashore. The phrase 'down by' means the city of Nephihah is higher in elevation than the city of Moroni. Again, with the city of Nephihah higher in elevation, the city of Nephihah may be near, but not on, the seashore.

ALMA 23:32 [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 the city of Omner, and the city of Gid, and the city of Mulek, all of which were on the east borders, by the sea-shore.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Gid, Lehi, Morianton, Moroni, Mulek, Nephihah, Omner, and the Sea East. The term 'he' refers to Amalickiah, the leader of the Lamanite army. The cities of Lehi and Morianton are in lands with the same name as the city. By practice, all of these cities should be in a land by the same name. These cities are listed in geographical order, so they share a border with the cities listed next to them. Combined with the other information about the city of Nephihah, the city of Nephihah is between the city of Moroni and the city of Lehi, yet further inland. Since the land of Moroni joins the south border of the land of Lehi, the cities listed here extend the opposite direction. So, they are listed from south to north. Also, since the land of Moroni is on the Sea East shore and borders the land of Lehi on the south, the only place for the land of Nephihah to join the border of the land of Lehi is on the westward border of the land of Moroni.

ALMA 27:5 [59:5]: And it came to pass that while Moroni was thus 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;

Commentary: This verse references the places of Lehi, Morianton, Moroni, and Nephihah. The cities of Moroni, Lehi, and Morianton are listed in order, so they share borders with each other in the order listed.

ALMA 27:6 [59:6]: Yea, even those who had been compelled to flee from the land of Manti, and from the land round about, had come over and joined the Lamanites in this part of the land;

Commentary: This verse references the places of Lehi, Manti, Morianton, Moroni, a ridge between Manti and Moroni, and the East Wilderness. The phrase 'come over' means there is a ridge between the land of Manti and the lands of Moroni, Lehi, and Morianton. The phrase 'this part of the land' refers to the lands of Moroni, Lehi, and Morianton. The East Wilderness lies just to the east of the lands of Moroni, Lehi, and Morianton, which would suffice for the location of the ridge.

ALMA 29:28 [62:24]: And now when the Lamanites awoke, and saw that the armies of Moroni were within the walls, they were affrighted exceedingly, insomuch that they did flee out by the pass.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Moroni and Nephihah. The Lamanites fled to the land of Moroni. There is a pass between the city of Nephihah and the land of Moroni. Since the army of Moroni and Pahoran were to the west of the city of Nephihah, the pass between the city of Nephihah and the land of Moroni is eastward of the city of Nephihah.

ALMA 29:29 [62:25]: And now when Moroni saw that they were fleeing before him, he did cause that his men should march forth against them, and slew many, and surrounded many others and took them prisoners; and the remainder of them fled into the land of Moroni, which was in the borders of the sea-shore.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Moroni, Nephihah, and the Sea East. The term 'they' refers to the Lamanites. The Lamanites fled from the city of Nephihah to the land of Moroni. The land of Moroni is in proximity to the land of Nephihah and next to the Sea East shore.

ALMA 29:36 [62:32]: And it came to pass that Moroni and his army did pursue them from city to city, until they were met by Lehi and Teancum; and the Lamanites fled from Lehi and Teancum, even down upon the borders by the sea-shore, until they came to the land of Moroni.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Lehi, Moroni, and the Sea East. The term 'them' refers to the Lamanite army. Moroni pursued them from the land of Lehi until they came to the land of Moroni. The land of Moroni would be south of the land of Lehi (closer to the possessions of the Lamanites).

ALMA 29:37 [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.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Moroni. This verse is used in conjunction with Alma 29:39 [62:34] to locate the various geographies around the land of Moroni.

ALMA 29:39 [62:34]: And it came to pass that Moroni, and Lehi, and Teancum, did encamp 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; and thus they did encamp for the night.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Moroni, Nephihah, the East Wilderness, and the South Wilderness. The South Wilderness is the wilderness on the south of the land of Moroni. The East Wilderness is the wilderness on the east of the land of Moroni. This verse indicates that the East Wilderness meets or almost meets the South Wilderness in proximity of the land of Moroni in order to encircle the land of Moroni. Moroni (the person) was pursuing them from the land of Nephihah, which was northward and westward of the land of Moroni. In Alma 29:42 [62:36], the Lamanites were encamped in the city of Moroni. The phrase 'round about' indicates the armies of Moroni, and Lehi, and Teancum were to the north, west, and south of the city of Moroni. The Sea East shore would be to the east of the city.

ALMA 29:42 [62:36]: And it came to pass that Teancum in his anger did go forth into the camp of the Lamanites, and did let himself down over the walls of the city.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Moroni. This verse refers to the city of Moroni.

III NEPHI 4:8 [8:8]: And the city of Zarahemla did take fire; and the city of Moroni did sink into the depths of the sea, and the inhabitants thereof were drowned;

Commentary: This verse references the places of Gad, Jacobugath, Josh, Kishkumen, Laman, Moroni, the Sea East, and Zarahemla. The city of Moroni is near enough to the Sea East shore to sink into the depths of the sea. By Occam's Razor, the city of Zarahemla would be near the other cities destroyed by fire. These would be the cities of Kishkumen, Gad, Josh, Laman, and Jacobugath.

III NEPHI 4:29 [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.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Jerusalem, Mocum, Moroni, Onihah, and the Sea East. The city Moroni is close enough to the Sea East shore to be sunk into the sea. By Occam's Razor, the city of Moroni would be near the other cities that were also covered by the sea. These would be the cities of Jerusalem, Mocum, and Onihah.

Map