There was a wilderness on the southern side of the land of Manti.
Commentaries (
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ALMA 11:9 [16:6]: And Alma returned and said unto them, Behold, the Lamanites will cross the river Sidon, in the south wilderness, away up beyond the borders of the land of Manti.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Ammonihah, Manti, the river Sidon, the headwaters of the river Sidon, the South Wilderness, the wilderness around Ammonihah, and the wilderness around Manti. This verse names the South Wilderness. The phrase 'away up' indicates that the South Wilderness is higher in altitude than the land of Manti. The South Wilderness is southward of the land of Manti, so beyond the borders would be southward of the land of Manti. Since the Lamanites are crossing the river Sidon beyond the borders of the land of Manti, the headwaters of the river Sidon is southward of the land of Manti and the river Sidon flows northward past the land of Manti. The Lamanites were coming from the direction of the wilderness around the city of Ammonihah. Crossing the river Sidon would put them on the opposite side of the river than the land of Ammonihah.
ALMA 11:11 [16:7]: And it came to pass that Zoram and his sons crossed over the river Sidon with their armies, and marched away beyond the borders of Manti, into the south wilderness, which was on the east side of the river Sidon.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Manti, the river Sidon, the South Wilderness, the wilderness around Manti, the wilderness between Nephi and Zarahemla, and Zarahemla. Zoram was coming from the city of Zarahemla after talking to Alma. After leaving the city of Zarahemla and crossing the river Sidon, this verse puts his armies on the east side of the river. This places Zarahemla on the westward side of the river Sidon. The south wilderness on the east of the river Sidon is on the opposite side of the river than the land of Manti. This places the land of Manti on the westward side of the river Sidon. This verse indicates that the South Wilderness is near the land of Manti, so references to a wilderness around Manti would be the South Wilderness. The phrase 'into the south wilderness' indicates the South Wilderness extends no further northward than the southern borders of the land of Manti, so the wilderness between the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla that takes days to travel through is not considered to be the same as the South Wilderness. Since the South Wilderness and the wilderness between the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla both lie between those two lands and are considered to be different, the South Wilderness has a distinct boundary that distinguishes it from the other wilderness.
ALMA 13:73 [22:29]: Nevertheless the Nephites had taken possession of all the northern parts of the land, bordering on the wilderness, at the head of the river Sidon, from the east to the west, round about on the wilderness side; on the north, even until they came to the land which they called Bountiful.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Bountiful, the headwaters of the river Sidon, the South Wilderness, and the wilderness around Bountiful. The phrase 'of the land' means many lands or a collection of many lands. The phrase 'northern parts' means north of the South Wilderness. There is wilderness at the head of the river Sidon that would be the wilderness around the land of Manti. The phrase 'round about on the wilderness side' means there is wilderness north of the wilderness at the head of the river Sidon. This verse places the land Bountiful at the north end of the wilderness in the westward parts of the land. The land Bountiful is also described as having a wilderness, so the wilderness here is next to, or a continuation of, the wilderness around the land Bountiful. The wilderness around the land Bountiful would be, at the least, on the southern side of the land Bountiful.
ALMA 20:25 [43:22]: Behold, now it came to pass, that they durst not come against the Nephites in the borders of Jershon; therefore they departed out of the land of Antionum, into the wilderness, and took their journey round about in the wilderness, away by the head of the river Sidon, that they might come into the land of Manti, and take possession of the land; for they did not suppose that the armies of Moroni would know whither they had gone.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Antionum, Jershon, Manti, river Sidon, the headwaters of the river Sidon, the Sea East, and the South Wilderness. The phrase 'borders of Jershon' implies the land of Antionum bordered the land of Jershon. There is wilderness near the land of Jershon and the head of the river Sidon. The land of Manti is near the head of the river Sidon on the opposite side of the river from the land of Antionum. From previous verses, the land of Manti is on the westward side of the river Sidon. This means the land of Antionum is on the eastward side of the river Sidon and near the Sea East. The wilderness at the head of the river Sidon is referenced in other verses as the South Wilderness.
ALMA 20:27 [43:24]: And it came to pass that the word of the Lord came unto Alma, and Alma informed the messenger of Moroni that the armies of the Lamanites were marching round about in the wilderness, that they might come over into the land of Manti, that they might commence an attack upon the more weak part of the people.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Manti, a ridge around Manti, the South Wilderness, and the wilderness around Manti. The land of Manti is in proximity to a wilderness. From other verses, this is the South Wilderness. The phrase 'come over' means there is a ridge in proximity to the land of Manti. Using Occam's Razor, the ridge in proximity to the land of Manti is likely in the wilderness around Manti. The South Wilderness is located on the southward portion of the land of Manti.
ALMA 20:31 [43:27]: And it came to pass, that Moroni caused that his army should be secreted in the valley which was near the bank of the river Sidon, which was on the west of the river Sidon, in the wilderness.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Manti, the river Sidon, a valley west of the river Sidon, the South Wilderness, a wilderness around Manti, and a wilderness between Antionum and Manti. Moroni and his army were in the land of Manti at this time. A valley meets the river Sidon on the west side of the river. The valley is in the wilderness in the land of Manti. This indicates the wilderness is near the land of Manti.
ALMA 26:134 [58:13]: And thus we did go forth with all our might against the Lamanites, who were in the city of Manti; and we did pitch our tents by the wilderness side, which was near to the city.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Manti, the South Wilderness, and the wilderness around Manti. There is wilderness next to the city of Manti. The phrase 'by the wilderness side' indicates that the wilderness around Manti is just on one side of the city of Manti. Since the South Wilderness is the same as the wilderness around Manti and the South Wilderness is southward of the land of Manti, then the wilderness side would be on the southward side of the city.
ALMA 26:148 [58:23]: And it came to pass that we took our course, after having traveled much in the wilderness, towards the land of Zarahemla.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Manti, the South Wilderness, the wilderness around Manti, and Zarahemla. The term 'we' refers to Helaman and his army. There is 'much' wilderness from the city of Manti in a direction not directly towards the land of Zarahemla. There is no indication that the course Helaman traveled in the wilderness was directly towards the land of Zarahemla. Since this verse discusses a change in course towards the land of Zarahemla, Helaman's original direction was not directly towards the land of Zarahemla. The wilderness by Manti is the South Wilderness, so this verse indicates the direction of the South Wilderness is not in a line between the land of Manti and the land of Zarahemla, so it ran in a east-west direction.
ALMA 26:149 [58:24]: And when the Lamanites saw that they were marching towards the land of Zarahemla, they were exceeding fraid, lest there was a plan laid to lead them on to destruction; therefore they began to retreat into the wilderness again, yea, even back by the same way which they had come.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Manti, the wilderness around Manti, and Zarahemla. The term 'they' refers to the army of Helaman. The Lamanites were chasing the army of Helaman. The phrase 'into the wilderness' indicates the Lamanites were out of the wilderness and going back into the wilderness. So, there is a route from the land of Manti that goes through the wilderness and then out of the wilderness for part of the journey.
ALMA 26:151 [58:26]: Now it came to pass that when it was night, that I caused that my men should not sleep, but that they should march forward by another way, towards the land of Manti.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Manti and the wilderness around Manti. From a point near the wilderness around Manti and between the land of Manti and the land of Zarahemla, there are two ways back to the land of Manti.
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