There was wilderness on the northward, southward, and westward sides of the land of Nephi.
Commentaries (
view it on a map)
OMNI 1:20 [1:12]: For behold, he being warned of the Lord that he should flee out of the land of Nephi, and as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord, should also depart out of the land with him, into the wilderness.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Nephi, the South Wilderness, the wilderness around Nephi, and the wilderness between Nephi and Zarahemla. The term 'he' refers to Mosiah. Mosiah and his people traveled northward to Zarahemla, so this places the wilderness around Nephi on the northward of the land of Nephi. There is also the South Wilderness between the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla. There are also other references to a wilderness between the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla without specifically naming the South Wilderness. The term 'wilderness' in this verse could refer to any or all of these three wildernesses.
OMNI 1:22 [1:13]: And they departed out of the land into the wilderness, as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord; and they were led by many preachings and prophesyings.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Nephi and the wilderness around Nephi. The term 'they' refers to Mosiah and his people. The phrase 'out of the land into the wilderness' indicates the land of Nephi is not in the wilderness. The border of the wilderness around Nephi is near the border of the land of Nephi.
OMNI 1:23 [1:13]: And they were admonished continually by the word of God: and they were led by the power of his arm, through the wilderness, until they came down into the land which is called the land of Zarahemla.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Nephi, the South Wilderness, the wilderness around Nephi, the wilderness between Nephi and Zarahemla, and Zarahemla. The term 'they' refers to Mosiah and his people. The phrase 'came down' indicates the land of Zarahemla is lower in elevation than the Wilderness around the land of Nephi. The wilderness in Omni 1:20 [1:12], 1:22 [1:13], and this verse do not differentiate between the wilderness around the land of Nephi, the South Wilderness, nor the wilderness that is between the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla.
MOSIAH 5:60 [8:7]: And the king said unto him, Being grieved for the afflictions of my people, I caused that forty and three of my people should take a journey into the wilderness, that thereby they might find the land of Zarahemla; that we might appeal unto our brethren to deliver us out of bondage;
Commentary: This verse references the places of Nephi, the wilderness around Nephi, and Zarahemla. The term 'king' refers to King Limhi. The term 'him' refers to Ammon. The land of Nephi is in proximity to the wilderness. Since the 43 people sent to find the land of Zarahemla never found it, the reference to wilderness here does not necessarily mean the wilderness between the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla. The people were heading towards the land of Zarahemla to the north of the land of Nephi, so the wilderness is northward of the land of Nephi.
MOSIAH 6:39 [10:9]: And it came to pass that I caused that the women and children of my people should be hid in the wilderness;
Commentary: This verse references the places of Nephi and the wilderness around Nephi. With the Lamanites in the area southward of the land of Nephi, the wilderness around the city of Nephi in this verse would be northward of the city of Nephi.
MOSIAH 10:3 [22:2]: And it came to pass that they could find no way to deliver themselves out of bondage, except it were to take their women and children, and their flocks and their herds, and their tents, and depart into the wilderness;
Commentary: This verse references the places of Nephi, the wilderness around Nephi, and the wilderness between Nephi and Shilom. The term 'they' refers to King Limhi and his people. They were in the city of Nephi at this time. The phrase 'into the wilderness' indicates the wilderness outside the city of Nephi. This verse does not specifically mention the wilderness between the land of Nephi and the land of Shilom even though King Limhi and his people did eventually go through a wilderness from the land of Nephi to the land of Shilom. This verse could be interpreted as any wilderness around the land of Nephi.
MOSIAH 10:18 [22:15]: And now it came to pass when the Lamanites had found that the people of Limhi had departed out of the land by night, that they sent an army into the wilderness to pursue them;
Commentary: This verse references the places of Amulon, Nephi, and the wilderness around Nephi. The army mentioned here left the land of Nephi. It is this same army that eventually found the land of Amulon. Limhi headed to the land of Shilom to the southward of the land of Nephi, so the wilderness mentioned in this verse would be to the southward of the land of Nephi.
ALMA 13:70 [22:28]: Now the more idle part of the Lamanites lived in the wilderness, and dwelt in tents; and they were spread through the wilderness, on the west, in the land of Nephi:
Commentary: This verse references the places of Nephi and the wilderness around Nephi. This verse indicates that there is wilderness on the westward side of the land of Nephi.
Map
