Manti

This is the land and city of Manti. The land of Manti is near the south wilderness and the headwaters of the river Sidon. The land of Manti is on the west of the river Sidon. It is southward of the lands of Zarahemla, Gideon, and Judea. It is westward of the land of the lands of Antionum, Jershon, Moroni, Lehi, and Morianton. It is eastward from the cities of Zeezrom, Cumeni, and Antiparah.

Commentaries (view it on a map)

ALMA 1:22 [1:15]: And it came to pass that they took him; and his name was Nehor; and they carried him upon the top of the hill Manti,

Commentary: This verse references the places of the hill Manti and Manti. The hill Manti is close to the city of Manti. It is close enough to be able to carry a person from the city to the top of the hill. Since the wilderness around Manti was on the southward side of the land of Manti, using Occam's Razor, the hill Manti would be southward of the city of Manti.

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 12:1 [17:1]: And now it came to pass that as Alma was journeying from the land of Gideon, southward, away to the land of Manti, behold, to his astonishment, he met the sons of Mosiah, journeying towards the land of Zarahemla.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Gideon, Manti, the river Sidon, and Zarahemla. The sons of Mosiah were traveling from the land of Nephi to the land of Zarahemla. The river Sidon ran past the land of Manti and the land of Gideon. Following the river Sidon is a likely navigation route where both would meet. This verse also locates the land of Manti southward of the land of Gideon.

ALMA 13:69 [22:27]: Which ran from the sea east, even to the sea west, and round about on the borders of the sea-shore, and the borders of the wilderness which was on the north, by the land of Zarahemla, through the borders of Manti, by the head of the river Sidon, running from the east towards the west; and thus were the Lamanites and the Nephites divided.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Manti, Nephi, the headwaters of the river Sidon, the Sea East, the Sea West, the wilderness around Zarahemla, and Zarahemla. This verse further describes the region controlled by King Lamoni who was in the city of Nephi. The phrase 'which ran from the sea east, even to the sea west' refers to the region controlled by King Lamoni as extending from the Sea East to the Sea West. The phrase 'wilderness which was on the north' indicates a wilderness around the land of Zarahemla and that the land of Zarahemla is north of the possessions of the Lamanites. This verse is describing the area on the westward portion of the lands of the Nephites and Lamanites, so the wilderness by the land of Zarahemla would be generally on the westward side of the land of Zarahemla. The land of Manti is by the headwaters of river Sidon.

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 20:29 [43:25]: Now Moroni, leaving a part of his army in the land of Jershon, lest by any means, a part of the Lamanites should come into that land and take possession of the city, took the remainder part of his army and marched over into the land of Manti.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Jershon, Manti, and a ridge between Jershon and Manti. There seems to be a direct route from the land of Jershon to the land of Manti. The phrase 'over into' means Moroni went over a ridge between the land of Jershon and 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 20:35 [43:31]: Therefore he divided his army, and brought a part over into the valley, and concealed them on the east, and on the south of the hill Riplah; and the remainder he concealed in the west valley, on the west of the river Sidon, and so down into the borders of the land of Manti.

Commentary: This verse references the places of the hill Riplah, Manti, the river Sidon, the valley east of the river Sidon, and the valley west of the river Sidon. The hill Riplah is on the east of the river Sidon and near a valley on the east of the river Sidon. There were valleys on both the east and west of the river Sidon. The valleys were higher in altitude than the land of Manti. The river Sidon is flowing northward, so the valleys and the hill Riplah were southward of the land of Manti. The phrase 'over into' refers to going over a ridge. So, this phrase means they went over the ridges that made up the valley.

ALMA 20:37 [43:34]: And it came to pass that the Lamanites came up on the north of the hill where a part of the army of Moroni was concealed.

Commentary: This verse references the places of the hill Riplah, Manti, and the headwaters of the River Sidon. The hill Riplah is south of the land of Manti. The Lamanites were coming from the headwaters of the river Sidon (moving south to north) and moving over the slopes of the hill Riplah.

ALMA 20:46 [43:42]: And the Lamanites did flee again before them, towards the land of Manti; and they were met again by the armies of Moroni.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Manti, the river Sidon, the valley east of the river Sidon, and the valley west of the river Sidon. This action took place in or near the valleys on the east and west sides of the river Sidon. The phrase 'towards the land of Manti' indicates the land of Manti is down river (northward) of the valleys on the east and west of the river Sidon. The Lamanites didn't get very far towards the land of Manti since the verses following this one are still located in the valleys on the west and east of the river Sidon.

ALMA 22:11 [50:11]: And thus he cut off all the strongholds of the Lamanites, in the east wilderness: yea, and also on the west, fortifying the line between the Nephites and the Lamanites, between the land of Zarahemla and the land of Nephi; from the west sea, running by the head of the river Sidon;

Commentary: This verse references the places of Manti, Nephi, river Sidon, the headwaters of the river Sidon, the Sea West, the East Wilderness, and Zarahemla. The line between the Nephites and Lamanites ran from the West Sea past the headwaters of the river Sidon to the East Wilderness. This puts the headwaters of the river Sidon between the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla. The land of Manti is near the headwaters of the river Sidon, so the land of Manti is also between the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla.

ALMA 24:61 [53:8]: And now it came to pass that the armies of the Lamanites, on the west sea, south, while in the absence of Moroni, on account of some intrigue amongst the Nephites, which caused dissensions amongst them, had gained some ground over the Nephites, yea, insomuch that they had obtained possession of a number of their cities in that part of the land;

Commentary: This verse references the places of Antiparah, Cumeni, Manti, the Sea West, and Zeezrom. The phrase 'west sea, south' means the southern portion of the land of the Nephites by the Sea West. The phrase 'cities in that part of the land' refers to more than one city. From Alma 26:15 [56:13], these cities were Antiparah, Cumeni, Manti, and Zeezrom. This places all of these cities in the southern parts of the possessions of the Nephites and in proximity to the Sea West.

ALMA 24:78 [53:22]: And now it came to pass that Helaman did march at the head of his two thousand stripling soldiers, to the support of the people in the borders of the land on the south by the west sea.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Antiparah, Cumeni, Manti, the Sea West, and Zeezrom. The phrase 'on the south by the west sea' is an alternative phrase to 'west sea, south' used in Alma 24:61 [53:8]. The phrase 'borders of the land' indicates these cities were on the borders of the possessions of the Nephites and next to the possessions of the Lamanites.

ALMA 26:15 [56:13]: And now these are the cities which the Lamanites have obtained possession, by the shedding of the blood of so many of our valiant men: The land of Manti, or the city of Manti, and the city of Zeezrom, and the city of Cumeni, and the city of Antiparah.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Antiparah, Cumeni, Manti, river Sidon (headwaters), Sea West, and Zeezrom. These cities (and presumed lands) are listed in geographical order; they share a boundary with each other. Since the land of Manti is near the headwaters of the river Sidon, the city of Antiparah is near the Sea West.

ALMA 26:16 [56:15]: And these are the cities which they possessed when I arrived at the city of Judea; and I found Antipus and his men toiling with their mights to fortify the city;

Commentary: This verse references the places of Antiparah, Cumeni, Judea, Manti, and Zeezrom. The term 'I' refers to Helaman. Helaman arrived at the city of Judea from the direction not in control by the Lamanites. This would be from the north. This means the city of Judea is to the north of the lands of Manti, Zeezrom, Cumeni, and Antiparah.

ALMA 26:19 [56:18]: And now it came to pass that when the Lamanites saw that Antipus had received a greater strength to his army, they were compelled, by the orders of Ammoron, to not come against the city of Judea, or against us, to battle.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Antiparah, Cumeni, Judea, Manti, and Zeezrom. The Lamanites were in control of Antiparah, Cumeni, Manti, and Zeezrom. Judea would be the next city to attack. This places the city of Judea next to these other cities.

ALMA 26:97 [57:22]: And now behold, it was these, my sons, and those men who had been selected to convey the prisoners, to whom we owe this great victory; for it was they who did beat the Lamanites; therefore they were driven back to the city of Manti.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Cumeni and Manti. The Lamanites were in the city of Cumeni. The city of Manti is in proximity to the city of Cumeni. There is no indication in this verse that there were any lands between the city of Cumeni and the city of Manti but there is no indication that the city of Manti is next the city of Cumeni.

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.

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 29:4 [62:4]: And he did raise the standard of liberty in whatsoever place he did enter, and gained whatsoever force he could in all his march towards the land of Gideon.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Gideon and Manti. The term 'he' refers to Moroni. Moroni left the city of Manti to go to the land of Gideon.

ALMA 29:7 [62:7]: And it came to pass that Moroni and Pahoran went down with their armies into the land of Zarahemla, and went forth against the city, and did meet the men of Pachus, insomuch that they did come to battle.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Gideon and Zarahemla. The phrase 'went down' indicates that the land of Gideon is higher in elevation than the land of Zarahemla. This would put the land of Gideon upstream from the land of Zarahemla. Since Moroni was traveling from the city of Manti to the land of Gideon and then to the land of Zarahemla, the land of Gideon is between the city of Manti and the land of Zarahemla. The river Sidon flows from the south to the north, so the lands of Gideon and Manti are south of the land of Zarahemla.

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