The north country is located in the narrow neck and included the lands of Moron, Nehor, Heth, Angola, David, and possibly Joshua. The north country is also referred to as the north countries, indicating there was more than one country. The north country is northward of the land southward.
Commentaries (
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HELAMAN 2:39 [4:6]: And the Nephites, and the armies of Moronihah, were driven even into the land of Bountiful; and there they did fortify against the Lamanites, from the west sea, even unto the east; it being a day's journey for a Nephite, on the line which they had fortified and stationed their armies to defend their north country.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Bountiful, Desolation, the north country, and the Sea West. The land Bountiful went from the west sea (Sea West) to a point on the east that is a day's journey from the Sea West. There is no distinct location given for the point on the east. The line of fortification was not the entire width of the narrow neck. Alma 13:76 [22:32] gives a longer distance for the narrow neck as a journey of a day and a half. The north country is located in the same area as the land Bountiful.
MORMON 1:24 [2:3]: And it came to pass that in the three hundred and twenty and seventh year, the Lamanites did come upon us with exceeding great power, insomuch that they did frighten my armies; therefore they would not fight, and they began to retreat towards the north countries.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Angola, the north country, and Zarahemla. The term 'us' refers to Mormon and his army. The 'north countries' is a phrase with a distinct meaning. It is first used as 'north country' in Helaman 2:39 [4:6]. Here, it is referenced as more than one country. Mormon's army retreated northward from the land of Zarahemla to the city of Angola. So, the north countries are northward of the land of Zarahemla.
MORMON 1:25 [2:4]: And it came to pass that we did come to the city of Angola, and we did take possession of the city, and make preparations to defend ourselves against the Lamanites.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Angola, Joshua, the narrow neck, the north country, and Zarahemla. Mormon's army traveled from the land of Zarahemla to the city of Angola (which is in the north countries - see Mormon 1:24 [2:3]). In the Book of Ether, the north countries are defined as lands in an area around the narrow neck. This is a likely location for the city of Angola since being chased to the land of Joshua later would only require going across the narrow neck from the east to the west.
MORMON 1:27 [2:5]: And they did also drive us forth out of the land of David. And we marched forth and came to the land of Joshua, which was in the borders west, by the sea-shore.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Angola, David, Joshua, the Narrow Neck, the North Country, and the Sea West. The phrase 'did also' indicates that there is a land in addition to the land of David. Since the city of Angola was the previous location they were driven out of, this means the land of David is separate from the land surrounding the city of Angola. This indicates the area around the city of Angola is also considered to be a land. The land of Joshua is in or near the north countries and located by the Sea West shore. So, the land of Joshua is west of the land of David. The north countries were in the narrow neck. Since the direction that Mormon's army is being driven is westward towards the seashore to the west, the land of David is westward of the city of Angola.
MORMON 3:16 [6:15]: And it came to pass that there were ten more who did fall by the sword, with their ten thousand each; yea, even all my people, save it were those twenty and four who were with me, and also a few who had escaped into the south countries, and a few who had deserted over unto the Lamanites, had fallen,
Commentary: This verse references the places of Cumorah, hill Cumorah, the narrow neck, the north country, and the south countries. The term 'my' refers to Mormon. Some Nephites left the area of the hill Cumorah and went to the south countries. It is interesting to note that there is no mention of people escaping to the north, away from the general Lamanite population. Mormon had used the phrase 'north countries' a few chapters earlier in Mormon 1:24 [2:3]. Since the north countries refer to the countries in the narrow neck, the south countries would be countries southward of the narrow neck. There is insufficient information regarding which countries those might be.
ETHER 1:1 [1:1]: And now I, Moroni, proceed to give an account of those ancient inhabitants who were destroyed by the hand of the Lord upon the face of this north country.
Commentary: This verse references the place of the north country. This verse gives the name of the location as the north country.
ETHER 4:41 [9:35]: And it came to pass that when they had humbled themselves sufficiently before the Lord, he did send rain upon the face of the earth, and the people began to revive again, and there began to be fruit in the north countries, and in all the countries round about.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Heth, Moron, Narrow Neck, Nehor, and the north country. The term 'they' refers to the people that lived in the north countries. The phrase 'north countries' seems to refer to the lands of Nehor, Heth, and Moron. There were other countries 'round about' the north country. All of these lands are located in or near the narrow neck.
ETHER 4:66 [10:19]: And in the days of Lib the poisonous serpents were destroyed; wherefore they did go into the land southward, to hunt food for the people of the land; for the land was covered with animals of the forest.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Heth, land southward, Moron, Nehor, and the north country. The people of Lib went from the north country, the lands of Nehor, Heth, and Moron, into the land southward. The term 'into' indicates that the lands of Nehor, Heth, and Moron were outside the land southward in order to travel into the land southward. The land southward is not too far from the north country in order to use it for a place to hunt.
ETHER 4:69 [10:21]: And they did preserve the land southward for a wilderness, to get game.
Commentary: This verse references the places of the land southward and the north country. The phrase 'preserved the land' indicates that the land southward is a distinct area with boundaries. The land southward is southward of the north country and, hence, the narrow neck.
ETHER 6:12 [13:11]: And they are they who were scattered and gathered in from the four quarters of the earth, and from the north countries, and are partakers of the fulfilling of the covenant which God made with their father Abraham.
Commentary: This verse references the places of Heth, Moron, Nehor, and the north country. The north countries are the lands of Nehor, Heth, and Moron.
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