Headwaters Of River Sidon

The headwaters of the river Sidon are in the South Wilderness. The land of Manti is near the headwaters of the river Sidon. See the discussion about the river Sidon for the locations of the various lands on the west and east sides of the river Sidon.

Commentaries (view it on a map)

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 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 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 20:37 [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 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 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 26:28 [56:25]: Neither durst they march down against the city of Zarahemla; neither durst they cross the head of Sidon, over to the city of Nephihah.

Commentary: This verse references the places of Antiparah, Cumeni, Judea, Nephihah, a ridge between the headwaters of the river Sidon and the city of Nephihah, river Sidon, river Sidon (headwaters), and Zarahemla. Helaman is making this statement and he is in Judea at this time. The Lamanites are currently in control of the cities of Antiparah, Cumeni, and Zeezrom. This verse is talking about some of the options the Lamanites do not have. The phrase 'march down' means that the cities of Antiparah, Cumeni, and Zeezrom are higher in elevation than the land of Zarahemla. Since the Lamanites are in control of these cities, this verse describes a general line from the lands of Antiparah, Cumeni, and Zeezrom to the land of Nephihah by way of the headwaters of the river Sidon. The phrase 'over to' means there is a ridge between the head (headwaters) of the river Sidon and the city of Nephihah. This makes sense since headwaters of rivers are typically near a ridge.

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