Book of Mormon Geography represented by water and terrain

Book of Mormon

Geography

Helaman Travel Maps



Helaman Travel Maps    down to the internal map



Map 1 (Coriantumr to Zarahemla)
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Alma to the valley of Alma on an internal map


Verses    up to the internal map  down to the world map

Alma 21:168 And behold, Moroni had appointed Lehi to be chief captain over the men of that city; and it was that same Lehi who fought with the Lamanites in the valley on the east of the river Sidon.

Helaman 1:18 Therefore he did stir them up to anger, and he did gather together his armies, and he did appoint Coriantumr to be their leader, and did cause that they should march down to the land of Zarahemla, to battle against the Nephites.

Helaman 1:19 And it came to pass that because of so much contention and so much difficulty in the government, that they had not kept sufficient guards in the land of Zarahemla; for they had supposed that the Lamanites durst not come into the heart of their lands to attack that great city Zarahemla.

Helaman 1:20 But it came to pass that Coriantumr did march forth at the head of his numerous host, and came upon the inhabitants of the city, and their march was with such exceeding great speed, that there was no time for the Nephites to gather together their armies;

Helaman 1:21 Therefore Coriantumr did cut down the watch by the entrance of the city, and did march forth with his whole army into the city, and they did slay every one who did oppose them, insomuch that they did take possession of the whole city.

Helaman 1:25 And now he did not tarry in the land of Zarahemla, but he did march forth with a large army, even towards the city of Bountiful; for it was his determination to go forth and cut his way through with the sword, that he might obtain the north parts of the land.

Helaman 1:26 And supposing that their greatest strength was in the center of the land, therefore he did march forth, giving them no time to assemble themselves together, save it were in small bodies; and in this manner they did fall upon them and cut them down to the earth.

Helaman 1:27 But behold, this march of Coriantumr through the center of the land, gave Moronihah great advantage over them, notwithstanding the greatness of the number of the Nephites who were slain;

Helaman 1:30 But when Moronihah had discovered this, he immediately sent forth Lehi with an army round about to head them, before they should come to the land Bountiful.

Helaman 1:31 And thus he did; and he did head them, before they came to the land Bountiful, and gave unto them battle insomuch that they began to retreat back towards the land of Zarahemla.

Helaman 1:32 And it came to pass that Moronihah did head them in their retreat, and did given unto them battle insomuch that it became an exceeding bloody battle; yea, many were slain; and among the number who were slain, Coriantumr was also found.

Helaman 1:35 And it came to pass that Moronihah took possession of the city of Zarahemla again, and caused that the Lamanites who had been taken prisoners should depart out of the land in peace.



World Location    up to verses  down to commentary

Alma to the valley of Alma on a world map


Commentary    up to world map

No starting points are mentioned for Lehi or Moronihah, but the comment that the interior lands of the Nephites was not heavily guarded would place the armies of Lehi and Moronihah in the cities on the border of the Nephite lands. The highlands west of Noah are relatively flat and easy to travel. The river that flows through the land southward is the Grajalva River and it goes through a canyon as it exits the land southward that is not easy to travel. There are ways down towards the coast that are easy to travel from the highlands. So, traveling "round about" (Helaman 1:30) towards the Sea West and back towards Bountiful is consistent with the world location and the description in the Book of Mormon. It also describes accurately how the army of Lehi would be coming from the direction of Bountiful towards the city near Bountiful in order to head the army of Coriantumr.

The phrase "round about" (see Discoveries) in Helaman 1:30 indicates that the army of Lehi traveled a sufficient distance to desribe a course that curved. This can be as shown in this world location where Lehi started from Noah. Or, if Lehi started in Bountiful, the army of Lehi and Coriantumr would have met somewhere closer to Zarahemla than shown. This second option for Lehi's starting point is also consistent with this world location as the route from Bountiful to Zarahemla is curved in order to travel around the highlands.