I was in north central Tennessee years ago looking for a gravel pit operated by one of my customers. Slightly disoriented, I stopped by a farmhouse where an older couple sat on the front porch. I asked them to please direct me to the mining operation. The fellow pointed down the road and said it was in that direction "a fur piece." His wife protested. "No," she insisted, "it ain't a fur piece, it's a short piece." When I finally found the quarry, it was about five miles down the road from the friendly farmhouse. To this day, I am unsure whether five road miles is generally considered "a fur piece" or "a short piece" in the vernacular of the Tennessee hills.
The Book of Mormon uses the terms "near" and "far" to describe comparative spatial relationships. This article will attempt to quantify what the Nephites meant when they used these terms in a geographic context.
1. After Lehi left Jerusalem, he and his family traveled near the shore of the Red Sea 1 Nephi 2:5. The Old World portion of the Lehite's journey has been studied many times by capable researchers (Aston, Brown, England, Hilton, Phillips, Potter, Wellington). Virtually all agree that the first leg of the eight year odyssey took the family from Jerusalem down the Great Rift Valley to the Gulf of Aqaba. That route is shown in white on the map below.
Nephi was spot on as they say in Britain. Do we have any reason to mistrust the Book of Mormon when it says north, south, east or west? No. Google Earth confirms the accuracy of the Nephite text 100% of the time. See the article "Plainness" for perspective.
This image shows the location of ibex habitat near Duba.
From their camp at Shazer, Nephi and his brothers would have traveled about 20 kilometers inland from the coast to reach herds of ibex. Continuing on their journey south southeast from Shazer, they stayed near the Red Sea and followed the directions on the Liahona to find the most fertile parts of the wilderness. They probably passed through some of the sites indicated on the map below. These are modern population centers, most of which were also ancient oases along the coastal caravan route. The base map is NASA's land cover classification system where urban areas show red.
Showing the same area with a shaded relief base map, the Red Sea coastal plain is obvious.
In the case of 1 Nephi 16:14, near the Red Sea probably meant within 5 kilometers of the coast. Almost all population centers along this coastal plain are right on the water.
6. Ammon and his brethren met King Limhi and his guards near the walls of the city of Nephi Mosiah 7:10. Our best candidate for the city of Nephi is John L. Sorenson's suggestion - Kaminaljuyu currently surrounded by metropolitan Guatemala City. I advise everyone to purchase a copy of Sorenson's Mormon's Codex when it becomes available through Deseret Book and the Maxwell Institute in September, 2013. John's magnum opus contains exciting new details about the Nephi - Kaminaljuyu correlation. In this case, the chance encounter between Ammon and King Limhi was probably less than 1 kilometer from the city walls and certainly no more than 2 - 3 kilometers.
7. Zeniff and his followers, up from the land of Zarahemla, camped on a battlefield near the local land of Nephi Mosiah 9:4. This map represents our best current thinking about the local land of Nephi and environs.
Much more work remains to be done to understand Lamanite lands and cities in detail, but some relationships are clear. First, Kaminaljuyu (likely city of Nephi) was right on the continental divide, the reason King Noah from his tower could overlook the lands of Shilom and Shemlon Mosiah 11:12. Second, the hill north of Shilom was enroute for travel either direction between the city of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla Mosiah 7:5, Mosiah 11:13. Third, people who wanted to get out of the city of Nephi undetected did not go through the land of Shilom - they skirted around Shilom probably going through the land of Mormon Mosiah 22:8, Mosiah 22:11. Fourth, the land of Mormon had some wilderness characteristics Mosiah 18:4. Fifth, Mormon was a place where hundreds of people could hide from suspicious authorities in the city of Nephi Mosiah 18:5, Mosiah 18:31.
8. King Noah built a very high tower in the city of Nephi near the temple Mosiah 11:12, Mosiah 19:5. Given the estimated size of the site of Kaminlajuyu ca. 160 B.C., the distance from the temple to the tower was probably less than 1 kilometer and certainly no more than 1 - 2 kilometers.
9. In the waters of Mornon a thicket of small trees grew near the water Mosiah 18:5. Mosiah 18:30 says a forest grew near the waters of Mormon. Where might we find the storied waters of Mormon? Tour operators for decades have been taking LDS travelers on boat rides across magnificent Lake Atitlan, often called "the most beautiful lake in the world." Located in the Department of Solola in western Guatemala, Lake Atitlan is a candidate for the waters of Mormon in many Book of Mormon New World geographic correlations. If we correlated the city of Nephi with Solola or even Patzicia, Lake Atitlan would make some sense. If the city of Nephi was ancient Kaminaljuyu in metro Guatemala City (the correlation we support), then Lake Atitlan is much too far away. Mosiah 18:23-25 makes it clear that Alma1 founded a typical church with Sabbath day observance and people working at their day jobs six days a week. Mosiah 18:30-31 makes the land of Mormon the blessed location for all this religious activity. So, Nephites were leaving their homes and labors in the local land of Nephi and the land of Shilom and making day trips to the land of Mormon.
The people of Ammon with their flocks and herds waited just south of the line that separated the land of Zarahemla on the north from the land of Nephi on the south. They camped near the borders of the land of Zarahemla Alma 27:14.
Captain Moroni hid his army in a valley west of river Sidon, near the river bank Alma 43:27.
Amalickiah camped with his army in a valley near mount Antipas Alma 47:9.
Captain Moroni's fortifications included towers from which defenders could hurl stones at attackers who approached near the walls of a city Alma 50:5.
Teancum led a small force on a march near the seashore to lure Lamanites out of the fortified city of Mulek Alma 52:22.
Teancum's decoy march led the Lamanites near the city Bounti ful Alma 52:27.
Helaman led his army of 2,000 stripling warriors on a march near the city Antiparah Alma 56:31, Alma 56:33.
Manti had a wilderness side near the city proper Alma 58:13, Alma 58:14.
When the Lamanites who had been lured out of Manti returned near the city they saw the men of Helaman inside the fortifications Alma 58:29.
The plains of Nephihah were near the city of Nephihah Alma 62:18.
A Nephite land, part of the greater land of Zarahemla, was near the land Bountiful Helaman 4:5.
Nephi2 had a tower in his garden near the garden gate which fronted one of the major roads in the city of Zarahemla Helaman 7:10.
The city of Jashon was near the land where Ammaron had deposited the Nephite record archive Mormon 2:17.
The city Teancum, by the seashore, was near the city Desolation Mormon 4:3.
The Jaredite land of Moron was near the land the Nephites called Desolation Ether7:6.
The valley of Shurr was near the hill Comnor Ether 14:28.
Coriantumr and his army pitched their tents at the waters of Ripliancum. Shiz and his army pitched their tents near Coriantumr. Ether 15:8.
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Isaiah addressed the scattered tribes of Israel as people from far 1 Nephi 21:1, Isaiah 49:1.
When the scattered tribes of Israel return, they will come from far 1 Nephi 21:12, Isaiah 49:12.
When the Israelites return to their original lands of inheritance, the Assyrians and Babylonians who once despoiled them will be far away 1 Nephi 21:19, Isaiah 49:19.
In the last days, an ensign will be raised to the nations from far as part of the gathering of Israel 2 Nephi 15:26, Isaiah 5:26.
At the scattering of Israel, the Lord removed men far away 2 Nephi 16:12, Isaiah 6:12.
Isaiah addressed scattered Israel as ye of far countries 2 Nephi 18:9, Isaiah 8:9.
Isaiah said the Assyrian depredation of Israel would come from far 2 Nephi 20:3, Isaiah 10:3.
Isaiah describes Babylon as a far country relative to the kingdom of Judah 2 Nephi 23:5, Isaiah 13:5.
At the gathering of Israel, people will be brought from far 2 Nephi 24:2. Note: this is one verse where the Book of Mormon version of Isaiah differs significantly from the King James text.
The Nephite land Desolation extended so far northward it came into the land Ramah-Cumorah where the Jaredites met their demise Alma 22:30.
In the battle of Mulek, the distance the Lamanite forces retreated from near the city Bountiful until they met Captain Moroni's army was not far Alma 52:31.
Helaman and his 2,000 stripling warriors lured a large Lamanite force out of the city of Antiparah and led them on a 3 day chase northward. On the 3rd day, the Lamanites did not pursue Helaman and his men far before they stopped, turned around, and began to engage Antipus. Alma 56:42.
In the days of Nephi2 ca. 1 B.C., unbelievers mocked prophecies of Christ saying the Jewish nation was in a far distant land where Nephites could not witness the events firsthand Helaman 16:20.
The Book of Mormon uses the terms "near" and "far" to describe comparative spatial relationships. This article will attempt to quantify what the Nephites meant when they used these terms in a geographic context.
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| Lehite's Journey in White from Jerusalem to the Red Sea |
Zooming in on the shores of the Gulf of Aqaba, we find a coastal plain seaward and a mountain range inland. Placing 4 transects at various points along the coastal plain, we measure the distance from sea level to 100 meters elevation. The results are 1.75, 2.5, 2.4 and .35 kilometers respectively. It is obvious why Nephi wrote the family traveled "near" the shoreline and when the mountains encroached they traveled "nearer" the shore 1 Nephi 2:5.
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| 4 Transects Measuring the Width of the Gulf of Aqaba Coastal Plain as it Rises to 100 Meters Elevation |
In this case, near the shore of the Red Sea probably meant within 5 kilometers of the water.
2. After three days travel, Lehi and family camped in the valley of Lemuel near the mouth of the river Laman 1 Nephi 2:8. George Potter and colleagues have shown convincingly that the river Laman flowing through the Valley of Lemuel was probably a small perennial stream originating from a spring in Wadi Tayyib al Ism about 23 air kilometers north west of Al Bad, Saudi Arabia. See George Potter, "A New Candidate in Arabia for the Valley of Lemuel" in Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, Volume 8, Issue 1, Provo: Maxwell Institute, 1999. Their candidate for the river Laman is shown in yellow on the map below. The stream flow disappears into a gravel wash about 600 meters from the Gulf of Aqaba shoreline, but geological evidence indicates ca. 600 B.C. it may have reached the sea.
Zooming in on the stream area, we see steep cliffs on either side of the likely narrow valley of Lemuel.
If Lehi's camp was at the place we have indicated on the map above, it was .75 air kilometers from the Red Sea shoreline. In this case, near the mouth of the River Laman probably meant within 3 kilometers of the sea.
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| Proposed River Laman Flowing into the Red Sea on the Western Coast of Saudi Arabia |
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| Closeup of the Proposed River Laman in Yellow |
3. Nephi found Laban in a drunken stupor lying on the ground near his (Laban's) house in Jerusalem 1 Nephi 4:7. We know from archaeological excavations that Jerusalem ca. 600 B.C. enclosed about 50 hectares within its city walls. See Margreet Steiner, Excavations in Jerusalem by K. M. Kenyon 1961 - 1967, Vol. III: The Settlement in the Bronze and Iron Ages (Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 2001). This means Laban was at most a few hundred meters from his house.
4. In Lehi's vision of the Tree of Life, he beheld a river of water flowing near the tree 1 Nephi 8:13. This verse makes no sense if the implied distance from the river to the tree exceeded a few hundred meters.
5. As the houses of Lehi and Ishmael journeyed down the western coast of what is today Saudi Arabia, they followed the most fertile parts of the land in the borders near the Red Sea 1 Nephi 16:14. When the Book of Mormon text uses the term "borders" in conjunction with a body of water, it means the waterline as in Alma 51:32. So, the most fertile parts of the land were on the coast. We would expect to see concentrations of people living along the coast south southeast of the place the Nephites called Shazer which itself was four day's travel south southeast of the valley of Lemuel. The valley of Lemuel was three day's travel south of the area around the modern city of Aqaba at the northern tip of the Red Sea. Using George Potter's Valley of Lemuel location to calibrate distance, we estimate 1 day's travel = approximately 36 air kilometers, a little over twice the distance we expect in heavily-watered southern Mesoamerica. See the article "Land Southward Travel Times." This map shows our projected location of Shazer relative to Jerusalem, the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba, and the likely valley of Lemuel.
A striking feature of this text is Nephi's degree of directional precision. He said from the valley of Lemuel they traveled in "nearly a south-southeast direction" 1 Nephi 16:13 to Shazer. We set some cardinal direction lines to test the prophet's accuracy.
4. In Lehi's vision of the Tree of Life, he beheld a river of water flowing near the tree 1 Nephi 8:13. This verse makes no sense if the implied distance from the river to the tree exceeded a few hundred meters.
5. As the houses of Lehi and Ishmael journeyed down the western coast of what is today Saudi Arabia, they followed the most fertile parts of the land in the borders near the Red Sea 1 Nephi 16:14. When the Book of Mormon text uses the term "borders" in conjunction with a body of water, it means the waterline as in Alma 51:32. So, the most fertile parts of the land were on the coast. We would expect to see concentrations of people living along the coast south southeast of the place the Nephites called Shazer which itself was four day's travel south southeast of the valley of Lemuel. The valley of Lemuel was three day's travel south of the area around the modern city of Aqaba at the northern tip of the Red Sea. Using George Potter's Valley of Lemuel location to calibrate distance, we estimate 1 day's travel = approximately 36 air kilometers, a little over twice the distance we expect in heavily-watered southern Mesoamerica. See the article "Land Southward Travel Times." This map shows our projected location of Shazer relative to Jerusalem, the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba, and the likely valley of Lemuel.
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| Probable Shazer in Context |
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| Testing the Directionality of Shazer From the Valley of Lemuel |
While camped at Shazer, the party sent out hunters who brought back wild game 1 Nephi 16:14, probably ibex. The Nubian Ibex, capra nubiana, is a desert goat that grows to 50 kilograms (110 pounds). Our proposed location for Shazer is only 10 kilometers from Duba, a city of 22,000 known as "the pearl of the Red Sea" where the Saudi royal family maintains a palace. Scholars of the Quran consider Duba the southern boundary of the ancient land of Midian noted for the relationship between Moses and his father-in-law, Jethro. The image below is from NASA's Earth City Lights series.
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| Proposed Shazer 10 Kilometers North of Duba, Saudi Arabia |
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| Nubian Ibex Habitat near Duba, Saudi Arabia |
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| Modern Cities and Ancient Oases Along Lehi's Coastal Route |
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| Lehi's Coastal Route Showing Red Sea Coastal Plain |
6. Ammon and his brethren met King Limhi and his guards near the walls of the city of Nephi Mosiah 7:10. Our best candidate for the city of Nephi is John L. Sorenson's suggestion - Kaminaljuyu currently surrounded by metropolitan Guatemala City. I advise everyone to purchase a copy of Sorenson's Mormon's Codex when it becomes available through Deseret Book and the Maxwell Institute in September, 2013. John's magnum opus contains exciting new details about the Nephi - Kaminaljuyu correlation. In this case, the chance encounter between Ammon and King Limhi was probably less than 1 kilometer from the city walls and certainly no more than 2 - 3 kilometers.
7. Zeniff and his followers, up from the land of Zarahemla, camped on a battlefield near the local land of Nephi Mosiah 9:4. This map represents our best current thinking about the local land of Nephi and environs.
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| Proposed Local Land of Nephi and Lands Round About |
Soon after leaving the land of Nephi and going with Mosiah1 down to the land of Zarahemla Omni 1:12-13 via the hill north of Shilom Mosiah 11:13 Zeniff returned up to the local land of Nephi as part of a military expedition Mosiah 9:1. We have elsewhere explained the likely reason (climate) why large numbers of Nephites, once in the relative safety of the local land of Zarahemla, quickly returned to an uncertain future in their previous homeland in the land of Nephi. See the article "Asking the Right Questions" Question #12. See also the articles "Water Fight on the River - Round Twelve" and "The Usumacinta/Sidon Correlation" Point 12. Key details from the record of this military expedition and Zeniff's subsequent mass emigration include:
- A large number of Nephites returned from Zarahemla up to Nephi Omni 1:27
- Once near the local land of Nephi, they sent out spies to determine Lamanite fighting strength. Zeniff was one of those spies. Mosiah 9:1.
- Seeing admirable qualities among the Lamanites, Zeniff tried to convince his comrades and commander to make peace rather than war Mosiah 9:2.
- The Nephite military commander ordered Zeniff's execution.
- This order for a military death penalty sparked armed rebellion in the ranks.
- Most of the men in the expedition, all except 50, were killed Omni 1:28, Mosiah 9:2. Zeniff was one of the survivors.
- This Nephite on Nephite battle happened in the wilderness Omni 1:28, Mosiah 9:2.
- Zeniff and the other 49 men returned to Zarahemla.
- Zeniff immediately recruited a "considerable number" and led them back up to the land of Nephi Omni 1:29, Mosiah 9:3. For perspective on why 10,000 is probably a reasonable estimate of the number of people in Zeniff's colony, see the discussion of Mosiah 19:2 in the article "Narrow and Small Things."
- After many days wandering in the wilderness, this second group of emigres reached the land of Nephi and camped on the same battlefield where the military expedition had self-destructed only a short time before. This battlefield was near the local land of Nephi Mosiah 9:4.
8. King Noah built a very high tower in the city of Nephi near the temple Mosiah 11:12, Mosiah 19:5. Given the estimated size of the site of Kaminlajuyu ca. 160 B.C., the distance from the temple to the tower was probably less than 1 kilometer and certainly no more than 1 - 2 kilometers.
9. In the waters of Mornon a thicket of small trees grew near the water Mosiah 18:5. Mosiah 18:30 says a forest grew near the waters of Mormon. Where might we find the storied waters of Mormon? Tour operators for decades have been taking LDS travelers on boat rides across magnificent Lake Atitlan, often called "the most beautiful lake in the world." Located in the Department of Solola in western Guatemala, Lake Atitlan is a candidate for the waters of Mormon in many Book of Mormon New World geographic correlations. If we correlated the city of Nephi with Solola or even Patzicia, Lake Atitlan would make some sense. If the city of Nephi was ancient Kaminaljuyu in metro Guatemala City (the correlation we support), then Lake Atitlan is much too far away. Mosiah 18:23-25 makes it clear that Alma1 founded a typical church with Sabbath day observance and people working at their day jobs six days a week. Mosiah 18:30-31 makes the land of Mormon the blessed location for all this religious activity. So, Nephites were leaving their homes and labors in the local land of Nephi and the land of Shilom and making day trips to the land of Mormon.
The people of Ammon with their flocks and herds waited just south of the line that separated the land of Zarahemla on the north from the land of Nephi on the south. They camped near the borders of the land of Zarahemla Alma 27:14.
Captain Moroni hid his army in a valley west of river Sidon, near the river bank Alma 43:27.
Amalickiah camped with his army in a valley near mount Antipas Alma 47:9.
Captain Moroni's fortifications included towers from which defenders could hurl stones at attackers who approached near the walls of a city Alma 50:5.
Teancum led a small force on a march near the seashore to lure Lamanites out of the fortified city of Mulek Alma 52:22.
Teancum's decoy march led the Lamanites near the city Bounti ful Alma 52:27.
Helaman led his army of 2,000 stripling warriors on a march near the city Antiparah Alma 56:31, Alma 56:33.
Manti had a wilderness side near the city proper Alma 58:13, Alma 58:14.
When the Lamanites who had been lured out of Manti returned near the city they saw the men of Helaman inside the fortifications Alma 58:29.
The plains of Nephihah were near the city of Nephihah Alma 62:18.
A Nephite land, part of the greater land of Zarahemla, was near the land Bountiful Helaman 4:5.
Nephi2 had a tower in his garden near the garden gate which fronted one of the major roads in the city of Zarahemla Helaman 7:10.
The city of Jashon was near the land where Ammaron had deposited the Nephite record archive Mormon 2:17.
The city Teancum, by the seashore, was near the city Desolation Mormon 4:3.
The Jaredite land of Moron was near the land the Nephites called Desolation Ether7:6.
The valley of Shurr was near the hill Comnor Ether 14:28.
Coriantumr and his army pitched their tents at the waters of Ripliancum. Shiz and his army pitched their tents near Coriantumr. Ether 15:8.
--
Isaiah addressed the scattered tribes of Israel as people from far 1 Nephi 21:1, Isaiah 49:1.
When the scattered tribes of Israel return, they will come from far 1 Nephi 21:12, Isaiah 49:12.
When the Israelites return to their original lands of inheritance, the Assyrians and Babylonians who once despoiled them will be far away 1 Nephi 21:19, Isaiah 49:19.
In the last days, an ensign will be raised to the nations from far as part of the gathering of Israel 2 Nephi 15:26, Isaiah 5:26.
At the scattering of Israel, the Lord removed men far away 2 Nephi 16:12, Isaiah 6:12.
Isaiah addressed scattered Israel as ye of far countries 2 Nephi 18:9, Isaiah 8:9.
Isaiah said the Assyrian depredation of Israel would come from far 2 Nephi 20:3, Isaiah 10:3.
Isaiah describes Babylon as a far country relative to the kingdom of Judah 2 Nephi 23:5, Isaiah 13:5.
At the gathering of Israel, people will be brought from far 2 Nephi 24:2. Note: this is one verse where the Book of Mormon version of Isaiah differs significantly from the King James text.
The Nephite land Desolation extended so far northward it came into the land Ramah-Cumorah where the Jaredites met their demise Alma 22:30.
In the battle of Mulek, the distance the Lamanite forces retreated from near the city Bountiful until they met Captain Moroni's army was not far Alma 52:31.
Helaman and his 2,000 stripling warriors lured a large Lamanite force out of the city of Antiparah and led them on a 3 day chase northward. On the 3rd day, the Lamanites did not pursue Helaman and his men far before they stopped, turned around, and began to engage Antipus. Alma 56:42.
In the days of Nephi2 ca. 1 B.C., unbelievers mocked prophecies of Christ saying the Jewish nation was in a far distant land where Nephites could not witness the events firsthand Helaman 16:20.