Today I was transcribing the special episode on Book of Mormon geography from Taylor Halverson and Tyler Griffin's excellent Come Follow Me Insights show on the Book of Mormon Central YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSsrx8lFpeuBjNIE7FNm2CQ.
29 minutes into the video, Tyler makes the important point that the Nephites used the term "Zarahemla" in multiple ways. It was their capital city 3 Nephi 9:3, a lesser land (city state, region) Alma 62:6, and their greater land (nation) Alma 50:7. Ditto the term "Nephi" which was a capital city Alma 47:31, a lesser land Alma 47:20, and a greater land Alma 50:8, 11.
Two countries on earth today follow this naming convention where their capital city, leading region (state, department), and nation all carry the same name: Guatemala, Guatemala, Guatemala and Mexico, Mexico, Mexico. See the blog article "Light from Guatemala" for maps.
29 minutes into the video, Tyler makes the important point that the Nephites used the term "Zarahemla" in multiple ways. It was their capital city 3 Nephi 9:3, a lesser land (city state, region) Alma 62:6, and their greater land (nation) Alma 50:7. Ditto the term "Nephi" which was a capital city Alma 47:31, a lesser land Alma 47:20, and a greater land Alma 50:8, 11.
Two countries on earth today follow this naming convention where their capital city, leading region (state, department), and nation all carry the same name: Guatemala, Guatemala, Guatemala and Mexico, Mexico, Mexico. See the blog article "Light from Guatemala" for maps.