Welcome to a Study of  Book of Mormon Geography
and What the Scriptures Themselves  Say About That Ancient Setting.
 

   Contrary to what some believe, the scriptures are not silent on the location of the lands occupied by the ancient Nephites and Jaredites. Carefully placed descriptions of lands and places included on the golden plates by various Book of Mormon scribes give invaluable clues to the lands they inhabited--some of which will be discussed on this site.
 

   Although hearsay comments about the Prophet Joseph Smith’s reconciling one place or another as Book of Mormon territory have been surfacing since the early days of the Church, nothing in the actual writings or memoirs of Joseph can be found on that subject. He, like many others, may have speculated about that setting, which would certainly be understandable, but had anything on the subject been given by way of revelation it would have been recorded for posterity, and the ongoing search for the lands in question totally unnecessary. Moreover, the Apostle, John A. Widtsoe, commented in the Improvement Era as currently as 1950 that there was no indication that Joseph knew that information himself. 

   As far as can be learned, the Prophet Joseph Smith, translator of the book, did not say where on the American continent, Book of Mormon activities occurred. Perhaps he did not know. (John A. Widtsoe, Improvement Era 53, 7 July, 1950, pp. 547, 596-7.)

   Once again, this is where a close study of the Book of Mormon is important, for 1^st and 2^nd Nephi are filled with references to a land that would one day be filled up with Gentiles who would raise up a nation that would be a bastion of freedom for the entire world. These and other scriptures make it clear that the land both the Nephites and Jaredites were led to was the land we now call the United States of America, with various the geographical descriptions leading us to the Great Lakes region around the Hill Cumorah and its surrounding territory.

Creating the Model

   Many theories have come and gone over the years, but the standard by which one must evaluate a setting must always be the same. It must, above all, conform to the geographical descriptions provided in the text. Thus, the first thing to do in our search for the lost lands of the Nephites and Jaredites is to gather together all the geographical clues the ancient scribes had the foresight to engrave upon the plates and then study them each individually and collectively, for therein lies the formula for the successful placement of lands and cities within any chosen region. For example, one cannot find a river, claim it to be the Sidon, and then place it in the land of Nephi instead of in the land of Zarahemla, for such would be scripturally incorrect. Above all there must be a correct correlation between text and terrain.

The Language of the Ancients

   While it is imperative that we follow the various clues given in the scriptures in our efforts to locate the elusive lands of the Book of Mormon, we must also have a clear understanding of the careful use of the language used by ancient scribes, for it will impact our understanding of the scriptures. As we come to understand their use of the terms up and down, for instance, we will quickly come to realize that the land of Nephi, the southernmost land in the land southward, was at a higher elevation than the land of Zarahemla, and that Zarahemla was higher than Bountiful. Thus, north was considered down since the topography of the land descended in elevation the farther north one traveled. South would then be thought of as up. Now, obviously, the use of the descriptive words up and down were also used to describe their movement through lands filled with hills and valleys as well, such as those found in the land of Nephi.

   Although careful study discloses that directional terms do not enter languages haphazardly, some have still suggested that north, south, east and west were recorded differently by ancient Book of Mormon authors. We must remember, however, that it was the Lord’s design to flood the entire world with the Book of Mormon—that all people in all lands could treasure up the word of God and embrace the great plan of happiness. Thus, it was translated by divine means that it might go forth to all nations in its most pure form. We must also remember that truth is reason. Therefore, we must trust that the holy text was translated in such a way that even the simplest of us could understand. Thus, east meant the place of the rising sun to both the Nephites and Jaredites—just as it did to their forefathers. Although some scriptural descriptions might seem vague at times, the mystery surrounding their whereabouts was being carefully and methodically carved onto the plates. Our job is to find a location which matches in every way those described in the scriptures. 

   Some people may be surprised to learn that several scriptures give us a fairly accurate picture of the layout of Book of Mormon territory, including the relationship and placement of the various cities, seas, and lands mentioned in the scriptures. Thus, we can successfully put together a model of Book of Mormon territory without taking into consideration any land in particular. Some term this an "internal map." In this way lay members can judge for themselves whether or not any given territory meets the strict requirements needed to be considered a plausible site for Book of Mormon activity. The merits of such a map are two fold. First, one can gain a fairly accurate picture of Book of Mormon geography, which can be useful in his own personal study of the scriptures, and two, it provides the basis for making a determination as to the accuracy of any model presented without being dependant upon the good or bad reviews of others. If it fits scriptural descriptions, it’s a good candidate, if it doesn’t, it isn’t! This is a simple formula, but a good one, and the only one that can truly be trusted.

   A good place to begin our attempts to create an internal model of Book of Mormon territory would be to determine how various ancient scribes describe the general layout of their land.

   Alma 50:7 makes it clear that the Lamanites lived to the south of the Nephites. 

  And it came to pass that Moroni caused that his armies should go forth into the east wilderness; yea, and they went forth and drove all the Lamanites who were in the east wilderness into their own lands, which were south of the land of Zarahemla. (Alma 50:7.)

   Alma 50:11 informs us there was a dividing line between the two lands which ran from east to west. 

   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, . . . (Alma 50:11.)

   Alma 22:27 provides more detail about the boundary between Nephite and Lamanite territory. 

   And it came to pass that the king sent a proclamation throughout all the land, amongst all his people who were in all his land, who were in all the regions round about, which was bordering even to the sea, on the east and on the west, and which was divided from the land of Zarahemla by a narrow strip of wilderness, which ran from the sea east even to the sea west, and round about on the borders of the seashore, 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. (Alma 22:27.)
 

   This important scripture reveals several things.

1-That the Lamanites occupied regions which extended from the east sea clear across the land to the west sea.
2-That a narrow strip of wilderness separated the two lands.
3-That this narrow strip of wilderness also extended along the shores of the west sea.
4-That the Lamanites lived to the south of Nephite territory.
5-That a second wilderness lay somewhere to the north of the narrow strip mentioned, and places it in Zarahemla.
6-That this wilderness extended from the head of the river Sidon in southeastern Zarahemla westward across the
    land.

   One wilderness would certainly have sufficed as a border between the lands unless there was something separating them such as a river, gorge, creek. Thus, we have another important clue to the layout of the land.

 The River Sidon

   Alma 22:27 also clarifies the placement of the river Sidon. Various scriptures describe it as flowing through Zarahemla with its head in the southeastern corner of the land. This fact makes it clear that the Sidon did not extend southward into Lamanite territory, but flowed northward through Zarahemla on its journey to a sea. A small lake appears to have existed alongside the Sidon anciently, a body of water referred to as the waters of Sidon, similar in description to the waters of Sebus, or the waters of Mormon, all bodies of water, not rivers. It was in this small lake that the bodies of the dead were thrown to make more room along the river’s bank for battle.

 Bountiful

   The various scriptures already sited provide us with the correct placement of the lands of Nephi and Zarahemla, the wildernesses which divided the two lands, and the river Sidon. But where is Bountiful? Alma 22:29 provides that answer.

. . . 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. (Alma 22:29.)

   Thus we learn that Bountiful lay to the north of Zarahemla which completes the picture of the land southward, with the land of Nephi being the most southern and Bountiful the most northern. Such clear and precise descriptive scriptures cannot help but lead one to believe that the ancient scribes included them on the plates for a reason—that someday we might discover their homeland.

   With the three major lands in the Book of Mormon now in place on our internal map, the lands of Nephi, Zarahemla, and Bountiful, we must now see what the scriptures reveal about the seas often mentioned in relation to these lands. From a second reading of Alma 27:22, we learn that Lamanite territory extended between the east and west seas. 

    And it came to pass that the king sent a proclamation throughout all the land,...which was bordering even to the sea, on the east and on the west, and which was divided from the land of Zarahemla by a narrow strip of wilderness, which ran from the sea east even to the sea west,... (Alma 27:22.)

   Interestingly, while various seas and seashores are referred to in the scriptures, the east sea is never mentioned by name in relation to either Bountiful or Zarahemla, with only a few of the cities along the east borders said to have bordered that sea, such as the city of Moroni, which was situated in the far southeastern portion of the east borders near Lamanite territory, or the land of Nephi the only independent land in the land southward which is clearly referred to as extending from sea to sea.

   And the land of Nephi did run in a straight course from the east sea to the west. (Alma 50:8.) 

   Yet, still another scripture insists the Nephites were scattered all through the land? "from the sea west to the sea east." (Helaman 3:8.) While the east sea appears to have veered off a little after passing beyond the land of Nephi, some of the Nephites occupied regions along the overland trails which led across the wilderness areas to the northern portion of the east sea where still others settled. 

    And thus it did come to pass that the people of Nephi began to prosper again in the land, and began to build up their waste places, and began to multiply and spread, even until they did cover the whole face of the land, both on the northward and on the southward, from the sea west to the sea east. (Helaman 11:20.) 

   Such scriptures clearly indicate the over-all territory occupied by the Nephites, at least in the land southward, ran north and south with seas to either side of it. Now, while the west sea is said to have bordered both Bountiful Zarahemla, the east sea is never mentioned in relation to these lands. In the case of Zarahemla, the river Sidon made up its eastern border. Thus we should not expect to find any reference to the east sea in connection with Zarahemla, nor the east borders, which lay just to the east of Zarahemla and extended northward clear to Bountiful, still another land showing no connection to the east sea. Thus, rather than try to manipulate the scriptures to conform to the commonly accepted notion that Zarahemla, Bountiful, and the east borders all bordered the east sea, we must conceded that still another waterway must have extended along the east borders between the lands mentioned and the east sea proper, which bordered only the land of Nephi further southward.

   This scenario makes the statement that the Lamanites nearly surrounded the Nephites more understandable as well. The scriptures tell us the Nephites filled the east borders with their own cities and villages, some of which extended  clear down to some unnamed seashore bordering Lamanite territory. Thus, it would seem reasonable to suppose Lamanites inhabited this region as well, no doubt the wilderness regions sandwiched between the east borders and the east sea, for the scriptures clearly indicate the Nephites were nearly surrounded by Lamanites, which implies at least three sides. 

   Now, the more idle part of the Lamanites lived in the wilderness, and dwelt in tents; and they were spread through the wilderness on the west, in the land of Nephi; yea, and also on the west of the land of Zarahemla, in the borders by the seashore, and on the west in the land of Nephi, in the place of their fathers' first inheritance, and thus bordering along by the seashore.

   And also there were many Lamanites on the east by the seashore, whither the Nephites had driven them. And thus the Nephites were nearly surrounded by the Lamanites; ... (Alma 22:28-29.)

   Such a fact also helps to explain why Bountiful is described as going from the east to the west sea rather from the east sea to the west sea. In fact, one will never read of the east sea in connection to Bountiful. (In the New York setting this all works out perfectly.) 

The Size of the Land Southward

 The scriptures provide very little information about the size of the land southward, although Alma 22:32 provides one important clue. 

   And now, it was only the distance of a day and a half's journey for a Nephite, on the line Bountiful and the land Desolation, from the east to the west sea;... (Alma 22:32.)

   Alma reveals in this scripture that the distance across Bountiful was only 1 ˝ day’s journey wide. By the calculations of many, a day’s journey for a normal person walking would be about 20 or 30 miles. Thus the 1 ˝ day’s journey must have incorporated only about 30 or 40 miles or so. Moreover, since both Nephi and Lamanite territory lay directly to the south of Bountiful and were bordered on the east and west by the same seas, they, too, must have been a similar distance across, depending on the course of the seas on either side, that is.

   Now, those familiar with the drama played out in the Book of Mormon will remember that both Nephite and Lamanite territory were filled with forests. Thus travel from land to land or city to city often took them through such rugged terrain that it would have slowed down their travel time considerably. But, while the scriptures indicate Bountiful itself was a great wilderness filled with all manner of wild beasts, we might remember that the Nephite described in Alma 22:32 journeyed across the line between Bountiful and Desolation and, therefore, probably did not travel through the forest--more likely along a river, ridge or sea. Thus, the time assigned his journey should be calculated within the more normal range—that of about 20 or 30 miles a day, making the entire 1 ˝ day journey across Bountiful, again, around 30 or 40 miles.

   As hard as one may try to adjust the actual number of miles a Nephite could cover in a day and a half there just seems to be no way around it! Only about 30 or 40 miles was covered! Now, we can reduce that number by having him travel through the forest, but the only way we can increase it would be to have him running at full speed for the full day and a half which is certainly not justified--although certain theorists have tried to suggest it in their efforts to reconcile their setting with the scriptures.

   Now, this scenario does not present a very large picture, at least in respect to the land southward. In fact, it describes a region so small that many find it hard to accept, for we have been indoctrinated for decades to believe Book of Mormon territory took in a much larger area. But the scriptures themselves are clear on the matter— it only took a Nephite 1 ˝ days to journey across Bountiful (note the word only in this description,) and thus we must readjust our thinking to accommodate that fact.

   Not only was the land southward not very wide, but the scriptures give no indication that it was very long either. We might remember that King Benjamin called the people of Zarahemla together for a grand conference which he intended to give on the morrow. Thus, we can assume the land surrounding the great capital city of Zarahemla was not very great, for they brought their tents and flocks and children and everything they would need to stay a while and offer sacrifices at the temple—and, they did it all in one day. Now, such a gathering could not possibly have taken place in one day had the city been as large as, say, Los Angeles or any other of our modern cities. This was a limited region—a region where the inhabitants of the kingdom could congregate together for council in a relatively short period of time. Moreover, those who left that conference continued their instruction in the various churches throughout the land which numbered only seven, far less than one would expect to find in a greater area.

   While this region may seem small to some, we must remember that the historical events recorded in the Bible took place in an area of only about 150 miles in length by half that size in width. Keeping the records of a people spread out over a greater area would have been next to impossible without the modern means of communication and transportation we take so for granted today. Thus the Lord instructed many to record the events in their various territories.

   Now, it is not this author’s position that the lands occupied by the Nephites and Lamanites incorporated just the limited regions known as the land southward by the ancients, for any reasoning person would concede that both Nephites and Lamanites spread throughout neighboring regions over their millennial-long stay in the promised land. Moreover, archaeological research provides ample evidence that the Nephites spread westward along the lower Great Lakes and also eastward towards the Atlantic coast, with some moving down into the Ohio and Mississippi valleys. In fact, pockets of both the Nephites and Lamanites undoubtedly spread throughout the entire continent, perhaps the entire hemisphere. But it would have been absolutely impossible for those prophets and scribes who lived and died in the limited regions of Zarahemla to record the happenings of people who lived hundreds or thousands of miles away. The records they kept were not only vital to those of their day, but ours as well. Thus, the Lord saw to it that the task of record keeping was not made unimaginably difficult by instructing people in each region to keep their own records. Consequently, only the limited territory known as the land southward with only a mere mention of those who migrated into the land northward were recorded on the sacred plates. 

   Although our internal map is coming along nicely at this point, there are still some very important landmarks to the north of Bountiful which must also be addressed. Alma 22:32, is wonderfully descriptive and provides much more information than just the time it would take a Nephite to walk across Bountiful.

   And now, it was only the distance of a day and a half's journey for a Nephite, on the line Bountiful and the land Desolation, from the east to the west sea and thus the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla were nearly surrounded by water, there being a small neck of land between the land northward and the land southward. (Alma 22:32.)

   This scripture is simply full of geographical information. A careful reading reveals that: 

   Now if the land of Zarahemla, a name title often used by the Nephites to describe the entire land southward, was nearly surrounded by water, there must have been more water in the region than just those seas which were described as laying to the east and west of that territory. One would think there must be at least some water either to the north of Bountiful or the south of the Lamanite territory, or both, to reconcile such a statement. Thus, we must ask if the scriptures support such a supposition?

   That answer comes to us from the Jaredite record where the Prophet, Ether, mentioned "a sea that divides the lands" near the narrow neck .

   And they built a great city by the narrow neck of land, by the place where the sea divides the land. (Ether 10:20.)

   Since the Nephite record clearly places the narrow neck someplace where the west sea meets Bountiful and Desolation (see Alma 63:5), the mysterious sea described in Ether 10:20 must have been the sea that divided the land northward from the land southward, with the narrow neck simply creating a land bridge from one side of the sea to the other. It also provides our first clue as to why the lands were described as the lands northward and southward in the first place. One simply referring to those lands to the north of the sea and the other referring to those to the south.
  These facts also help to explain why the entire land southward was described as being nearly surrounded by water in Alma 22:32, for the sea that divided the land lay to the north, the west sea to the west, and the east sea bordered the various lands to the east. (We must also note that while Alma 22:32 mentions that the lands of Zarahemla and Nephi were nearly surrounded by water, there is no mention that water surrounded the land northward as well--an important factor in laying out our map, for some theories have water to the side of both the lands northward and southward which is not indicated in the scriptures.) Thus, one can see how much attention must be given each and every scripture in any attempt to find an appropriate location for the various lands described in the scriptures. Each and every geographical description must be accurately accounted for. Unfortunately, there is much more involved in reconciling a region with the scriptures than just finding a narrow neck or evidence of a sea so extensive it divided the lands. Every single   geographical description found in the scriptures must fit together precisely with the next and in complete harmony with the various details engraven on the plates before a territory can be declared the homeland of the ancient Nephites and Jaredites.

   The following is a recap of the topographical features of the lands of the Book of Mormon Each must be addressed in reconciling any given area with the scriptures. 

1- It must have highlands to the south and lowlands to the north to correspond with the various ups and downs described in the scriptures.

2-The River Sidon must flow northward, not southward, and must have its head in the southeastern portion of Zarahemla. (See Alma 33:32.)

3- The land of Nephi must be south of Zarahemla and Zarahemla south of Bountiful. There must also be a dividing line of some kind between the lands of Nephi and Zarahemla. (Alma 50:7, Alma 22:29, Alma 22, 27.)

4- These three territories, with the inclusion of a region between Zarahemla and Bountiful and an eastern border of sorts, (the entire area constituting the land southward), must be bordered on the east and west by seas. (See Alma 27:22, Helaman 11:20.)

5- There must also be a sea just to the north of Bountiful which was extensive enough to divide the land northward from the land southward. (See Ether 10:20.)

6- There must be a narrow neck/pass extending through the sea permitting passage from the land southward to the land northward. (See Alma 63:5.) Thus, water would border the narrow neck on both sides as well. (See Alma 50:34.)

7- The southern tip of the narrow neck must lay near the junction where Bountiful, Desolation and the west sea meet. (See Alma 63:5.)

8- Bountiful must be only the distance a Nephite could walk in a day and a half or approximately 30-45 miles in width. (See Alma 22:32. )

9- The waters that nearly surrounded the land southward must be defined. (See Alma 22:32.)

10-The land northward must be filled with large bodies of water, fountains, and rivers. (See Helaman 3:4,5.)

11-The Hill Cumorah must be in a land of hills and valleys.

12-There should be evidence of ancient warfare.

13-There should be the remains of fortifications such as those described in the Book of Mormon.

14-There should be the remains of human bones—including the presence of large bones.

15-There should be minerals such as iron, copper, silver and gold.

16-It must be a land where grains and fruit would grow, including grapes.

17-Evidence of the various animals mentioned in the scriptures must also be present. 

   Obviously, many factors must be taken into consideration in piecing the entire puzzle together. Far too many for this brief work. But the limited picture presented here can give the reader at least some of the tools needed to judge for himself whether nor not any setting presented fits the geographical description given in the scriptures.

   As hard as it might be to believe, after so many years of speculation about the true location of Book of Mormon territory, the lands of western New York fit the geographical description given in the scriptures perfectly. Each and every description given of a land or sea, or even the narrow neck and the sea that divides the lands can be reconciled with that ancient setting without difficulty or without manipulating the scriptures in any way to make it fit. If it were not the location in question surely at least a few things would be out of sync with the scriptural account, but there is perfect harmony between text and terrain. Thus, this author feels this unique setting must be given due consideration as the long lost lands of the Book of Mormon. Pull out your scriptures and print out the map offered on this site and put it to the test.

Western New York's land northward and southward, including the land of Nephi, Zarahemla and Bountiful, with each of the cities mentioned in the scriptures placed in their proper settings as per Book of Mormon instructions.  Certain Lamanite cities lay further southward than this map shows.

Lynn C. Layton map, "Ideal Book of Mormon Geography", Improvement Era 41 (July, 1938:394-5) Courtesy, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. All maps used with Permission.

Copyright © 1998 by Phyllis Carol Olive

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