Yucatan Island and the Land Bountiful

The Yucatan was not a peninsula during the Book of Mormon.

The Land Bountiful covered the north parts of the Land Southward.

I'm a map nut. So much so, that years ago, I would read the Bible more than the Book of Mormon because I could enhance my studies by looking at a map and soak in the geography and history surrounding the events in the Bible. 

Since there are no church-sanctioned maps of the Book of Mormon, teachers would draw their own. The hourglass shape on the chalkboard just seemed wrong - rivers too straight, mountains too pointy, landmasses too uniform. 

I think I yearned for a real map with real mountains and real rivers, instead of a cartoon. These Sunday School maps didn't relate to any real place, they were like the maps in the back of a Tolkien book and other fantasy novels.

Then I discovered Exploring the Lands of the Book of Mormon by Joseph L. Allen and the Book of Mormon came alive. Learning things like "up" means up in elevation and never up on a map (north) helped my inner compass from getting confused.

Even though we have yet to know enough to absolutely pinpoint any given city, just knowing that the Book of Mormon took place in Mesoamerica let's me be a map nut again - but this time with the Book of Mormon. I can soak in the rivers, mountains, jungles, beaches, passes and other terrain of the Book of Mormon's settings. I can better imagine what the people were like - their buildings, dress, customs and travels.

One scholar's Land Bountiful in green showing an unnatural layout
when using a current map  - a narrow swath through the jungle

However, as I studied the map most widely accepted by Book of Mormon/Mesoamerican scholar's, one thing would nag at me. And that was the location of the Land Bountiful. None of the explanations made sense. No one seemed to get it right.

The Book of Mormon is clear that the city of Bountiful is in the north parts of the land Southward near the narrow neck, but it also puts the land Bountiful way over on the east, with a string of cities running from the city Bountiful to the city of Moroni - and all those cities are "by the seashore." (See Alma 51:26)

During Moroni and Teancum's war with Amalickiah and Ammoron they travel from city to city by the seashore. Imagining those cities all up and around the Yucatan seems too long of a route and doesn't match the directions given in the Book of Mormon (nor do the dates of the ruined cities match). Ignoring that they are "by the seashore" and placing them through the center of the Yucatan jungle doesn't fit the narrative, either. Placing the majority of those cities along the coast of Belize doesn't work either, because the city of Bountiful is now too far from the nearest city (Gid?) and the time frame of travel doesn't jive. Some scholars even invent a second city of Bountiful to make this scenario work. Bah!

North of Highway 186 was under
water during the Book of Mormon

Drawing the land Bountiful as in the above image looks like gerrymandering - forcing the issue. These are not natural boundaries at all. Populations, culture and political boundaries tend to follow natural features.

But then Jerry Ainsworth pointed out that the ruined settlements in the Yucatan, roughly north of Highway 186 (see red arrow), are recent (dated AD 300–AD 1200) and not old enough to be contemporary with the Book of Mormon (except a few on the northern-most tip).

The ruins in the upper peninsula (squares) are post 900 AD

Notice the trend in this image from Wiki Commons? The sites of the upper peninsula are all labeled post-Classic (900 - 1500 AD). What could have kept the people from universally not living and building there until so late in the game? The most effective way is for it not to exist.

The area has been seismically volatile for millennia. It wouldn't take much of an earthquake to raise a shallow portion of the limestone Yucatan landmass above sea level. If this event was recorded by Mayan historians, it would be long lost to us because of the destruction of the Mayan codices by the Spanish conquistadors.

Mr. Ainsworth also produced a map (and claims there are ten more) based on ancient sources that show the tip of the Yucatan as an island (see below). It is clear that most of the Yucatan was under water during the Book of Mormon times. The few tiny settlements at the tip of the peninsula were on what was an island at the time, and are not part of the Book of Mormon narrative.

Even now, the lower parts of the Yucatan are barely above sea level in elevation. Some parts at the base of the peninsula are so low that they flood after a heavy rain, making travel difficult. The central hills are only around 300 feet high. And the majority of the peninsula is limestone bedrock covered in a very thin layer of topsoil. That indicates a very youthful age.

And now the Land Bountiful makes perfect sense. It was centered on the northern shore of that ancient Land Southward, it would be a locale with a natural geography and borders.

The armies of Captain Moroni and Teancum would, indeed, be traveling "by the seashore" from city to city.

Also, with the Land Bountiful sitting directly true north of the Land of Zarahemla, the passages in the Book of Mormon that use the word "north" instead of "northward" make sense. And just like the Book of Mormon is consistent with "up" meaning "up in elevation," it is also consistent that "north" means "cardinal north" and never meaning "northward" which is "northwest" or "northeast."

Here is a passage to illustrate this point. This is were Coriantumr overextends himself after taking Zarahemla, leaving Moronihah the opportunity to defeat him.

Ancient map showing the Yucatan peninsula missing.

Helaman 1:23 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. (emphasis added)

Many confuse "the north parts of the land" to mean the "land northward" but it doesn't say the land northward (which is on the other side of the narrow neck), it is talking about the northern parts of the land southward - in other words, the LAND OF BOUNTIFUL.

Sources:

Mario Perez Campo and Laura Sotelo Santos: trans. David Castledine, The Mayas: The Splendor of a Great Culture (Mexico D.F.: Monclem Ediciones, 2015)

List of Maya Sites
Book of Mormon Resources: Blog
Are Ruin Sites on the Yucatan Peninsula Related to the Book of Mormon?
Book of Mormon Resources: Test #3 Cultural Boundaries
Ancient civilizations shaken by quakes, say Stanford scientists
WERE THERE EARTHQUAKES IN THE MAYA EMPIRE?
Guatemala paleoseismicity: from Late Classic Maya collapse to recent fault creep
Maya buildings that resisted earthquakes

10 Reasons Why Mesoamerica Is the Land of the Book of Mormon

Reason 1: Because Joseph Smith said so.

This is a touchy subject since so many people are convinced Joseph said the final Nephite battle was in New York. So I'll refer you to John L. Lund's book, Joseph Smith and the Geography of the Book of Mormon. In it, Dr. Lund painstakingly clears up many misconceptions. Including that when Joseph Smith was editor of the Times & Seasons, he specifically said that it would be a good idea to look for Zarahemla in Guatemala (whose borders at the time included southern Mexico) and that the narrow neck of land would be found in Central America.  Southern Mexico was considered part of Central America during the early 1800s.

He backs this claim up with exhaustive handwriting and language studies that conclusively prove that Joseph Smith was, indeed, the editor of said articles.

Another example is how Dr. Lund shows the Zelph story in B. H. Roberts' History of the Church was a version that wasn't intended to be published. The passage was taken from various eyewitness accounts of Joseph's tale during Zion's Camp. However, the original manuscript used prior to the book's publication shows Joseph Smith's own editing marks that struck out key phrases such as "Nephites," "last and final battle" and "Hill Cumorah" - leaving the Zelph account as simply a battle between post-Book of Mormon Lamanites led by a North American chief Omandagus.

For some reason, the non-edited version was published, causing years of misunderstanding.

Reason 2: It's the only place with large scale cities

This is the most obvious reason. Of the known ruined cities in the Americas, 90% stretch from central Mexico to Costa Rica with the vast majority of those in southern Mexico and Guatemala - the heartland of the Book of Mormon. Only 1% are found in North America and 5 to 10% are found in South America - mostly in Peru and Bolivia.

There are literally thousands of cities yet to be discovered. Recently, an expedition with a new technology called LIDAR mapped the Mayan jungles and found over "60,000 structures in a sprawling network of cities, farms, highways and fortifications. The extent of ancient Maya agriculture stunned archaeologists, who said that the civilization produced food on an almost industrial scale." They also found that the city of Tikal is "three to four times larger than previously thought, with extensive defenses on its outskirts." Also, "archaeologists identified a previously unknown pyramid in the heart of the city that was [previously] thought to be a natural feature."

We are just scratching the surface. These Mayan cities didn't spring out of nowhere. They were built upon the foundations of older cities dating to pre-Classic times (Book of Mormon era). The Classic Maya simply carried on the city building that was initiated during the Book of Mormon times.

A frequently occuring glyph that linguists used to crack the Mayan language 
translates to, "And then it happened" or in other words, "It came to pass."

Reason 3: It's the only place with written phonetic languages 

From 2600 BC to the time of the conquest, a written language was found only in the regions stretching from Mexico to Costa Rica. During that time, the tribes of North America did not have formal written languages. Nor did the people of South America. Even the later Incas did not have a written language.

The many cultures in Mesoamerica had written languages that were very efficient because they were hieroglyphic or logographic - meaning each glyph represents either a word or an entire phrase.

The parent culture, the Olmecs, coincides in time and place with the Jaredites who also had an efficient written language. The book of Ether fit on only 24 metal plates. The Nephites arrived with the Hebrew spoken language, but wrote with Egyptian characters, which was not unusual in Israel at the time. But over the years they adopted many aspects of the Jaredite and other native languages so that by 400 AD, Mormon would explain:

Mormon 9:32 And now, behold, we have written this record according to our knowledge, in the characters which are called among us the reformed Egyptian, being handed down and altered by us, according to our manner of speech.

Reason 4: It's the only place with a coast to coast, east-west mountain range 

The Chuacus/Sierra de Las Minas are an imposing, rugged mountain range that certainly qualifies for "a narrow strip of wilderness." And this east-west mountain range runs from sea to sea - a requirement to fit the Book of Mormon's explanation.

Alma 22:27 . . . 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 thus were the Lamanites and the Nephites divided.

How do we know that the "narrow strip of wilderness" was mountains? Because there are multiple references in the Book of Mormon that make it clear that the lands south of Zarahemla where higher in elevation. These include Manti and Nephi. Also, there are hills to the north of Nephi, which indicate that after passing through the narrow strip of wilderness you had to descend again into the valley that cradles the cities of Nephi, Shemlon and Shiblon. This also clarifies which direction the River Sidon flows. The headwaters of the river were near Manti and Manti was south and higher in elevation than Zarahemla. Which means the river Sidon flowed north and that leads me to the next reason. . .

Reason 5: It's the only place with north-flowing rivers 

OK. You got me.  These are not the ONLY north-flowing rivers in the western hemisphere but they are the only ones which flow through an area covered by a civilization with a written language that date to the Book of Mormon time period.

The north flowing rivers of Colombia and Venezuela are not associated with any significant ancient civilization with writing during the Book of Mormon times. The other north flowing rivers have too icy of a climate to be seriously considered and, again, don't have any sizable ruined cities near them.

Knowing that the river Sidon flows in a northerly direction is one of the most important aspects of understanding Book of Mormon geography. And it helps to avoid falling for the notion that the Mississippi River is the river Sidon.

The two most-likely candidates for the River Sidon are the Grijalva and the Usumacinta Rivers. And both of their sources are found in the Guatemala highlands. Their sources are so close together that you might understand why Limhi's expedition didn't find Zarahemla. They must have been told to follow the river down until you reach the City of Zarahemla - but they followed the wrong river and ended up in the Land of Desolation!

It's only 60 miles, a day and a half, from the confluence of
the El Corte and Coatzacoalcos rivers to the Pacific Ocean.

Reason 6: It has a narrow neck of land WITH a narrow pass

The Book of Mormon is very consistent with its language, as long as you don't put words in its mouth. The oft recited "it takes a Nephite a day and a half to go from the east sea to the west sea" is putting words in its mouth. It does NOT say "east sea." (This sentiment has been so strong, for so long, that the Spanish translation of the Book of Mormon does erroneously say, "from the sea of the east to that one of the west" OR "desde el mar del este al del oeste")

It actually says ". . . 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. . ." So, it is a day and a half's journey along the border of Bountiful/Desolation to the west sea.

That line/border between Bountiful and Desolation runs from the the upper reaches of the Coatzacoalcos River, a river that is navigable for large ocean-going vessels for almost 2/3rds of its length. That is almost halfway through the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. This is easily the reason for it being described as "the place where the sea divides the land." Ether 10:20 

The remaining distance from the fordable part of that river to the west sea is the defensive "line Bountiful and the land Desolation" and it is roughly a day and a half on foot from one end to the other.

There is also confusion with the term "narrow pass" or "narrow passage." Many people assume it is another way to say "narrow neck." But that is not the case. It is indeed a narrow pass.

This confusion is understandable because the "narrow pass" just happens to be in the "narrow neck." Mesoamerica has a narrow passage in the same place as a narrow neck. There is no other place in the Americas that fits BOTH requirements.

Reason 7: It's nearly surrounded by water

The entire Book of Mormon setting has a limited area of approximately 600 miles from end to end. They measured their travels in "days" not weeks or months. They could reach the sea in any direction in a matter of "many days."

Alma 22:32 . . . 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.

Helaman 3:8 . . . they began to cover the face of the whole earth, from the sea south to the sea north, from the sea west to the sea east.

To find out why the maps I use are missing the Yucatan peninsula, read: Yucatan Island and the Land Bountiful

The term northward is NOT interchangeable with north.
One of the many consistencies in this "most correct book."

Reason 8: It's oriented in a northward/southward position

The Book of Mormon uses the term "northward" 41 times in describing the layout of their land. (Two of those are the Jaredites describing the direction they traveled when leaving the Tower of Babel, but that is for another post.)

It also uses the term "southward" 19 times. So the general orientation of the Book of Mormon lands are in a general northwest to southeast direction. Mesoamerica fits that requirement.

Whenever the Book of Mormon uses the cardinal directions alone, it is usually referring to directions within the Land Southward. For example:

Helaman 6:12 They did raise grain in abundance, both in the north and in the south; and they did flourish exceedingly, both in the north and in the south . . .

When the Book of Mormon uses the words "north" or "south," it means exactly what it says - due north or south. Contrary to one esteemed Book of Mormon scholar, there is no "Nephite north" where you have to turn our maps to match a preconceived idea. That is just a way to make geographical features fit an erroneous interpretation of the Book of Mormon text. 

Reason 9: It has a land of many waters

The Mexican states of Vera Cruz, Tabasco and Campeche have a unique feature. They are called "pantanos." These lagoons dot the coast all along the Gulf of Mexico, where the rivers empty into the sea. Also, during the rainy season, there are many more freshwater swamp forests around the river deltas.

Wetlands change over time so they were probably different 2000 years ago. Rivers deposit more and more sediment over time. So the coast and these pantanos were most likely several miles further inland than they are today.

These pantanos are situated in the exact area that fits the description of the location of the land of many waters mentioned in the Book of Mormon.

Reason 10: There Is no snow!

The continental United States is unlikely to be the land of the Book of Mormon for one simple fact. The Book of Mormon only mentions "snow" once and that is to describe the color of the fruit in the Tree of Life vision. It mentions "cold" once, when Lehi talks about going to his "cold and silent grave."

These are mentioned near the beginning of the book, written by people familiar with snow because the just came from Jerusalem.

However, the rest of the Book of Mormon does talk about heat. Their battles raged year-round with the Lamanites in loin clothes and shaved heads. Teancum was able to sneak into the Lamanite camp and put a javelin in Amalickiah's heart without being caught, because everyone was sound asleep due to the intense fighting during the "heat of the day." And this took place on "the first morning of the first month." Depending on which calendar system they were using, their New Year's Day would fall anywhere between the middle of December and the middle of April. Hardly the time of year in the mid-west or New York to be running around naked and getting exhausted by the heat of the day. (Alma 51 & 52)

Not only does southern Mexico and Guatemala (northern Mesoamerica) have these required features, they are all in the correct locations relative to each other based on the details found in the text of the Book of Mormon. No need to force things to fit, ignore things that don't fit or twist maps to match a pre-conceived belief.

Sources:

The Narrow Strip of Wilderness Was Mountainous
Joseph Smith and the Geography of the Book of Mormon
Mysterious lost Maya cities discovered in Guatemalan jungle
Coatzacoalcos River

Additional reading:
Book of Mormon Statements with Mesoamerica and US Heartland Comparisons
Examining the Heartland Hypothesis as Geography
Heartland as Hinterland: The Mesoamerican Core and North American Periphery of Book of Mormon Geography
Is Zarahemla in Iowa? And Other Fatal Flaws with the Heartland Theory
Summary of Problems with Rod Meldrum's "Heartland" Theory
The Prophecies and Promises of 1 Nephi 13:30–31 That Invalidate the Heartland Theory for New World Book of Mormon Geography
Could the Book of Mormon Events Have Taken Place in South America?

Book of Mormon Lands & Cities (A to Z)

This post gives the appoximate locations for the lands of the Book of Mormon based on the directional clues in the Book of Mormon text but super-imposed on an actual map of Mesoamerica. 

The term "land" usually means the regions immediately around a city by the same name. However, the lands Bountiful, Zarahemla and Nephi sometimes refer to a larger nation-like area that encompasses many other lands and cities including the smaller, regional lands of Bountiful, Zarahemla and Nephi respectively. I call these nation-like lands the "greater lands." The above map shows the location of each nation-like area circa 90 - 77 BC. The uninhabited area is later called Hermounts. The eastern leg of the south wildereness (in orange above) later becomes a part of Zarahemla when Captain Moroni drives out the Lamanites and builds cities there. A synopsis of each "greater land" is below. 

THE GREATER LAND OF ZARAHEMLA (The heartland of the land southward. Includes the lands of Zarahemla, Manti, Nephihah, Gideon, Antionum and Jershon on the east and Ammonihah, Noah, Melek, Antiparah, Sidom and Judea on the west.)

THE GREATER LAND OF BOUNTIFUL (Located north of the Land of Zarahemla, along the northern coast of the land southward. The Yucatan peninsula was underwater at the time, please read: Yucatan Island and the Land Bountiful), it runs from the dividing line between the land northward (or land of desolation) continuing east along the north coast and then wrapping around to include much of the land along the east coast. It includes the lands of Bountiful, Mulek, Gid, Omner, Morianton, Lehi and Moroni.)

THE GREATER LAND OF NEPHI, (Located south of the two dividing mountain ranges (the south wilderness and the narrow strip of wilderness) and includes the lands of Nephi, Shemlon, Shilom, Shimlinom, Ishmael and Middoni. Early in the Book of Mormon, the mountainous wilderness between Zarahemla and the narrow strip of wilderness was inhabited by nomadic Lamanites and was refered to as the south wilderness - in orange above. However, some cities were later built there, such as Helam, Amulon, Jerusalem and Siron so it effectivly became part of the greater land of Nephi as the Lamanites expanded their territory.)

LAND OF DESOLATION (The land north of the narrow neck was the heartland of the Jaredites. Centuries later, the Nephites eventually lost their territories in the land southward and were pushed there during the time of Mormon and Moroni by the expanding Lamanites. In the end, the Lamanites had possession of the entire land southward: Bountiful, Zarahemla and Nephi.)

The smaller, regional lands and their capital cities are plotted on the map above and listed in a glossary below - including the most relevent scripture references. 

Key to Prepositions

up = higher in elevation

down = lower in elevation

over = over hills or mountains

northward = northwest or northeast direction

southward = southwest or southeast direction

north/south/east/west = cardinal directions

LANDS AND CITIES (A to Z)

AARON (city west of Zarahemla, north of Ammonihah)

Alma 8:13 ... cast out of their city [Ammonihah], he departed thence and took his journey towards the city which was called Aaron.

Alma 8:18 ... he returned speedily [from the direction of the city of Aaron] to the land of Ammonihah. And he entered the city by another way, yea, by the way which is on the south of the city of Ammonihah. 

 AARON (city east of Zarahemla, near east seashore, north of Nephihah)

Alma 50:14 And they also began a foundation for a city between the city of Moroni and the city of Aaron, joining the borders of Aaron and Moroni; and they called the name of the city, or the land, Nephihah.

AMMONIHAH (destroyed between 81 and 77 BC, remained desolate for years, then partially rebuilt around 72 BC and fortified, west of the river Sidon, west of and separated by hills from Zarahemla, lower in elevation than the greater land of Nephi and separated by hills from the greater land of Nephi, the city is three days north of Melek and the south wilderness, south of Aaron, near Sidom and Noah)

Alma 8:6 ... traveled three days' journey on the north of the land of Melek; and he came to a city which was called Ammonihah

Alma 8:13 ...he departed thence and took his journey towards the city which was called Aaron.

Alma 8: 18 ... he returned speedily to the land of Ammonihah. And he entered the city by another way, yea, by the way which is on the south of the city of Ammonihah.

Alma 16:2 For behold, the armies of the Lamanites had come in upon the wilderness side, into the borders of the land, even into the city of Ammonihah

Alma 16:3 ...they had destroyed the people who were in the city of Ammonihah, and also some around the borders of Noah, and taken others captive into the wilderness

Alma 25:2 But they took their armies and went over into the borders of the land of Zarahemla, and fell upon the people who were in the land of Ammonihah and destroyed them.

Alma 49:10 Now, if king Amalickiah had come down out of the land of Nephi, at the head of his army ....

AMULON (located in the south wilderness, between the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla)

Mosiah 23: 31 ...they had found those priests of king Noah, in a place which they called Amulon; and they had begun to possess the land of Amulon and had begun to till the ground.

Alma 24:1 ...the Amalekites and the Amulonites and the Lamanites who were in the land of Amulon, and also in the land of Helam, and who were in the land of Jerusalem, and in fine, in all the land round about... 

 

ANGOLA (in the north part of the land Southward, within the land of David)

Mormon 2:4-5 ...we did come to the city of Angola, and we did take possession of the city, and make preparations to defend ourselves against the Lamanites. And it came to pass that we did ^afortify the city with our might; but notwithstanding all our fortifications the Lamanites did come upon us and did drive us out of the city. And they did also drive us forth out of the land of David.

ANI-ANTI (in the Land of Nephi (or Southern Wilderness), over some hills from Jerusalem, also separated by hills from Middoni)

Alma 21:11 ...and came over to a village [from Jerusalem] which was called Ani-Anti...

Alma 21:12 ...they departed and came over into the land of Middoni [from Ani-Anti]...

ANTIONUM (Zoramite city east of Zarahemla, south of and separated by hills from Jershon, north of south wilderness, separated by hills from Manti, almost by the sea)

Alma 31:3 ... Antionum, which was east of the land of Zarahemla, which lay nearly bordering upon the seashore, which was south of the land of Jershon, which also bordered upon the wilderness south, which wilderness was full of the Lamanites.

Alma 43:22 ... 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...

Alma 43:24 ... the armies of the Lamanites were marching round about in the wilderness, that they might come over into the land of Manti, that they might commence an attack upon the weaker part of the people. And those messengers went and delivered the message unto Moroni.

Alma 43:25 Now Moroni, leaving a part of his army in the land of Jershon, lest by any means a part of the Lamanites should come into that land and take possession of the city, took the remaining part of his army and marched over into the land of Manti.

Alma 35:1 ... they withdrew themselves from the multitude and came over into the land of Jershon.

Alma 35:2 ... the rest of the brethren, after they had preached the word unto the Zoramites, also came over into the land of Jershon.

ANTUM (in the land northward, where the hill Shim is located)

Mormon 1:3 ...go to the land Antum, unto a hill which shall be called Shim; and there have I deposited unto the Lord all the sacred engravings concerning this people.

BOAZ (in the land northward, probably northward of the city Desolation, near the hill Shim)

Mormon 4:20 ...they fled again from before them [at the city Desolation], and they came to the city Boaz; and there they did stand against the Lamanites with exceeding boldness...

BOUNTIFUL (the land Bountiful is northern coastal area of the Land Southward stretching from the narrow neck to the Caribbean (the Yucatan was under water at the time), north of Jershon, the city Bountiful was probably where Christ visited since appeared at the temple and the city Bountiful most likely had the temple, it was near narrow neck and the narrow pass that leads to the land northward, separated from the city of Mulek by plains, near the seashore.)

Alma 22:29 ...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 22:31 ...the land on the northward was called Desolation, and the land on the southward was called Bountiful...

Alma 22:33 ...the Nephites had inhabited the land Bountiful, even from the east unto the west sea, and thus the Nephites in their wisdom, with their guards and their armies, had hemmed in the Lamanites on the south, that thereby they should have no more possession on the north, that they might not overrun the land northward.

Alma 27:22 ...we will give up the land of Jershon, which is on the east by the sea, which joins the land Bountiful, which is on the south of the land Bountiful; and this land Jershon is the land which we will give unto our brethren for an inheritance.

Alma 51:32 ...Teancum and his men did pitch their tents in the borders of the land Bountiful; and Amalickiah did pitch his tents in the borders on the beach by the seashore...

Alma 52:9 ...sent orders unto him that he should fortify the land Bountiful, and secure the narrow pass which led into the land northward, lest the Lamanites should obtain that point and should have power to harass them on every side.

Alma 52:17  ...made preparations to make an attack upon the city of Mulek, and march forth with his army against the Lamanites; but he saw that it was impossible that he could overpower them while they were in their fortifications; therefore he abandoned his designs and returned again to the city Bountiful...

Alma 52:20 ...desiring him that he would come out with his armies to meet them upon the plains between the two cities... [Bountiful and Mulek]

Helaman 1:23 ...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 [the north parts of the land south of the narrow neck].

CUMENI (either near Manti or further west by Antiparah, higher in elevation than the land of Zarahemla)

Alma 56:13-14 ...these are the cities of 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.

Alma 57:30 ...we did start to go down to the land of Zarahemla with our prisoners. And it came to pass that we did meet the spies of our armies, who had been sent out to watch the camp of the Lamanites.

DAVID (in the north part of the land Southward, contains the city of Angola)

Mormon 2:4-5 ...we did come to the city of Angola, and we did take possession of the city, and make preparations to defend ourselves against the Lamanites. And it came to pass that we did ^afortify the city with our might; but notwithstanding all our fortifications the Lamanites did come upon us and did drive us out of the city. And they did also drive us forth out of the land of David.

DESOLATION (right on the coast and just inside the land northward on the border with the land southward, near the narrow pass, southward of Shem and the Hill Shim, lower in elevation than the lands of Bountiful and Zarahemla, near the sea and the large river that empties into the sea, where the Mulekites first landed)

Alma 22:30 ...it bordered upon the land which they called Desolation, it being so far northward that it came into the land which had been peopled and been destroyed, of whose bones we have spoken, which was discovered by the people of Zarahemla, it being the place of their first landing.

Alma 22:31 ...they came from there [Desolation] up into the south wilderness. Thus the land on the northward was called Desolation, and the land on the southward was called Bountiful...

Alma 50:34 ...they did not head them until they had come to the borders of the land Desolation; and there they did head them, by the narrow pass which led by the sea into the land northward, yea, by the sea, on the west and on the east.

Mormon 3:5 ...gather themselves together at the land Desolation, to a city which was in the borders, by the narrow pass which led into the land southward.

Mormon 3:7 ...the Lamanites did come down [from Zarahemla and Bountiful ] to the city of Desolation to battle against us...

GAD (unknown location, destroyed by fire during crucifixion)

3 Nephi 9:10 ...the city of Laman, and the city of Josh, and the city of Gad, and the city of Kishkumen, have I caused to be burned with fire...

GADIANDI (unknown location, buried in the earth during crucifixion)

3 Nephi 9:8 ...the city of Gadiandi, and the city of Gadiomnah, and the city of Jacob, and the city of Gimgimno, all these have I caused to be sunk, and made hills and valleys in the places thereof; and the inhabitants thereof have I buried up in the depths of the earth...

GADIOMNAH (unknown location, buried in the earth during crucifixion)

3 Nephi 9:8 ...the city of Gadiandi, and the city of Gadiomnah, and the city of Jacob, and the city of Gimgimno, all these have I caused to be sunk, and made hills and valleys in the places thereof; and the inhabitants thereof have I buried up in the depths of the earth...

GID (in the eastern part of the land southward, near the seashore, near Mulek and Bountiful)

Alma 51:26  ...he went on, taking possession of many cities, the city of Nephihah, and the city of Lehi, and the city of Morianton, and the city of Omner, and the city of Gid, and the city of Mulek, all of which were on the east borders by the seashore. 

Alma 55:26 ...when he had fortified the city Gid, according to his desires, he caused that his prisoners should be taken to the city Bountiful...

Helaman 5:15 And from thenceforth to the city of Gid; and from the city of Gid to the city of Mulek;

GIDEON ( east of Sidon, northward from Manti, a day away from Hill Amnihu, separated from Zarahemla by hills and higher in elevation, west of and separated by hills from Jershon)

Alma 2:19-20 ...the Nephites did pursue the Amlicites all that day, and did slay them with much slaughter, insomuch that there were slain of the Amlicites twelve thousand five hundred thirty and two souls; and there were slain of the Nephites six thousand five hundred sixty and two souls. And it came to pass that when Alma could pursue the Amlicites no longer he caused that his people should pitch their tents in the valley of Gideon

Alma 6:7  ... was in the city of Zarahemla, and went over upon the east of the river Sidon, into the valley of Gideon, there having been a city built, which was called the city of Gideon, which was in the valley that was called Gideon...

Alma17:1  ... Alma was journeying from the land of Gideon southward [southwest], away to the land of Manti, behold, to his astonishment, he met with the sons of Mosiah journeying towards the land of Zarahemla.

Alma 30:21 ... carried out of the land [Jershon].  And he came over into the land of Gideon...

Alma 62:7 ... went down [from Gideon] with their armies into the land of Zarahemla...

GILGAL (unknown location, buried in the earth during crucifixion)

3 Nephi 9:6 ...the city of Gilgal have I caused to be sunk, and the inhabitants thereof to be buried up in the depths of the earth...

GIMGIMNO (unknown location, buried in the earth during crucifixion)

3 Nephi 9:8 ...the city of Gadiandi, and the city of Gadiomnah, and the city of Jacob, and the city of Gimgimno, all these have I caused to be sunk, and made hills and valleys in the places thereof; and the inhabitants thereof have I buried up in the depths of the earth...

HELAM (in the south wilderness, 8 days journey from the Waters of Mormon, a land of pure water, near the lands of Amulon and Jerusalem)

Mosiah 23:3 ...they fled eight days' journey into the wilderness.

Mosiah 23:4 ...they came to a land, yea, even a very beautiful and pleasant land, a land of pure water.

Mosiah 23:20 ...they built a city, which they called the city of Helam. 

Mosiah 23:35 ...they were traveling in the wilderness in search of the land of Nephi when they discovered the land of Helam, which was possessed by Alma and his brethren. 

Alma 24:1 ...who were in the land of Amulon, and also in the land of Helam, and who were in the land of Jerusalem, and in fine, in all the land round about...

ISHMAEL (relatively near to and lower in elevation than Nephi, separated by hills from the east wilderness)

Alma 20:2 ...the voice of the Lord came to Ammon [while in Ishmael], saying: Thou shalt not go up to the land of Nephi, for behold, the king will seek thy life...

Alma 25:13 ...many of them came over [from the east wilderness] to dwell in the land of Ishmael and the land of Nephi...

JACOB (unknown location, buried in the earth during crucifixion)

3 Nephi 9:8 ...the city of Gadiandi, and the city of Gadiomnah, and the city of Jacob, and the city of Gimgimno, all these have I caused to be sunk, and made hills and valleys in the places thereof; and the inhabitants thereof have I buried up in the depths of the earth..

JACOBUGATH (unknown location, destroyed by fire during crucifixion)

3 Nephi 9:9 ...that great city Jacobugath, which was inhabited by the people of king Jacob, have I caused to be burned with fire...

JASHON (in the land northward, just north of the narrow pass near the Hill Shim)

Mormon 2:17 ...the city of Jashon was near the land where Ammaron had deposited the records unto the Lord...

JERSHON (east of Zarahemla and Gideon near the sea, south of the Land Bountiful, down in elevation from the south wilderness, north of and separated by hills from the land of Antionum, also separated by hills from Manti)

Alma 27:22  ...we will give up the land of Jershon, which is on the east by the sea, which joins the land Bountiful, which is on the south of the land Bountiful...

Alma 27:26 ... they went down [from South Wilderness] into the land of Jershon, and took possession of the land of Jershon...

Alma 30:19 ... went over to the land of Jershon also, to preach these things among the people of Ammon...

Alma 30:21  ... carried out of the land [Jershon].  And he came over into the land of Gideon...

Alma 31:3 ... a land which they called Antionum, which was east of the land of Zarahemla, which lay nearly bordering upon the seashore, which was south of the land of Jershon, which also bordered upon the wilderness south [Antionum, not Jershon]...

Alma 35:1 ... withdrew themselves from the multitude and came over into the land of Jershon [from Antionum].

Alma 35: 2 ...after they had preached the word unto the Zoramites, also came over into the land of Jershon [from Antionum].

Alma 35:6 ... his brethren were cast out of the land; and they were many; and they came over also into the land of Jershon [from Antionum].

Alma 35:13 And the people of Ammon departed out of the land of Jershon, and came over into the land of Melek [clear over in the valley near the south wilderness by the western sea], and gave place in the land of Jershon for the armies of the Nephites, that they might contend with the armies of the Lamanites and the armies of the Zoramites; and thus commenced a war betwixt the Lamanites and the Nephites [this big move is why Helaman's 2000 would later fight on the western front, because they now lived near Judea, Antiparah and Cumeni.]

Alma 43:25 ... leaving a part of his army in the land of Jershon, lest by any means a part of the Lamanites should come into that land and take possession of the city, took the remaining part of his army and marched over into the land of Manti.

JERUSALEM (in the south wilderness, next to Mormon, Helam and Amulon, destroyed in 33 AD by flooding)

Alma 21:1 ...Jerusalem, calling it after the land of their fathers' nativity; and it was away joining the borders of Mormon.

Alma 21:2 ...the Lamanites and the Amalekites and the people of Amulon had built a great city, which was called Jerusalem. 

Alma 24:1 ...who were in the land of Amulon, and also in the land of Helam, and who were in the land of Jerusalem, and in fine, in all the land round about... 

3 Nephi 9:7 ...and the city of Jerusalem and the inhabitants thereof; and waters have I caused to come up in the stead thereof...

JORDAN (in the land northward)

Mormon 5:3 ...fled to the city of Jordan [from Boaz]; but behold, they were driven back...

JOSH (unknown location, destroyed by fire during crucifixion)

3 Nephi 9:10 ...the city of Laman, and the city of Josh, and the city of Gad, and the city of Kishkumen, have I caused to be burned with fire...

JOSHUA (marching distance from the land of David, near the near the sea in the west)

Mormon 2:6 And we marched forth and came to the land of Joshua [from David], which was in the borders west by the seashore.

JUDEA (west of and higher in elevation than Zarahemla and the river Sidon, separated by mountains from Nephihah, was fortified to protect the cities northward of it from the Lamanites in Antiparah, the staging area for Helaman and his young men)

Alma 56:15 ...I arrived at the city of Judea; and I found Antipus and his men toiling with their might to fortify the city.

Alma 56:22 ..we kept spies out round about, to watch the movements of the Lamanites, that they might not pass us by night nor by day to make an attack upon our other cities which were on the northward.

Alma 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.

Alma 56:57 ...we had no place for our prisoners, that we could guard them to keep them from the armies of the Lamanites, therefore we sent them to the land of Zarahemla, and a part of those men who were not slain of Antipus, with them; and the remainder I took and joined them to my stripling Ammonites, and took our march back to the city of Judea.

KISHKUMEN (unknown location, destroyed by fire during crucifixion)

3 Nephi 9:10 ...the city of Laman, and the city of Josh, and the city of Gad, and the city of Kishkumen, have I caused to be burned with fire...

LAMAN (unknown location, destroyed by fire during crucifixion)

3 Nephi 9:10 ...the city of Laman, and the city of Josh, and the city of Gad, and the city of Kishkumen, have I caused to be burned with fire...

LEHI (in the north part of the land southward, next to Morianton, by the eastern seashore, near Nephihah)

Alma 50:15 ...to build many cities on the north, one in a particular manner which they called Lehi, which was in the north by the borders of the seashore.

Alma 50:25 ...concerning the land of Lehi, and the land of Morianton, which joined upon the borders of Lehi; both of which were on the borders by the seashore.

Alma 51:24 ...those who fled out of the city of Moroni came to the city of Nephihah; and also the people of the city of Lehi gathered themselves together...

Alma 51:26  ...many cities, the city of Nephihah, and the city of Lehi, and the city of Morianton, and the city of Omner, and the city of Gid, and the city of Mulek, all of which were on the east borders by the seashore.

LEMUEL (near Shilom, Shemlon and Shimnilom)

Alma 23:12 ...the Lamanites who were in the land of Shilom, and who were in the land of Shemlon, and in the city of Lemuel, and in the city of Shimnilom.

MORIANTUM (unknown location, probably in the land northward)

Mormon 9:9 And notwithstanding this great abomination of the Lamanites, it doth not exceed that of our people in Moriantum...

MANTI (just north of and separated by hills from the south wilderness, among the headwaters [tributaries] and west of Sidon, separated from Jershon by hills, north of Manti has a valley west of the River Sidon [lower Lacantun River Valley], the hill Riplah is east of Sidon near the valley on the west and north of Manti [because they were defending Manti on the south side of the hill, the Lamanites came from the north with the intention of sacking Manti, but Moroni's army was in a valley on the west, Lehi behind the hill on the east and all we're north of Manti], but if they were in antionum the wilderness wasn't the south wilderness, but must have circled around in peten on the north and moroni cam direct from jershon, maybe they headed northward to do a head fake but moroni didn't fall for it.)

Alma 16:6 ... the Lamanites will cross the river Sidon in the south wilderness, away up beyond the borders of the land of Manti...

Alma 16:7 ... Zoram and his sons crossed over the river Sidon [from Manti], with their armies, and marched away beyond the borders of Manti into the south wilderness, which was on the east side of the river Sidon.

Alma 43:24 ... the armies of the Lamanites were marching round about in the wilderness [from Antionum], that they might come over into the land of Manti,...

Alma 43:25 ... leaving a part of his army in the land of Jershon, lest by any means a part of the Lamanites should come into that land and take possession of the city, took the remaining part of his army and marched over into the land of Manti.

MELEK (west of Zarahemla, Gideon and Jershon, separated by hills, near the south wilderness, close to the western seashore, 3 days south of Ammonihah, Alma was apparently heading there when he disappeared)

Alma 8:3 ... Alma departed from thence [Zarahemla] and took his journey over into the land of Melek, on the west of the river Sidon, on the west by the borders of the wilderness.

Alma 8:6 ...finished his work at Melek he departed thence, and traveled three days' journey on the north of the land of Melek; and he came to a city which was called Ammonihah.

Alma 35:13 And the people of Ammon departed out of the land of Jershon, and came over into the land of Melek [clear over in the valley near the south wilderness by the western sea], and gave place in the land of Jershon for the armies of the Nephites, that they might contend with the armies of the Lamanites and the armies of the Zoramites; and thus commenced a war betwixt the Lamanites and the Nephites [this big move is why Helaman's 2000 would later fight on the western front, because they now lived near Judea, Antiparah and Cumeni.]

Alma 45:18 And when Alma had done this he departed out of the land of Zarahemla, as if to go into the land of Melek. And it came to pass that he was never heard of more; as to his death or burial we know not of. 

MIDIAN (in the land of Nephi)

Alma 24:5 ...they came forth to the land of Midian, and there Ammon met all his brethren; and from thence they came to the land of Ishmael...

MIDDONI (in the land of Nephi, south of the narrow strip, lower in elevation than Ishmael and Nephi, separated by hills from Ani-Anti)

Alma 20:7 ...go with thee down to the land of Middoni [from Ishmael]...

Alma 21:12 ...they departed and came over [from Ani-Anti] into the land of Middoni...

Alma 22:3 ...I desire to know the cause why he has not come up out of Middoni [to Nephi]... 

MOCUM (unknown location, destroyed in 33 AD by flooding)

3 Nephi 9:7 ...the city of Onihah and the inhabitants thereof, and the city of Mocum and the inhabitants thereof, and the city of Jerusalem and the inhabitants thereof; and waters have I caused to come up in the stead thereof...

MORIANTON (next to Lehi, by the east seashore, relatively close to Nephihah and Moroni)

Alma 50:25 ...the land of Morianton, which joined upon the borders of Lehi; both of which were on the borders by the seashore.
Alma 51:26  And thus he went on, taking possession of many cities, the city of Nephihah, and the city of Lehi, and the city of Morianton, and the city of Omner, and the city of Gid, and the city of Mulek, all of which were on the east borders by the seashore.

Alma 59:5  ...Moroni was thus making preparations to go against the Lamanites to battle, behold, the people of Nephihah, who were gathered together from the city of Moroni and the city of Lehi and the city of Morianton, were attacked by the Lamanites.

MORONI (the southernmost Nephite city on the east coast, north of the south wilderness, east of the east wilderness, next to the land of Nephihah, sunk into the east sea 34 AD)

Alma 50:13  ...the Nephites began the foundation of a city, and they called the name of the city Moroni; and it was by the east sea; and it was on the south by the line of the possessions of the Lamanites.

Alma 50:14  ...they also began a foundation for a city between the city of Moroni and the city of Aaron, joining the borders of Aaron and Moroni; and they called the name of the city, or the land, Nephihah. 

Alma 62:34  ...did encamp with their armies round about in the borders of the land of Moroni, insomuch that the Lamanites were encircled about in the borders by the wilderness on the south, and in the borders by the wilderness on the east. (Alma 62:32 - 38)

3 Nephi 8:9  ...city of Moroni did sink into the depths of the sea...

3 Nephi 9:4 ...that great city Moroni have I caused to be sunk in the depths of the sea...

MULEK (one of the cities the eastern borders of Zarahemla/Bountiful, by the seashore, but in this case, the seashore lies on its west and in a northeasterly direction (northward), there are plains between it and the city Bountiful, near enough to the land northward to be a stopover.)

Alma 51:26  ... many cities, the city of Nephihah, and the city of Lehi, and the city of Morianton, and the city of Omner, and the city of Gid, and the city of Mulek, all of which were on the east borders by the seashore.

Alma 52:2  ...they abandoned their design in marching into the land northward, and retreated with all their army into the city of Mulek...

Alma 52:17  ...made preparations to make an attack upon the city of Mulek, and march forth with his army against the Lamanites; but he saw that it was impossible that he could overpower them while they were in their fortifications; therefore he abandoned his designs and returned again to the city Bountiful...

Alma 52:20  ...the army of the Lamanites, which protected the city of Mulek, to their leader, whose name was Jacob, desiring him that he would come out with his armies to meet them upon the plains between the two cities...

Alma 52:22  ...take a small number of men and march down near the seashore; and Moroni and his army, by night, marched in the wilderness, on the west of the city Mulek...

Alma 52:23  ...as Teancum saw the armies of the Lamanites coming out against him he began to retreat down by the seashore, northward.

Alma 53:6  ...had obtained possession of the city of Mulek, which was one of the strongest holds of the Lamanites in the land of Nephi [could Mormon possibly have made a typo? Mulek was in the Land Bountiful or Zarahemla, not the land of Nephi. Very curious this one reference to it being in the Land of Nephi. Could he also have meant to say the "land of the Nephites?"]

NEPHI (sometimes refered to as Lehi-Nephi, located many days from the Land of First Inheritance, nestled in a valley south of the narrow strip of wilderness, across the valley west from Shilom, Shemlon is further down the same valley, it is higher in elevation than the lands of Middoni and Ishmael, all of which are separated by the south wilderness and narrow strip of wilderness (chain of rugged mountains) and also higher in elevation than Zarahemla)

2 Nephi 5:7-8 ...after we had journeyed for the space of many days [from the Land of First Inheritance] we did pitch our tents. And my people would that we should call the name of the place Nephi...

Omni 1:13 ...and they were led [out of Nephi] by the power of his aarm, through the wilderness until they came down into the land which is called the land of Zarahemla.

Omni 1:27 ...a certain anumber who went up [from Zarahemla] into the wilderness to return to the land of Nephi...

Omni 1:28 ...they went up into the wilderness. And their leader being a strong and mighty man, and a stiffnecked man, wherefore he caused a contention among them; and they were all slain, save fifty, in the wilderness, and they returned again to the land of Zarahemla.

Words of Mormon 1:13 ...the armies of the Lamanites came down out of the land of Nephi, to battle against his people.

Mosiah 7:4 ...they knew not the course they should travel in the wilderness to go up to the land of Lehi-Nephi; therefore they wandered many days in the wilderness, even forty days did they wander.

Mosiah 7:5 And when they had wandered forty days they came to a hill, which is north of the land of Shilom, and there they pitched their tents.

Mosiah 7:6 ...they went down into the land of Nephi. [up from Zarahemla, through mountain passes, then down into the valley of Nephi.]

Mosiah 7:9 ...I am Limhi, the son of Noah, who was the son of Zeniff, who came up out of the land of Zarahemla to inherit this land...

Mosiah 8:2 ...from the time that Zeniff went up out of the land even until the time that he himself came up out of the land [of Zarahemla].

Mosiah 10:1 ...I caused that there should be weapons of war made of every kind, that thereby I might have weapons for my people against the time the Lamanites should come up [from Shemlon] again to war against my people.

Mosiah 10:6 ...they began to prepare for war, and to come up [from Shemlon] to battle against my people.

Mosiah 10:7 ...I had sent my spies out round about the land of Shemlon, that I might discover their preparations, that I might guard against them, that they might not come upon my people and destroy them.

Mosiah 10:8 ...they came up [from Shemlon] upon the north of the land of Shilom, with their numerous hosts...

Mosiah 10:10 ...we did go up [to the north side of the city of Shilom, which was in the foothills] to battle against the Lamanites; and I, even I, in my old age, did go up to battle against the Lamanites...

Mosiah 10:18 ...I have brought this my people up [from Zarahemla] into this land...

Mosiah 20:7 ...they went up [from Shemlon] to the land of Nephi to destroy the people of Limhi.

Mosiah 28:1 ...go up [from Zarahemla] to the land of Nephi that they might preach the things which they had heard, and that they might impart the word of God to their brethren, the Lamanites

Mosiah 28:9 ...they took their journey into the wilderness to go up to preach the word among the Lamanites...

Alma 22:3 ...I have been somewhat troubled in mind because of the generosity and the greatness of the words of thy brother Ammon; and I desire to know the cause why he has not come up [to Nephi] out of Middoni with thee.

NEPHIHAH (in the east between Moroni and Aaron, inland a bit, not quite by the seashore, near Morianton, Moroni and Lehi, a mountainous area separates Nephihah from the tributaries of Sidon, near a plain, a walled city with the entrance on the east side, Moroni's army climbed over the wall on the west side with ropes and ladders, central to Moroni, Lehi and Morianton)

Alma 50:14 ...they also began a foundation for a city between the city of Moroni and the city of Aaron, joining the borders of Aaron and Moroni; and they called the name of the city, or the land, Nephihah.

Alma 51:25  ...Amalickiah would not suffer the Lamanites to go against the city of Nephihah to battle, but kept them down by the seashore, leaving men in every city to maintain and defend it.

Alma 51:26  And thus he went on, taking possession of many cities, the city of Nephihah, and the city of Lehi, and the city of Morianton, and the city of Omner, and the city of Gid, and the city of Mulek, all of which were on the east borders by the seashore.

Alma 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.

Alma 59:5  ...the people of Nephihah, who were gathered together from the city of Moroni and the city of Lehi and the city of Morianton, were attacked by the Lamanites.

Alma 59:6  Yea, even those who had been compelled to flee from the land of Manti, and from the land round about, had come over and joined the Lamanites in this part of the land [Nephihah].

Alma 62:18  ...they did pitch their tents in the plains of Nephihah, which is near the city of Nephihah.

Alma 62:21  ...they were on the east, by the entrance; and they were all asleep....

Alma 62:22  ...Moroni caused that his men should march forth and come upon the top of the wall, and let themselves down into that part of the city, yea, even on the west, where the Lamanites did not camp with their armies.

NOAH (In western part of the land of Zarahemla, near Ammonihah.)

Alma 16:3 ...destroyed the people who were in the city of Ammonihah, and also some around the borders of Noah, and taken others captive into the wilderness.

Alma 49:12 ...they retreated into the wilderness [from Amonihah], and took their camp and marched towards the land of Noah, supposing that to be the next best place for them to come against the Nephites.

Alma 49:14 But behold, to their astonishment, the city of Noah, which had hitherto been a weak place, had now, by the means of Moroni, become strong, yea, even to exceed the strength of the city Ammonihah.

OMNER (in eastern Zarahemla/Bountiful, on or near the east seashore)

Alma 51:26  ...taking possession of many cities, the city of Nephihah, and the city of Lehi, and the city of Morianton, and the city of Omner, and the city of Gid, and the city of Mulek, all of which were on the east borders by the seashore.

ONIHAH (unknown location, destroyed in 33 AD by flooding)

3 Nephi 9:7 ...the city of Onihah and the inhabitants thereof, and the city of Mocum and the inhabitants thereof, and the city of Jerusalem and the inhabitants thereof; and waters have I caused to come up in the stead thereof...

SHEM (in the land northward, northward of David, Desolation, Jashon, and Antum, by the hill Shim)

Mormon 2:21 And it came to pass that we did fortify the city of Shem, and we did gather in our people as much as it were possible [having been steadily driven northward from all the other cities mentioned]

SHEMLON (further down in elevation and in the same valley as Nephi and Shilom, to their east, near the cities of Lemuel and Shimnilom) 

Mosiah 10:7 ...I had sent my spies out round about the land of Shemlon, that I might discover their preparations, that I might guard against them, that they might not come upon my people [in Nephi and Shilom] and destroy them.

Mosiah 11:12 ...he built a tower near the temple; yea, a very high tower, even so high that he could stand upon the top thereof and overlook the land of Shilom, and also the land of Shemlon, which was possessed by the Lamanites; and he could even look over all the land round about.

Alma 23:12 ...who were in the land of Shilom, and who were in the land of Shemlon, and in the city of Lemuel, and in the city of Shimnilom.

SHERRIZAH (unknown location in the land northward, may be a solitary fortress)

SHILOM (in the land of Nephi, near the main mountain pass in the narrow strip of wilderness, a hill near the pass overlooks Shilom and Nephi to the south, is in line between Nephi and the route to Zarahemla, near the cities of Lemuel and Shimnilom, Nephi, Shilom and Shemlon were visible from the tall tower on the hill)

Mosiah 7:5 ...they came to a hill, which is north of the land of Shilom,...

Mosiah 7:6  ...they went down into the land of Nephi [from the hill].

Mosiah 7:16 ...go to the hill which was north of Shilom, and bring their brethren into the city...

Mosiah 10:8 ...they came up [from Shemlon] upon the north of the land of Shilom, with their numerous hosts...

Mosiah 10:10 ...we did go up [to the north side of the city of Shilom, which was in the foothills] to battle against the Lamanites; and I, even I, in my old age, did go up to battle against the Lamanites...

Mosiah 11:12 ...he built a tower near the temple; yea, a very high tower, even so high that he could stand upon the top thereof and overlook the land of Shilom, and also the land of Shemlon, which was possessed by the Lamanites; and he could even look over all the land round about.

Mosiah 11:13  ...many buildings to be built in the land Shilom; and he caused a great tower to be built on the hill north of the land Shilom, which had been a resort for the children of Nephi at the time they fled out of the land

Mosiah 22:8 ...will depart with our women and our children, our flocks, and our herds into the wilderness [and head for Zarahemla]; and we will travel around the land of Shilom.

Mosiah 22:11 ...the people of king Limhi did depart by night into the wilderness with their flocks and their herds, and they went round about the land of Shilom in the wilderness, and bent their course towards the land of Zarahemla...

Alma 23:12 ...who were in the land of Shilom, and who were in the land of Shemlon, and in the city of Lemuel, and in the city of Shimnilom.

SHIMNILOM (near Shilom, Shemlon and Lemuel)

Alma 23:12 ...the Lamanites who were in the land of Shilom, and who were in the land of Shemlon, and in the city of Lemuel, and in the city of Shimnilom.

SIDOM (near Ammonihah, in the western part of the land of Zarahemla)

Alma 15:1 A...they departed [from Ammonihah, and came out even into the land of Sidom; and behold, there they found all the people who had departed out of the land of Ammonihah...

SIRON (on the border or actually in the south wilderness, separated by hills from Antionum)

Alma 39:3 ...did go over into the land of Siron [from Antionum], among the borders of the Lamanites, after the harlot Isabel.

TEANCUM (in the land northward, by the seashore, near and probably northward of the city Desolation)

Mormon 4:3 And the remainder did flee and join the inhabitants of the city Teancum. Now the city Teancum lay in the borders by the seashore; and it was also near the city Desolation.

ZARAHEMLA (in the center of greater land of Zarahemla in the land southward, on the western shore of the River Sidon, Gideon, Jershon and Antionum are to the east, Ammonihah, Cumeni and Sidom are to the west - separated by Hermounts, many days from Nephi which is to the south and further up in elevation and separated by both the mountainous area called the south wilderness AND a rugged mountain range [narrow strip of wilderness], 12 days distance from Helam, lower in elevation than Minon which sits between Nephi and Zarahemla, destroyed by fire in AD 33 but rebuilt)

Omni 1:13 ...they departed out of the land [of Nephi] into the wilderness...and they were led by the power of his arm, through the wilderness, until they came down into the land which is called the land of Zarahemla.

Omni 1:28 Wherefore, they went up into the wilderness [toward Nephi]. And their leader being a strong and mighty man, and a stiffnecked man, wherefore he caused a contention among them; and they were all slain, save fifty, in the wilderness, and they returned again to the land of Zarahemla.

Mosiah 7:9 ...I am Limhi, the son of Noah, who was the son of Zeniff, who came up out of the land of Zarahemla to inherit this land [of Nephi]...

Mosiah 7:13 ...I am Ammon, and am a descendant of Zarahemla, and have come up out of the land of Zarahemla to inquire concerning our brethren, whom Zeniff brought up out of that land.

Mosiah 22:13 ...after being many days in the wilderness they arrived in the land of Zarahemla [from Nephi]

Mosiah 24:25 ...after they had been in the wilderness twelve days they arrived in the land of Zarahemla [from Helam]; and king Mosiah did also receive them with joy.

Alma 2:24 ...in the land of Minon, above the land of Zarahemla, in the course of the land of Nephi, we saw a numerous host of the Lamanites...

Alma 6:7 ...was in the city of Zarahemla, and went over upon the east of the river Sidon, into the valley of Gideon, there having been a city built, which was called the city of Gideon...

Alma 15:18 ...he took Amulek and came over [from Sidom] to the land of Zarahemla, and took him to his own house...

Alma 22:27 ...the king sent a proclamation throughout all the land [of Nephi], 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 [south] 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 26:23 Now do ye remember, my brethren, that we said unto our brethren in the land of Zarahemla, we go up to the land of Nephi, to preach unto our brethren, the Lamanites...

Alma 27:14 ...departed out of the land [of Nephi], and came into the [south] wilderness which divided the land of Nephi from the land of Zarahemla...

Alma 31:3 ...in a land which they called Antionum, which was east of the land of Zarahemla, which lay nearly bordering upon the seashore, which was south of the land of Jershon, which also bordered upon the wilderness south...

Alma 47:29 ...fled into the [south] wilderness, and came over into the land of Zarahemla [from Nephi] and joined the people of Ammon [in Jershon].

Alma 50:7 ...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 51:11 ...Amalickiah had gathered together a wonderfully great army, insomuch that he feared not to come down to the land of Zarahemla [from Nephi].

Alma 53:10 ...I have somewhat to say concerning the people of Ammon, who in the beginning, were Lamanites; but by Ammon and his brethren, or rather by the power and word of God, they had been converted unto the Lord; and they had been brought down into the land of Zarahemla [from Nephi], and had ever since been protected by the Nephites.

Alma 56:25 Neither durst they march down [from the south wilderness] against the city of Zarahemla...

Alma 57:16 ...we did resolve to send them down to the land of Zarahemla; therefore we selected a part of our men, and gave them charge over our prisoners to go down to the land of Zarahemla [from Cumeni].

Alma 63:4 ...there was a large company of men, even to the amount of five thousand and four hundred men, with their wives and their children, departed out of the land of Zarahemla into the land which was northward.

Helaman 1:17 ...he did appoint Coriantumr to be their leader, and did cause that they should march down to the land of Zarahemla [from Nephi] to battle against the Nephites.

Helaman 1:18 ...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 1:27 ... they had come into the center of the land, and had taken the capital city which was the city of Zarahemla...

Helaman 4:5 ...they did come down against the Nephites to battle, and they did commence the work of death; yea, insomuch that in the fifty and eighth year of the reign of the judges they succeeded in obtaining possession of the land of Zarahemla; yea, and also all the lands, even unto the land which was near the land Bountiful.

3 Nephi 9:3 ...that great city Zarahemla have I burned with fire, and the inhabitants thereof.

4 Nephi 1:8 ...that great city Zarahemla did they cause to be built again.

Mormon 1:6 ...I, being eleven years old, was carried by my father into the land southward [from the land northward], even to the land of Zarahemla.

ZEEZROM (near the south wilderness, possibly by Manti, but most likely by Ammonihah, Cumeni or Antiparah)

Alma 56:14 The land of Manti, or the city of Manti, and the city of Zeezrom, and the city of Cumeni, and the city of Antiparah.

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JAREDITE CITIES

I have not included the Jaredite cities in this post. I may dedicate a later post to them, but unfortunately there is not much in the way of directional clues in Ether. So, most of the cities would be labeled as unknown locations.