Line by Line Illustration of Alma 22

Using an actual map makes it easier to understand Mormon's
explanation of the geography of the promised land.

The most referenced passages in the Book or Mormon, when it comes to geography, are Alma 22:27-34. It is Mormon's most complete geography lesson.

It's an explanation of the geographical features that make up the borders between the lands of the Nephites and the lands of the Lamanites around 90 to 77 BC - the time of the sons of Mosiah - who left the land of Zarahemla and went up to the land of Nephi, in the Guatemala Highlands, to preach the gospel to the Lamanites.

I'll go through the verses one phrase at a time - line by line - and explain their meaning by illustrating on an actual map of the area where the Book of Mormon took place - southern Mexico and Guatemala.

...[Lamoni's father] 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...

One

Alma 22:27 "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 . . . "

King Lamoni's father ruled the greater land of Nephi from sea to sea, south of the dividing wilderness. It included the lands of Nephi, Middoni, Shilom, Shemlon, Lemuel and Shimnilom. It also included the land of Ishmael, which King Lamoni ruled.

...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...

Two

". . . 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. . ."

The "narrow strip of wilderness" is a mountain range. Read: The Narrow Strip of Wilderness Was Mountainous, but in a nutshell, the lands south of Zarahemla are consistently refered to as "up" from Zarahemla. So that means the river Sidon logically flows from those mountains - in a northerly direction.

It is the southern chain of mountains in the Guatemala highlands called the Sierra de las Minas and Sierra de Chuapus which run from the Caribbean Sea (sea east) and join up with the Sierra Madre on the Pacific (sea west). The Sierra Madre runs parallel to the shoreline, or in other words "round about on the borders of the seashore."

...the wilderness which was on the north by the land of Zarahemla, through the borders of Manti, by the head the river Sidon, running from the east towards the west...

Three

". . . 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 . . ."

Many readers think Mormon is restating or clarifying the "narrow strip of wilderness" here. But he is actually moving on. He's explaining there is more to the division between the Nephites and the Lamanites than the "narrow strip."

This division includes another layer of wilderness, another chain of mountains, that also runs east and west "on the north [side of the narrow strip] by the land of Zarahemla," along the borders of the land of Manti which is located in the headwaters (tributaries) of the river Sidon. This chain of mountains are the Sierra de Chama and the Sierra de los Chuchumalanes, which is divided by a pass that contains the headwaters of the Usumacinta River, a likely candidate for the River Sidon. 

There is also a spur of mountains that extends northward, into the land of Zarahemla. This was the area where the Gadianton robbers would later hide. "—and thus were the Lamanites and the Nephites divided."

Alma 22:27 mentions "east to west" three times and each time Mormon is describing three separate regions.

1) The land of Nephi runs "even to the sea, on the east and on the west."
2) The narrow strip of wilderness "runs from the east sea even to the west sea."
3) The borders of the wilderness that is "on the north by the land of Zarahemla, through the borders of Manti" that run "from the east towards the west."

After defining the wilderness areas that divided the Nephites from the Lamanites, he continues with an explanation of who lived where.

... 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 ... 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

Four

Alma 22:28 "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."

The Lamanites who built cities and ruled as kings over their subjects lived mostly south of the wilderness areas that separate the Nephite and Lamanite lands. However, there were nomadic Lamanites living in the wilderness north of the narrow strip but south of Nephite lands - sometimes referred to as the "south wilderness" - as well as spilling over into the coastal areas east and west of the land of Zarahemla.

... there were many Lamanites on the east by the seashore ... And thus the Nephites were nearly surrounded by the Lamanites ... the Nephites had taken possession of all the northern parts ... east to the west, round about on the wilderness ... on the north 

Five

Alma 22:29 "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; 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."

A spur of mountains (wilderness) separated the eastern and western portions of the greater land of Zarahemla. 

You'll find the cities of Ammonihah, Noah, Judea, Melek in the valley on the west of that mountain range and the cities of Zarahemla, Antionum, Jershon, Gideon and Manti on the east side. The city of Bountiful was later built on the north coast, near the narrow neck of land.

As Nephites traveled from east to west Zarahemla, they had to go "round about" this wilderness "on the north" side. The Book of Mormon sometimes says they would go "over" to the other lands, because they had to go up and over those mountains through mountain passes in the northernmost part of the range then down in to the valley where the cities were located.

... the land which they called Bountiful. And 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 ...

Six

Alma 22:30 "And 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."

The land Bountiful was situated along the north coast of the land southward. The dividing line between it and the land Desolation was the Coatzacoalcos River.

If you are wondering why the Yucatan peninsula is missing in the maps I use, read: Yucatan Island and the Land Bountiful.

[the land northward] was discovered by the people of Zarahemla, it being the place of their first landing (1). And they came from there up into the south wilderness (2). Thus the land on the northward was called Desolation, and the land on the southward was called Bountiful

Seven

Alma 22:31 "And they came from there up into the south wilderness. Thus the land on the northward was called Desolation, and the land on the southward was called Bountiful, it being the wilderness which is filled with all manner of wild animals of every kind, a part of which had come from the land northward for food."

The Book of Mormon's mention of the Mulekites "first landing" implies that there was at least one other landing later. Just like Lehi's family, the people of Zarahemla didn't settle where they first landed. But unlike Lehi's family, who "journeyed in the wilderness," the Mulekites continued on in their boats until they came to their final destination - downriver from where "they came from there up into the south wilderness" and founded the city of Zarahemla.

... 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 ...

Eight

Alma 22:32 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 . . .

The Book of Mormon is very consistent with its language. The oft recited "it takes a Nephite a day and a half to go from sea to sea" is a misquote. It does NOT say "east sea."

It says "on the line Bountiful and the land Desolation, from the east to the west sea. . ." 

The said distance of a day and a half's journey begins from the eastern end of the dividing line between Bountiful and Desolation, which ends at the west sea. 

That eastern end of the line between Bountiful and Desolation ends where the Coatzacoalcos River begins to be fordable. It is 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 - easily the reason for it being described as "the place where the sea divides the land." Ether 10:20

... 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 ...

Nine

". . . 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 22:33 "And it came to pass that 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."

It was a constant battle to keep those Lamanites in their territories in the south. It was like Whac-a-Mole because if the Lamanites found resistance at one entrance they had plenty of ways to go "round about in the wilderness" and test the strength of another entrance.

... 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 ...

The Nephites placed armies in the various mountain passes and along the seashore where people could enter into the lands of Zarahemla or Bountiful from either the land of Nephi or wilderness in between.

Alma 22:34 "Therefore the Lamanites could have no more possessions only in the land of Nephi, and the wilderness round about. Now this was wisdom in the Nephites—as the Lamanites were an enemy to them, they would not suffer their afflictions on every hand, and also that they might have a country whither they might flee, according to their desires."

They especially wanted to keep them from settling in the land northward or else they would be entirely sourrounded by their enemy with no avenue of escape. They needed to keep the entrance into the land northward free in case they ever had to escape the encroaching Lamanites. 

In the Footsteps of Limhi's Expedition

The route that Limhi's expedition took when they tried to find Zarahemla but found the Land of Desolation instead.*

Sierra de las Minas, Guatemala

I think I know why "the small number of men" that Limhi sent out in search of Zarahemla got lost. The Nephites wanted help from Zarahemla to escape bondage from the Lamanites but "the king of the Lamanites set guards round about the land, that he might keep the people of Limhi in the land, that they might not depart into the wilderness" (Mosiah 19:28). 

For this reason, they were unable to leave the normal way, which was to head through the pass in the narrow strip of wilderness, north of the Land of Nephi. So they decided to head south, away from the guards then turn west until they found the source of the River Sidon then follow that down to the City of Zarahemla. 

Chixoy River, Guatemala (AKA Rio Negro, or Rio Salinas)

However, when they reached the top of the mountain they saw two rivers. (See the dot in the above illustration.) One flowed north then turned due east, the direction from which they had just come. The other flowed northwest. 

They knew that Zarahemla was northward from Nephi so they picked the wrong river, followed it all the way to the mouth where there are plenty of lagoons - a "land of many waters" - and found the land where the Jaredites' final battle had occurred. They returned via the same route with the Jaredite records in their possession.

The "pantanos" of Vera Cruz and Tabasco is the land of many waters.

Mosiah 21: 25-27 Now king Limhi had sent, previous to the coming of Ammon, a small number of men to search for the land of Zarahemla; but they could not find it, and they were lost in the wilderness. 

Nevertheless, they did find a land which had been peopled; yea, a land which was covered with dry bones; yea, a land which had been peopled and which had been destroyed; and they, having supposed it to be the land of Zarahemla, returned to the land of Nephi, having arrived in the borders of the land not many days before the coming of Ammon. 

And they brought a record with them, even a record of the people whose bones they had found; and it was engraven on plates of ore.

Model of Kaminaljuyu

The majority of Mesoamerican/Book of Mormon scholars believe the city of Nephi was Kaminaljuyu (Guatemala City). But I'm not convinced. Mainly, because the city of Kaminaljuyu was a mature city, established almost a thousand years before the time when Nephi arrived with "all those who would go with [him]" after departing into the wilderness to flee from his brothers around 575 BC. (2 Nephi 5:5)

It makes no sense for a group of newcomers to waltz in to a big city and say, "We're here to rule over you and show you how to build a temple and make swords and stuff." Instead of Kaminaljuyu, they found a remote valley with either no inhabitants or people who welcomed them to their small community. 

Motagua River valley, El Progresso department, Guatemala

I believe that valley was the upper Motagua River valley. The city of Nephi was nestled in the valley south of the Sierra de las Minas, which along with the Sierra de Chuacus are "the narrow strip of wilderness, which ran from the sea east even to the sea west." Nephi's temple was built on a hill and the tower next to it gave them a commanding view of Shilom across the valley and Shemlon further downriver towards the east in the same river valley.

The city of Nephi was abandoned to the Lamanites when Mosiah and his people migrated to the land of Zarahemla around 200 BC. It was reclaimed again by Nephites when Zeniff and his people went back and struck a deal with the Lamanites so they could re-settle there in 121 BC. 

This is another reason why the city of Nephi can't be Kaminaljuyu. When Zeniff arrived, the Lamanite king "commanded that his people should depart out of the land, and [Zeniff] and [his] people went into the land" to possess it. I can't imagine any Lamanite king commanding thousands, possibly tens of thousands, of inhabitants in Kaminaljuyu to leave in order that a handful of Nephites could settle there.

On the way to the mountain top via a tributary of the Motagua River

Recap: During Limhi's time, his expedition headed south, then west, up the Motagua River until they reached the ridge overlooking the Grijalva and Chixoy watersheds. (See the spot in the above illustration.) The Chixoy flows north then due east before it loops around and heads north to become the Usumacinta (River Sidon). The Chixoy appeared to be the wrong river because it headed the wrong direction from their vantage point. The Grijalva looked more promising so they followed it - the wrong river.

Sources:
* My map above uses the position of the Grijalva as it was 2000 years ago. Read: Wandering River by Kirk Magleby

In Search of the Waters of Mormon

Semuc Champey, Guatemala, which is Mayan for "sacred waters"
is a possible candidate for the Waters of Mormon.

The Book of Mormon is larger than life because of the huge impact on our lives. As we come closer to finding out where the book took place, we tend to make the mistake of looking for huge things.

One example is the temptation to think that Kaminaljuyu (Guatemala City) is the city of Nephi and Lake Atitlan is the Waters of Mormon. I mean, they ARE the first thing to jump out at you when you look at a map of the land south of the "narrow strip of wilderness," right?

That's not much better than the same mistake we made growing up, when we thought that the Land Southward was South America, the narrow neck was Panama, and the Land Northward was North America. Way too big. Even then, that subconsciously didn't feel right.

Las Conchas, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala

It seemed obvious at first, but after a careful read you realize their travels where measured in days and weeks, not months and years, which would be the case if the entire Western Hemisphere was the setting for the Book of Mormon.

A careful reading about Limhi's expedition should have made it clear right away that the setting had to be a very limited geographical area.

Focusing on Kaminaljuyu and Atitlan isn't much better though. Yes, it's much smaller than the entire hemisphere but still too big. Read about my simple reasons why Kaminaljuyu can't be the city of Nephi: In the Footsteps of Limhi's Expedition.

Guatemala and southern Mexico are filled with possible candidates for the Waters of Mormon without having to zero in on the largest lake on the map.

One of the many pools at Semuc Champey, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala

The images on this page are just a few of the many stunning possibilities for the Waters of Mormon. You would just have to find one like these within a couple days' journey from any proposed site for the city of Nephi.

One of the most beatiful ones is called Semuc Champey, a series of cascades and deep clear pools, whose name means "Sacred Waters" in the local Mayan language, Kekchi.

Mosiah 18:4-5,30. . . as many as did believe him did go forth to a place which was called Mormon . . . being in the borders of the land having been infested, by times or at seasons, by wild beasts.

Balneario Pasabien, Zacapa, Guatemala

Now, there was in Mormon a fountain of pure water, and Alma resorted thither, there being near the water a thicket of small trees, where he did hide himself in the daytime from the searches of the king. 

And now it came to pass that all this was done in Mormon, yea, by the waters of Mormon, in the forest that was near the waters of Mormon. . .

Water features like Semuc Champey have the added benefit that they are in secluded areas, thus a natural place to hide. The narrative in the the above passages doesn't lend itself to a huge lake in the Guatemalan altiplano, like Atitlan, with wide open spaces and sparse vegetation around the beaches. Besides, since when was a lake ever considered a "fountain of pure water?"

Cascada del Río Sachichaj, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala

The forest of Mormon, in the borders of a land infested by wild beasts, sounds more like the lush growth in the departments such as Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Zacapa, El Progress, Peten or Chiapas.

Mosiah 18:31-34 And these things were done in the borders of the land, that they might not come to the knowledge of the king. 

But behold, it came to pass that the king, having discovered a movement among the people, sent his servants to watch them. Therefore on the day that they were assembling themselves together to hear the word of the Lord they were discovered unto the king. 

And now the king said that Alma was stirring up the people to rebellion against him; therefore he sent his army to destroy them. 

And it came to pass that Alma and the people of the Lord were apprised of the coming of the king’s army; therefore they took their tents and their families and departed into the wilderness.

The Waters of Mormon were close enough to the city of Nephi to enable repeated and constant contact, but far enough away that they needed to take tents.

NOTE: Any of these could also be candidates for the Land of Helam, which the Book of Mormon describes in Mosiah 24:3-4 in this way: "And they fled eight days’ journey into the wilderness.
4 And they came to a land, yea, even a very beautiful and pleasant land, a land of pure water."

Semuc Champey just happens to be found in the South Wilderness and is roughly 8 days journey from the most likely candidate of the land of Nephi, both of which match the text. So, I feel that Semuc Champey is more likely to be in the land of Helam, rather than the waters of Mormon.

Mosiah 24: 3-4 And they fled eight days’ journey into the wilderness. And they came to a land, yea, even a very beautiful and pleasant land, a land of pure water.

Semuc Champey, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala

Agua Azul, Chiapas, Mexico

I focus a lot on Semuc Champey because of its name and beauty. I'm not saying it is absolutely the Waters of Mormon, especially since they are pretty remote and not close enough to any of the current proposed sites for the city of Nephi. It does, however, fit the narrative of possibly being the Land of Helam.

These photos are for illustrative purposes so you can envision what was most likely meant by the Waters of Mormon.  There are many water features like this throughout the country of Guatemala or the state of Chiapas, Mexico.

Cascadas Las Nubes, Chiapas, Mexico

Sources:
SWIMMING IN SACRED WATER: SEMUC CHAMPEY OF GUATEMALA

Which One is the Narrow Strip of Wilderness?

The Sierra de las Minas/Chuacus range is the straightest, narrowest,
most continuous, east-west candidate for the narrow strip of wilderness.

Most Book of Mormon scholars recognize that the "narrow strip of wilderness" is a mountain range. Read: The Narrow Strip of Wilderness Was Mountainous. Further, most Mesoamerican/Book of Mormon scholars argue that the mountains in central Guatemala are those very mountains.

The problem with that is they are so vast and wide that it makes the distances too great to fit the narratives in the Book of Mormon that mention the duration of their travels. It also negates the entire concept of a "narrow strip."

The solution is to look more closely. When you do, you see that there are basically two strips - one more narrow than the other.

Heading south from Peten, you pass through two distinct east-west mountain chains, then you reach the Sierra Madre along the coast that spreads out to form the southern Guatemalan Highlands where Guatemala City is located. Read: In the Footsteps of Limhi's Expedition, for the reasons why Kaminaljuyu (Guatemala City) could not possibly be the city of Nephi.

The "narrow strip of wilderness" consists of the Sierra de las Minas and the Sierra de Chuacus that run in a straight line from the Caribbean Sea until they meet up with the Sierra Madre, which runs parallel to the Pacific coast. This fits the description in Alma 22:27 which says the narrow strip runs "from the sea east even to the sea west, and round about on the borders of the seashore

Chixoy River, Guatemala

This would make the upper Motagua River valley in the department of El Progresso the land of Nephi since it is immediately south of the range. There is a high mountain pass, between the Chuacus and de las Minas - the only reasonable way through this rugged, tall and very narrow strip of mountains.

Then there is another (not so narrow) strip of wilderness in the form of the Sierra de Santa Cruz, Chama, and Cuchumatanes. These run east-west as well, are north of the "narrow strip" and borders on the land of Zarahemla by passing by the borders of Manti where the tributaries (or head) of the river Sidon are. So the next phrase in Alma 22:27 is not a repetition of the description of the "narrow strip" but an explanation of the next layer of wilderness. Read the next phrase, look at the map, and see if you have an "aha" moment like I did.

". . . and the borders of the wilderness which was on the north [of the narrow strip] 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."

Manti would be in the hills of northern Alta Verapaz because Manti was near the headwaters of Sidon (The Book of Mormon definition of headwaters is the tributaries of the river Usumacinta, or Sidon). Manti is part of the greater land of Zarahemla and lies in between the lesser land of Zarahemla and the land of Nephi - higher up in elevation.

So, Alma 22:27 mentions "east to west" three times and each time it is describing three separate regions.

1) The land of Nephi runs "even to the sea, on the east and on the west."
2) The narrow strip of wilderness "runs from the east sea even to the west sea."
3) The borders of the wilderness that is "on the north by the land of Zarahemla, through the borders of Manti" that run "from the east towards the west." (Sometimes called the "south wilderness.")

". . . and thus were the Lamanites and the Nephites divided"

Alma 22:27 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.

Semuc Champey (Sacred Waters), Guatemala

Alternative: Dr. Richard F. Hauck believes the city of Nephi is in the valley of Salama in the department of Baja Verapaz. That would mean the northern, and less narrow, mountain chain that starts on the east coast with the Sierra de Santa Cruz, then the Sierra de Chama, followed by the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes and finally the Sierra Madre on the Pacific Coast would be the narrow strip. If this turns out to be the case, then Semuc Champey could be a candidate for the waters of Mormon because it is close enough to fit the narrative in the Book of Mormon.

But alas, I don't think it is because I see a few problems with the Santa Cruz/Chama/Cuchumatanes "narrow strip."

1) They are not as tall as the Chuacus/de las Minas chain (until you get to the Cuchumatanes).

2) They don't run as true east-west as Chuacus/de las Minas (Sierra de Chama actually bends southwest and almost meets up with Chuacus.

3) There is a large river valley, lowland gap between Sierra de Chama and the Cuchumatanes and a river valley gap between Santa Cruz and Chama. So they don't technically run from the "sea east even to the sea west."

4) The Cuchumatanes is not in the least bit narrow, they are very spread out and have many large mountain valleys.

5) There is no additional "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" in between this narrow strip and the Nephite lands, because the Santa Cruz/Chama/Cuchumatanes mountains and valleys ARE that very wilderness, sometimes called the "south wilderness," where "the more idle part of the Lamanites lived."

Sources:
Sierra Madre
Sierra de los Cuchumatanes
Sierra de Chama
Sierra de Santa Cruz
Sierra de Chuacus
Sierra de las Minas

The Jaredite Route to the Promised Land

The Jaredites traveled "northward" through Central Asia to China, then crossed
the Pacific Ocean to establish what archaeologists know as the Olmec culture.

Ether 1:1 And now I, Moroni, proceed to give an account of those ancient inhabitants who were destroyed by the hand of the Lord upon the face of this north country.

Notice that Mormon didn't say "land northward." Mormon reserves the term "land northward" for things entirely northwest the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, "the narrow neck of land," and the Coatzacoalcos River which is "the place where the sea divides the land." (Ether 10:20)

He uses "north country" to refer to the northern coast of the land southward, because the Jaredite heartland spills over the dividing line between the land northward and land southward. Much the same as the Mexican state of Veracruz does today.

Mormon is consistent with his use of north instead northward whenever he describes the location of the land Bountiful. Throughout the Book of Mormon, "north country" or the "northern parts" refers to the northern shores of the Land Southward. Read: Yucatan Island and the Land Bountiful.

The final Jaredite battles took place north of the narrow neck. That is why the land northward is sometimes called the Land of Desolation. The area had a bad vibe because of the bones, swords and armor strewn around the battlefields.

It was not because it was desolate of natural resources. The State of Veracruz is some of the most lush, beautiful and fertile parts of Mexico even now.

Now, let's discuss how they got there.

Ether 2:7 mentions a "sea in the wilderness" that the Jaredites passed through with barges.

The friends and family of Jared left Mesopotamia a couple hundred years after the global flood of Noah and when the languages were confounded because of the Tower of Babel. The were led by the Lord down into a valley then "northward" (northeast) through Central Asia.

Remnants today of the Central Asian inland
seas that existed during the time of Jared

Ether 2:1 And it came to pass that Jared and his brother, and their families, and also the friends of Jared and his brother and their families, went down into the valley which was northward. . .

When they reached Central Asia, they built barges to make their way through the large inland seas that existed at that time. The waters of Noah's flood were still trapped by the great geological changes that occurred during the year of that cataclysm.

How do I know there were inland seas? Because Ether 2:7 says there was, and geological evidence is still visible today.

Ether 2:6 . . . they did travel in the wilderness, and did build barges, in which they did cross many waters. . .

Giant ripples in Russia, left by the Altai floods

After crossing the sea in Central Asia they may have used animals to drag their barges up and through another sea in the valley of Lake Balkhash (or abandoned the old ones and built new ones), then up again through a pass in northern Xinjiang province to reach the inland sea centered on the Taklamakan Desert and Gobi Basin, known to Chinese earth scientists as the pre-historic Great Han Hai (Which wasn't pre-historic at all - READ: "What is Continental Shift.") As they scaled from sea to sea, they encountered a vertical rise of only a combined 2000 feet. After sailing to the end of the Great Han Hai, they sailed down the Yellow River to the sea. (That pass in Xinjiang is where the water later broke free and washed through eastern Kazakhstan and Siberia into the Arctic Ocean. This event is known by geologists as the Altai flood, but they mistakenly believe it was caused by glacial floods and date it to pre-historic times. The outlet for the sea that was in Central Asia was in north-central Kazakhstan.)

Fresh water seals in Lake Baikal, Russia

These inland seas later receded, leaving remnants in the form of the Caspian Sea, Aral Sea, Lake Balkhash, Lake Baikal and the many other lakes in central Asia, Russia and Mongolia.

Lake Baikal and the Caspian Sea still have seals that were trapped and have adapted to the ever increasing fresh water.

This was about the same time that Noah's granddaughter discovered Egypt, which was also still under water.

Abraham 1:23-24 The land of Egypt being first discovered by a woman, who was the daughter of Ham, and the daughter of Egyptus, which in the Chaldean signifies Egypt, which signifies that which is forbidden;
When this woman discovered the land it was under water, who afterward settled her sons in it . . .
Read: What Did Noah's Granddaughter Discover in Egypt?

Noah and the Jaredites have
something in common

They eventually reached China's Yellow Sea and pitched their tents. They began to settle in, but “at the end of four years, the Lord came again unto the brother of Jared” and commanded him to build ocean-going barges so they can continue their journey, for "the Lord would not [allow] that they should stop beyond the sea in the wilderness, but he would that they should come forth even unto the land of promise."

They built eight barges but then the brother of Jared asked the Lord how he should light them. The Lord, in turn asked him, "What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels?"

Have you ever wondered where the brother of Jared got the idea of making stones glow? Well, he got the idea from Noah and his ark.

The flood was recent for them, and details were fresh on their minds. An old Hebrew tradition explains how Noah managed to light his ark. "The ark was illuminated by a precious stone, the light of which was more brilliant by night than by day, so enabling Noah to distinguish between day and night."

The Kuroshio and North Pacific Currents end up as the
California Current along the west coast of North America.

When it was time to board the barges, common sense should tell us that there were a number of his group who chose not to risk the voyage and stayed where they were. Especially when you consider how perfect the weather and soil was in the Yellow River valley. It would be very hard to tear yourself away from there after settling in for four years.

Both groups built up societies with incredible similarities on either side of the Pacific - the proto-Chinese and the Olmec cultures.

Ether 6:5 And it came to pass that the Lord God caused that there should be a furious wind blow upon the face of the waters, towards the promised land; and thus they were tossed upon the waves of the sea before the wind.

Ether 6:11-12 And thus they were driven forth, three hundred and forty and four days upon the water.
And they did land upon the shore of the promised land. . .

They probably landed somewhere along the Mexican Pacific shoreline. Over time they spread out over the entire Western Hemisphere from Alaska to Chile. It is likely that other people also migrated to the American Hemisphere during this time and contributed to the spread of people and culture exchanges. The other people probably arrived via an Atlantic crossing or around the Pacific rim and down through Canada.

Most lived a clan life as hunter gatherers or settled in small villages but a core group eventually settled in the Veracruz area and built up the comparatively advanced civilization that we know today as the Olmecs.

The Olmecs were the parent culture in ancient America and later influenced and mingled with the later arrivals: the Maya. Read: The Olmecs Arrived from Asia by Boat

It is my opinion that the barges were rectangular, not shaped like a walnut as is depicted in most LDS art.  I base this on the following verse: "Ether 2: the bottom thereof was tight like unto a dish; and the sides thereof were tight like unto a dish; and the ends thereof were peaked; and the top thereof was tight like unto a dish; and the length thereof was the length of a tree." The mention of "sides" indicate that it wasn't like a walnut but more like a box with a pointed for and aft.

Alternate Theory

An alternate theory to the trapped inland seas is that the continents and sea basins took multiple generations to rebound to the current levels after the seafloors had risen and the continents had sunk during Noah's flood. This would be what the map would look like in that instance.

Source

Additional Reading:
The Transpacific Origin of Mesoamerican Civilization
Ancient Civilizations of North America
Lost Worlds of South America

Why Study Book of Mormon Geography?

Studying Palestine's geography and visiting the Holy Land enriches
Bible study. Why not do the same with the Book of Mormon?

The back of the Bible and lds.org are packed with maps of the Holy Land, Egypt, Mesopotamia and the greater Mediterranean area. It also has photos, manuals and a Bible Dictionary filled with historical, geographical, cultural and biographical tidbits.

All of these Study Helps, including the new videos, aid a Bible reader to understand the context of the various books and help enrich the Bible study experience.

The same goes for Church History and the Doctrine and Covenants. These Study Helps include maps, photos and manuals that help enrich those studies as well.

Sacred Grove, Palmyra NY

These external sources also inspire people to actually visit the Holy Land and Church History sites where they invariably return with strong faith-strengthing experiences that they share with friends, family, in Sunday classes and testimony meetings.

So, if all of these external study aids are sanctioned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, why is it taboo to talk about Book of Mormon geography? 

The simple answer is because the members can't agree on where the Book of Mormon took place. Even though the majority of the church-sanctioned studies focus on Mesoamerica (Mexico and Guatemala), there are still plenty of people who refuse to let go of the model to which they were originally exposed - or the area in which they served a mission.

The amount of theories is almost laughable, if it weren't so tragic! There are even theories that the Book of Mormon took place in Africa or Malaysia!

When he was in the First Presidency, George Q. Cannon said that the church was in no position to include a map for the Book of Mormon "without further information." He also asked members to not discuss geography or introduce maps in church settings. That was wise council then and it still is. Because the stubborn attitudes of the various adherents to different theories simply cause contention.

If you can sense a big "but" coming, you are right.

HOWEVER!

The study of Book of Mormon geography can benefit the reader in the same way the external aids help with the Bible and Doctrine and Covenants. It helps the characters leap from the page and become living historical figures. The battles, travels and other activities become real historical events. You can go visit those areas and soak in the environment.

It might not matter whether you envision those events in New York, Mississippi, Baja California, Mesoamerica, South America and yes .... even Africa or Malaysia (if that floats your boat). Either way, a real map is better than a fictitious "cartoon" map. Especially, if the customs and cultures of those areas match the culture of the Book of Mormon and help you better understand the events in the Book of Mormon.

Just make sure the customs, culture and geography of your preferred area really do match the text of the Book of Mormon.

And no cheating!

Don't fall for the, "he must have meant this or that" trap. The "Book of Mormon [is] the most correct of any book on earth," so if it says "horses" it means "horses!" Not tapirs, not deer.  So, have fun with it, as long as you keep it to yourself and don't bring it up in church meetings.

Here comes another "but."

HOWEVER, HOWEVER.

Careful studies over the last few decades have revealed much of the "further information" President Cannon spoke of. Tons of it!

I'm personally convinced it took place in Mesoamerica, in spite of the fact that I served a mission in Peru, during which, I studied culture that mirrored Book of Mormon teachings.

For example, once a year, the Inca priests would fashion an idol of their god Viracocha out of corn meal and lambs blood and pass it around, breaking off and eating a piece, believing they were actually eating the flesh and blood of their god. Hmm. Sound familiar?

But I had to let go of Peruvian correlations like this one, because of the overwhelming evidence coming out of Mesoamerica. So, chalk up the similarities in South America to either ancient missionaries, arriving from Mesoamerica, or that they were the "other sheep, which are not of this land, neither of the land of Jerusalem, neither in any parts of that land round about whither [Jesus had] been to minister." 3 Nephi 16:1

The same goes for the similarities in North America. Don't forget that "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" in the year 55 BC. Alma 63:4 So you will see correlations there too, because they are an offshoot of the original Book of Mormon people. We just haven't found their records, yet - if they kept any. Remember, there wasn't a mature, written language in North America, so they must have lost that ability. Kind of like the Mulekites who didn't bring records with them from Jerusalem and lost their language abilities.

I was convinced years ago after going to a bookstore to see if there was anything published about Book of Mormon geography. I was surprised to find that they had lots of books. As I perused them, I set most of them aside because obvious errors that didn't match the text of the Book of Mormon jumped out at me.

From Allen's original paperback edition

However, Joseph L. Allen's Exploring the Lands of the Book of Mormon had me hooked after just a few pages. Especially, after he pointed out that "an estimated 90% of the archaeological sites in existence during the time of the Book of Mormon were in Mesoamerica." Plus, Mesoamerica is the only place with advanced written languages. Those two reasons alone should be enough to convince all open-minded scholars. I also liked his humble approach, acknowledging we still had much more to learn before pinpointing any given city.

I elaborate on his reasons as well as adding a few of my own in this post: 10 Reasons Why Mesoamerica Is the Land of the Book of Mormon

Shortly after reading Allen's book and then devouring the Book of Mormon to see if his take on things held water (it did), I also learned about FARMS (Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies) and that it was sanctioned by the Church and focuses on Mesoamerica.

I knew I was in good company after learning about FARMS as well as watching the film at the Joseph Smith Memorial building auditorium called, "The Testaments: Of One Fold and One Shepherd." If the church produced a film with a Mayan flavor to the setting and costumes, it must be leaning that way.

The Wiki Approach

A another valid reason why you might want to study Book of Mormon geography is it help determine where the very few LDS archaeologists should focus their resources. With the 100s of thousands of square miles to explore and the 1000s of lost cities to find and excavate, it would be best to use the Book of Mormon to pinpoint the most promising spots to look.

Hisarlik (Troy), Turkey

After all, it worked for Heinrich Schliemann. Schliemann was a German businessman living in the 1800s who was convinced that Homer's Iliad was more than a work of fiction. He used the text of that work to pinpoint where Troy would be located then launched an expedition to excavate Hisarlik, which turned out to be, indeed, Troy. Of course, it took decades for the "experts" to grudgingly accept he was correct.

Poring over the the text of the Book of Mormon, relief maps, Google maps and street view and Google Earth is time consuming. We all have a day job and limited time to study. So, the more eyes and brains working on this puzzle, the more likely we will find Zarahemla or Nephi or Manti or Bountiful sometime in our lifetime.

So come on in. The water's fine!

ONE MORE THING

I often hear people say that the doctrine is the only important thing in the Book of Mormon and that studying the geography borders on blasphemy. That is why I started this post with the plethora of external material for Bible studies, because if it's good for Bible studies, it's good for Book of Mormon studies.

If you disagree, then do you mind telling Mormon, to his face, that he wasted valuable space on the plates with unnecessary details about geography, wars, history, culture, government, calendars, animals, weights and measures, architecture, metalwork and agriculture. Think of all the material Mormon had at his disposal for his abridgment, then ask yourself as you read any given passage in the Book of Mormon, "Why did Mormon include this?"

The bottom line is that if none of this interests you, then fine. But don't criticize those of us who find it fascinating. And don't be scared away from studying Book of Mormon geography because of your self-imposed taboo. Join in on the discovery process. The more eyes, ears and brains working on this puzzle will help the truth be revealed more quickly.

I'm convinced that the additional records and/or the sealed part of the Book of Mormon will never be revealed until after we put in the blood, sweat and tears of trying to fully understand the scriptures that we already have.

John Scott's painting, "Jesus Christ Visits the Americas" now takes on a whole new realism for me.

Sources:

Exploring the Lands of the Book of Mormon, Joseph L Allen