Helaman 3:8-14

⁸ And it came to pass that they did multiply and spread, and did go forth from the land southward to the land northward, and did spread insomuch that 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. ⁹ And the people who were in the land northward did dwell in tents, and in houses of cement, and they did suffer whatsoever tree should spring up upon the face of the land that it should grow up, that in time they might have timber to build their houses, yea, their cities, and their temples, and their synagogues, and their sanctuaries, and all manner of their buildings.

¹⁰ And it came to pass as timber was exceedingly scarce in the land northward, they did send forth much by the way of shipping. ¹¹ And thus they did enable the people in the land northward that they might build many cities, both of wood and of cement.

Helaman 3:8 – 11 (Emphasis mine)

Over time, as people settled the land northward, the population increased.  This came from two sources.  The first was new immigrants to the area.  The second was through birth.  Mormon writes, they “did spread insomuch that they began to cover the face of the whole earth.”  What might Mormon have meant when he wrote, “cover the face of the whole earth?”  Hugh Nibley writes:

“We are told, for example, that the people of the great northern migration ‘began to cover the face of the whole earth’ (Helaman 3:8). What is meant by ‘cover’? In case one thinks of something like greater Los Angeles one need only read a few verses farther to learn that the Gadianton robbers established their cells ‘in the more settled parts of the land’ (Helaman 3:23), which makes it clear that ‘covering the face of the whole earth’ does not mean a dense and uniform occupation but can signify the thinnest possible settlement.”[1] (Emphasis mine)

The Nephites practiced environmentalism.  “[T]hey did suffer whatsoever tree should spring up upon the face of the land that it should grow up, that in time they might have timber.”  While it is not mentioned in the record, I would think they would have also planted trees, ensuring that they would have timber readily available in the future.

The people established cities, temples, synagogues, sanctuaries, and “all manner of their buildings” in the land northward.  They were most likely similar to the cities in the south part of the land. 

Temples are mentioned in the record.  Steven Olsen writes about the importance of temples in Nephite society.

“While the specific mention of temples in Mormon's abridgment is not frequent, their general significance in Nephite society is considerable. Two of the spiritual high points of Mormon's abridgment—King Benjamin's sermon and Christ's ministry—take place initially or completely at temples (Mosiah 2:1–7; 3 Nephi 11:1). In a millennial vein, Christ prophesies, quoting Malachi, that in the last days and as the ‘messenger of the covenant’ he will ‘suddenly come to his temple’ (3 Nephi 24:1). Temples also seem to distinguish the central cities of the Nephites, are an object of the building activity in times of prosperity (e.g., Helaman 3:9–14), and, along with synagogues and sanctuaries, are the centers of Nephite worship (e.g., Alma 16:13).”[2]  (Emphasis mine)

While waiting for the trees to grow, the people in the land northward shipped timber from the south.  This gave them the opportunity to use a variety of materials when they built their cities.

¹² And it came to pass that there were many of the people of Ammon, who were Lamanites by birth, did also go forth into this land.

¹³ And now there are many records kept of the proceedings of this people, by many of this people, which are particular and very large, concerning them. ¹⁴ But behold, a hundredth part of the proceedings of this people, yea, the account of the Lamanites and of the Nephites, and their wars, and contentions, and dissensions, and their preaching, and their prophecies, and their shipping and their building of ships, and their building of temples, and of synagogues and their sanctuaries, and their righteousness, and their wickedness, and their murders, and their robbings, and their plundering, and all manner of abominations and whoredoms, cannot be contained in this work.

Helaman 3:12 – 14 (Emphasis mine)

Among those who departed for the land northward were “many of the people of Ammon.”  Mormon writes nothing more about the Ammonites in the Book of Mormon. 

Mormon tells he is not giving us an entire account of the people of Nephi (“a hundredth part of the proceedings of this people … cannot be contained in this work”).  He makes it clear he has numerous records available to him and he has to choose what is important to include, as guided by the Lord.  He wants to make sure we understand we are not getting a complete history of the Nephites.

Hugh Nibley explains:

“Mere mass made it necessary to edit. From the first, Nephi had stated the guiding principle in the preserving of plates and records: ‘Wherefore, the things which are pleasing unto the world I do not write, but the things which are pleasing unto God and unto those who are not of the world’ (1 Nephi 6:5). The primary and original aim of keeping those records which make up the Book of Mormon was to preserve the religious tradition of the righteous few who down through the centuries have heeded God's word and been guided by his prophets.”[3] (Emphasis mine)

Monte Nyman raises an interesting possibility about possible sources or records used by Mormon.

“In commenting upon his recording only a hundredth part of what he had available to him, Mormon wrote that there were many other particular and very large records of every kind that had been kept chiefly by the Nephites (see Helaman 3:13—15). The word chiefly (emphasis in original) indicates that the Lamanites also kept some records and implies that they were known to Mormon at the time he abridged the Nephite records. It is not stated how he knew of them or whether they were in his possession and had ‘been handed down from one generation to another by the Nephites’ (Helaman 3:16). The context of Mormon's comments does not rule out that possibility.”[4] (Emphasis mine)

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[1] Strategy for Survival, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed June 11, 2012.

[2] Prospering in the Land of Promise, Steven L. Olsen, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed June 11, 2012.

[3] Churches in the Wilderness, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed June 11, 2012.

[4] Other Ancient American Records Yet to Come Forth, Monte S. Nyman, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed June 11, 2012.