Chapter 3
Many Nephites migrate
to the land northward—They build houses of cement and keep many records—Tens of
thousands are converted and baptized—The word of God leads men to
salvation—Nephi the son of Helaman fills the judgment seat. About 49–39 B.C.
For three years, there was little contention among the
Nephites. Mormon tells us there was some pride which caused minor dissensions,
but they were settled.
Things changed after three years. There was contention and
dissension among the people. A large group left Zarahemla and went into the
land northward. About ten years earlier, another group left Zarahemla for the
land northward. “And it came to pass that in the thirty and seventh year of the
reign of the judges, 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” (Alma 63:4).
The ended up in an area with lakes, ponds, and rivers. “This
is the same land that Limhi’s search party found and mistook for a destroyed
Zarahemla (see Mosiah 8:8; 21:26) and that was later settled by Nephites (see
Helaman 3:3–6). Additionally, the land of Cumorah was apparently the place
where the Mulekites first landed in the Americas (see Alma 22:29–31).”[1]
Mormon also referred to an area similar to this. “And it came to pass that we
did march forth to the land of Cumorah, and we did pitch our tents around about
the hill Cumorah; and it was in a land of many waters, rivers, and fountains;
and here we had hope to gain advantage over the Lamanites” (Mormon 6:4).
They spread out across the land. They avoided places that
were deserted and without trees. Previous occupants had destroyed part of the
land. There was some timber, but most of the land was useless. In fact, the
land was called “desolate” (Helaman 3:6).[2]
There being little timber in the land, the people built
houses of cement. They spread throughout the land, in all possible directions.
In addition to cement house, people also lived in tents. They
allowed any tree found to grow and increase timber available. They also built
temples and synagogues. Additionally, they used shipping to obtain scarce
resources.
“And it came to pass that Hagoth,
he being an exceedingly curious man, therefore he went forth and built him an
exceedingly large ship, on the borders of the land Bountiful, by the land
Desolation, and launched it forth into the west sea, by the narrow neck which
led into the land northward. And behold, there were many of the Nephites who
did enter therein and did sail forth with much provisions, and also many women
and children; and they took their course northward. And thus ended the thirty
and seventh year. And in the thirty and eighth year, this man built other
ships. And the first ship did also return, and many more people did enter into
it; and they also took much provisions, and set out again to the land
northward. And it came to pass that they were never heard of more. And we
suppose that they were drowned in the depths of the sea. And it came to pass
that one other ship also did sail forth; and whither she did go we know not” (Alma
63:5-8).
Cities were built with imported wood and cement. Among the
Nephites were Ammonites. They joined the migration.
At this point, Mormon breaks into his account. He tells us
he has access to numerous records[3]
dealing with these people. In fact, he tells us the plates are quite large.
The amount of records he had available to him must have been
large. He tells he cannot gives us more than “a hundredth” (Helaman 3:14) part
of the history the Nephites. “And there had many things transpired which, in
the eyes of some, would be great and marvelous; nevertheless, they cannot all
be written in this book; yea, this book cannot contain even a hundredth part of
what was done among so many people in the space of twenty and five years” (3
Nephi 5:8). “And now there cannot be written in this book even a hundredth part
of the things which Jesus did truly teach unto the people” (3 Nephi 26:6).
There are numerous records and books of all kinds. He refers
to this when referring to Ammaron hiding the plates. “And it came to pass that
when *three hundred and twenty years had passed away, Ammaron, being
constrained by the Holy Ghost, did hide up the records which were sacred—yea,
even all the sacred records which had been handed down from generation to
generation, which were sacred—even until the three hundred and twentieth year
from the coming of Christ” (4 Nephi 1:48).
The plates have been handed down from one generation to
another, until the Nephite civilization was destroyed.
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 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. His description of those
records is certainly compatible with what the Prophet Joseph and Oliver Cowdery
saw: “more plates than probably many wagon loads,” referred to earlier. There
is no promise that these records will come forth, but if Mormon knew of them or
had them and they were written on plates, that would be a possibility.[4]
He ends his discussion of the plates here and returns to his
records.
[1] What’s
in a Name? The Name Cumorah, Paul Y. Hoskisson, Journal of Book of Mormon
Studies 13/1–2 (2004): 158.
[2] “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” (Alma 22:31).
[3] “And
now, I speak somewhat concerning that which I have written; for after I had
made an abridgment from the plates of Nephi, down to the reign of this king
Benjamin, of whom Amaleki spake, I searched among the records which had been
delivered into my hands, and I found these plates, which contained this small
account of the prophets, from Jacob down to the reign of this king Benjamin,
and also many of the words of Nephi” (Words of Mormon 1:3).
[4] Other
Ancient American Records Yet to Come Forth, Monte S. Nyman, Journal of Book
of Mormon Studies 10/1 (2001): 60.
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