TWENTY-F0UR
Things That Are Narrow
(The Narrow Neck of Land, The Narrow Strip of Wilderness, Etc.)
The land [of Nephi] was divided from the land of Zarahemla by a narrow
strip of wilderness, which ran from the sea east even to the sea west.
(ALMA 22:27)
TWO MAJOR GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS in the Book of Mormon are the Narrow Neck
of Land and the Narrow Strip of Wilderness. From the limited information we have in the
Book of Mormon, the term "Narrow Strip of Wilderness" is apparently synonymous with
a narrow mountain range. The term "Narrow Neck of Land" seems to fit the requirement
of an isthmus. The terms "Narrow Pass" or "Narrow Passage" suggest a narrow pass or
narrow road that runs through the isthmus.
THE NARROW NECK OF LAND
Six scriptures in the Book of Mormon are associated with the Narrow Neck of Land. In
these scriptures, the geographic area associated with the Narrow Neck of Land is referred
to as a narrow neck of land, a narrow pass, a narrow neck, and a narrow passage.
Through the years, considerable confusion has arisen among readers trying to decipher
the exact relationships of these terms.
I propose that the terms are inextricably related and that they are used in connection with
two land masses more so than with two oceans or seas. The dictionary definition of the
word "isthmus" is "A narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas." (Webster's
Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary) Most students of the Book of Mormon tend to agree
that an isthmus is involved with the Narrow Neck of Land.
I propose that the Narrow Neck of Land is located in what is now called the Isthmus of
Tehuantepec in Southern Mexico. Furthermore, I propose that the Narrow Pass runs
through the Isthmus in a north-south direction and runs between two mountain ranges, as
opposed to running between two oceans or seas.
Thus, the Narrow Pass is the old Kings Highway that runs along the Pacific side by the
Gulf of Tehuantepec and then goes directly north for about 125 miles and parallels the
Gulf Coast of Mexico on the Atlantic side. Subsequently, the road either goes on into the
Mexico City Valley or takes the traveler northward all along the Gulf Coast toward the
United States border. In other words, the term NARROW PASS refers to the width of the
pass between two mountain ranges rather than to the length or distance of the pass from
ocean to ocean.
Placing the Narrow Pass within the Narrow Neck between the two mountain ranges, as
shown in Figure 24-1, is very significant. This placement solves many directional
problems that have been associated with Book of Mormon geography.
The reasons for placing the Narrow Neck of Land/Narrow Pass in the above-described
area, with the Narrow Pass running north and south between the two mountain ranges, are
as follows:
1. The Book of Mormon requirement for the Narrow Neck of Land/Narrow Pass is that it
divided the Land Southward from the Land Northward:
And now, it was only the distance of a day and half's journey for a
Nephite, on the line Bountiful and the land Desolation, from the east to the
west sea; and thus the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla were
nearly surrounded by water, there being a small NECK OF LAND
between the land northward and the land southward. (Alma 22:32)
Assume today that you were to drive north through the Narrow Neck of Land/Narrow
Pass from the City of Tehuantepec toward Acayucan. You would notice that the flat
plains along Tehuantepec suddenly devolve into a very narrow passageway for a distance
of several miles. You would be hemmed in by mountains on either side. You would find
this route to be a natural dividing line between the Land Northward on the one hand and
the Land Southward on the other. (See Figure 24-2.)
2. The Narrow Neck of Land/Narrow Pass must be situated so that it provides an escape
route into the Land Northward. Mormon indicated that the Nephites, in their wisdom,
protected the Narrow Neck of Land/Narrow Pass to hem the Lamanites in on the south.
This strategy prevented the Lamanites from having any possession in the Land
Northward and also prevented them from overrunning the Land Northward.
Mormon further noted that this plan provided the Nephites, according to their desire, with
a country into which they might flee from the Lamanites. (Alma 22:33-34)
The Narrow Neck of Land/Narrow Pass is a natural escape route. On the southwestern
side of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec lie the rugged mountains of the State of Oaxaca.
These mountains are a natural barrier for any realistic type of movement through the area.
On the northeastern side of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec are many swampy waters, as well
as a lot of river tributaries, moving into the Gulf of Mexico. These barriers make passage
through that area very difficult. (See Figure 24 3.)
Only within recent years has the automobile been able to move comfortably all the way
across from the Gulf Coast of Mexico into the Yucatan area-because this route has so
many rivers that have to be forded. Bridges now span these rivers, and travel is rather
easy in this area in the north.
3. The Narrow Pass must pass by both a sea on the west and a sea on the east. This
proposed passageway meets that requirement. Today, the Pan American Highway runs
along the Gulf Coast of Tehuantepec on the Pacific Ocean side and then goes directly
north for about 125 miles until it parallels the Gulf Coast of Mexico in the State of
Veracruz. The Gulf of Mexico is an extension of the Atlantic Ocean (East Sea).
The statement in the Book of Mormon referring to Morianton, a Nephite descendant who
was trying to go into the land that was northward (the land that was covered with large
bodies of water), in all probability was referring to the Mexico City Valley. He was
headed off at a certain point along the Narrow Pass that led into the Land Northward.
And it came to pass that 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. (Alma 50:34)
Mormon is apparently indicating that the Narrow Pass moved along the Pacific side of
the Gulf of Tehuantepec and then moved north, separating the Land Northward and the
Land Southward through the two mountain ranges. It then paralleled the Gulf of Mexico
by the State of Veracruz on the east side. At one point along the north end of the Narrow
Pass, Teancum was able to head off Morianton, as Mormon said that Moroni's army did
not head Morianton's group until the group had come to the borders of the Land of
Desolation (probably located in the present-day State of Veracruz), as shown in Figure
24-4.
4. The Narrow Neck of Land/Narrow Pass has to be near the West Sea, inasmuch as
Hagoth launched his ship into the West Sea by the Narrow Neck that led into the Land
Northward:
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.
(Alma 63:5)
In all probability, this scripture refers to the Gulf of Tehuantepec on the southern tip of
the Narrow Neck of Land/Narrow Pass that leads down from the Gulf of Mexico to the
Gulf of Tehuantepec.
The reason that the verse refers to the West Sea is because the Gulf of Tehuantepec is
part of the Pacific Ocean, which fits the criterion for its being the West Sea. For a
discussion on the boundary lines of the Land of Bountiful and the Land of Desolation, see
Chapter 19, "'The Land Southward." The above scripture states that Hagoth was an
exceedingly curious man, from the Land of Bountiful (Land Southward), which bordered
the eastern boundary of the Land of Desolation. Mormon is simply telling his readers that
Hagoth launched his ship in the Gulf of Tehuantepec on the Pacific Ocean at the bottom
of the Narrow Neck of Land[Narrow Pass, as shown in Figure 24-5.
5. The Book of Mormon requires that an area must exist on the northern part of the
Isthmus, or the Gulf of Mexico side, for the construction of cities. This is the area where
the Jaredites built a great city by the Narrow Neck of Land, by the place where the sea
divides the land.
And they built a great city by the narrow neck of land, by the place where
the sea divides the land.
And they did preserve the land southward for a wilderness, to get game. And the whole
face of the land northward was covered with inhabitants. (Ether 10:20-21)
The probable "great" city, built somewhere between 1200 BC-600 BC, is the site of San
Lorenzo at the northern part of the Isthmus, between the ancient Olmec ruins of La Venta
and the city of that same name today, and the site of Tres Zapotes, located at the base of
the Hill Vigia near Santiago Tuxtla, Veracruz. (See Figure 24-6.) Thus, it meets the
requirement for the Land Southward to be preserved as a place to get game, as the area is
a vast wilderness where even today many wild animals are found. Plausibly, the Jaredite
nation became a highly populated civilization along the Gulf Coast of Mexico. This
conclusion coincides with the fact that, from an archaeological point of view, the entire
Land Northward was inhabited with people during the Jaredite time period.
6. The Narrow Neck of Land/Narrow Pass must form a natural dividing line for land
divisions. About 350 years after the death of Christ, the Lamanites had successfully
overpowered the Nephites and driven them out of the Land of Zarahemla, which was
south of the Narrow Neck of Land. Thus, the Nephites were forced to move into the Land
Northward. Mormon states:
And the Lamanites did give unto us the land northward, yea, even to the
narrow passage which led into the land southward. And we did give unto
the Lamanites all the land southward. (Mormon 2:29)
This Land Southward, divided by the Narrow Passage, subsequently became the country
that was occupied by the massive Mayan nation. It is the area that is proposed in this text
to be Lamanite territory during the time period of the Book of Mormon. (See Chapter 4,
"Archaeology in Mesoamerica.")
The Land Northward probably included the States of Oaxaca, Veracruz, Puebla, and
Mexico.
Interestingly, the Lord sent three groups of people to this area, which is divided by the
Narrow Neck of Land. This land route is the only one that people could travel going all
the way from North America to South America, or vice versa. The area serves the same
purpose as the great land bridge in ancient Israel, where the movement was from Egypt to
Syria. By necessity, travelers had to travel through Israel, where they came in contact
with God's covenant people, thus providing travelers the opportunity of hearing about
God's covenants with the House of Israel.
The same parallel is evident in Mesoamerica. The evidence suggests that the
Nephite/Mulekite people settled on both sides of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec or Narrow
Neck of Land. This thesis simply implies that people who traveled through that area
might have had the opportunity to be influenced by God's covenant people, as was the
case in ancient Israel. Therefore, the Narrow Neck of Land/Narrow Pass plays a
significant role in Book of Mormon history and, by nature, has to be situated in a
geographical position so the requirements of a land separation, a natural boundary line,
and an escape route can be met.
SUMMARY
1. The Narrow Pass runs through the Narrow Neck of Land along the coast on the Pacific
side and moves in a south-north direction for 125 miles, between two mountain ranges,
and then runs parallel to the Gulf of Mexico on the Atlantic side.
2. The Narrow Neck of Land was a natural boundary line between the Land Southward
on the one side and the Land Northward on the other side.
3. The Narrow Neck of Land/Narrow Pass must be situated in such a manner that it can
be defended from an invading army to keep that army from going into the Land
Northward.
Some of the confusion about the Narrow Neck of Land/Narrow Pass seems to come from
a casual reading, or perhaps misreading, of Alma 22:32. Many people have assumed that
it took a Nephite only a day and a half to travel from the Sea East (Atlantic Ocean) to the
Sea West (Pacific Ocean). The Book of Mormon does not say that. It says that, in a day
and a half, a Nephite could travel from the borderline of the Land Bountiful and the
eastern border of the Land Desolation to the Sea West (Pacific Ocean). Or, as Ludlow
says:
Some students of the Book of Mormon interpret this verse to mean that the
entire narrow neck of land separating the land northward from the land
southward could be traversed by a Nephite in a day and a half. However, a
careful reading of this verse does not necessarily justify this conclusion.
The historian's statement concerning a line "from the east to the west sea"
does not necessarily mean the same as though he had said that the line
existed from the east SEA to the west sea. The statement may mean that it
was a day and a half's journey for a Nephite from the east OF THE LINE
to the west sea.
In Helaman 4:7 the author mentions this same area again: "And there they
did fortify against the Lamanites, from the west sea, even unto the east; it
being a day's journey for a Nephite, on the line which they had fortified."
Again, note that the word "sea" does not follow the word "east." Also, a
Nephite can now travel this distance in only one day's journey, and it is
quite clear the distance being covered is "the line which they had fortified"
and not necessarily the distance between two seas. (Ludlow, A Companion
to Your Study of the Book of Mormon, 1976:209)
The Book of Mormon itself clears up the matter for us when it gives the account of a
Nephite named Hagoth (Alma 63:5-8). About 57 BC, Hagoth, who lived in the Land
Bountiful, built a ship and launched it into the Sea West (Pacific Ocean) and sailed
northward. Today, I suspect that might be like sailing from Salina Cruz to Acapulco or
Mazatlan, or even farther northward, as shown in Figure 24-7.
The following scriptures refer to the Narrow Neck of Land/Narrow Pass:
Alma 22:32-". . . a small neck of land between the land northward and the
land southward."
Alma 50:34-". . . 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."
Alma 52:9-". . . secure the narrow pass which led into the land northward
.......
Alma 63:5-". . . and launched it forth into the west sea, by the narrow neck
which led into the land northward."
Mormon 2:29-". . . Lamanites did give unto us the land northward, yea,
even to the narrow passage which led into the land southward. .
Ether 10:20-"And they built a great city by the naarrow neck of land, by
the place where the sea divides the land."
THE NARROW STRIP OF WILDERNESS
The text says that the Lamanites were divided on their north from the Nephite Land of
Zarahemla "by a NARROW STRIP OF WILDERNESS, WHICH RAN FROM THE SEA
EAST EVEN TO THE SEA WEST...." (Alma 22:27)
We solve a problem in Book of Mormon geography when we designate the ten-n
"wilderness" as "mountainous region" in the above scripture instead of desert. Therefore,
I suggest that when Mormon refers to a narrow strip of wilderness, he is talking about a
narrow mountain range.
A natural boundary for the 90 BC Lamanites and Nephites may well be the high
mountain range flowing from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean north of Guatemala
City. This narrow mountain range, or Narrow Strip of Wilderness, provides a massive
boundary line separating Highland Guatemala from Lowland Guatemala and the Central
Depression of Chiapas, Mexico, as shown in Figure 24-8. This mountainous region today
is called Sierras Cuchumatenes, a part of the great Sierra Madre Mountain Range.
The following example gives further understanding to the hypothesis that the narrow
mountain range extending from the Atlantic Ocean (Sea East) east of Guatemala to the
Pacific Ocean (Sea West) by Salina Cruz, Mexico, is a natural dividing line.
Explorer John Lloyd Stephens traveled this mountain range in the 1830s. Stephens refers
to the Sierra Madre mountain range as a "vast wilderness of mountains." (Stephens
1841:II:226) He continues by saying:
At half past two we reached the top of the Sierra Madre, the dividing line
of the waters.... The ridge of the mountain was a long level table about
half a mile wide, with rugged sides rising on the right to a terrific peak.
(Stephens 1841:II:232-233)
After their journey from Guatemala into Mexico, Stephens and his party looked back at
the Sierra Madre Mountain Range and said:
... looking down into the deep imbosomed valley, and back at the great
range of Cordilleras, crowned by the Sierra Madre, seeming a barrier fit to
separate worlds. (Stephens 1841:II:241)
This narrow strip of wilderness may be the most prominent physical description in
relation to Book of Mormon geography.
QUESTIONS OFTEN ASKED
Question: Why can't the Isthmus of Panama be the Narrow Neck of Land?
Answer: At least two reasons are obvious why the Isthmus of Panama does not qualify as
a candidate for the Narrow Neck of Land in the Book of Mormon:
1. Lack of Archaeological and Linguistic Data
If we label the Isthmus of Panama as the Narrow Neck of Land, then we are obligated to
place both the Land of Zarahemla and the Land of Nephi south of Panama. If we place
these two major Book of Mormon lands south of the Isthmus of Panama, we then negate
Mesoamerica as a part of the above described lands. The absence of both linguistic and
adequate archaeological information south of the Isthmus of Panama, which dates to
Book of Mormon time, accompanied with the presence of such data north of the Isthmus
of Panama in Mesoamerica, forces us to delete the Isthmus of Panama as a candidate for
the Narrow Neck of Land.
2. Failure to Meet Distance Requirements in the Book of Mormon
If we label the Isthmus of Panama as the Narrow Neck of Land, then we create difficult
distance barriers within the pages of the Book of Mormon.
For example, the City of Desolation was in the Land of Desolation, which was located in,
or was synonymous with, the Land Northward. The City of Desolation was by the
Narrow Neck of Land that led into the Land Southward. The City of Desolation was also
flanked on the northward side by the Hill Shim. The Hill Shim was near the Hill
Cumorah. Regardless of where the last battles were fought as recorded in the Book of
Mormon, that is, whether they were fought in Mexico or New York, the distance seems
excessive.
Another example is associated with King Limhi's expedition. Living in the Land of
Nephi, the Nephites under King Limhi were oppressed excessively by the Lamanites and
decided to send an expedition to the Land of Zarahemla to seek assistance. The Limhi
Expedition left the Land of Nephi and ended up somewhere near the Hill Cumorah,
where they found the 24 gold plates left by the Jaredites. Thinking they had found the
remains of the Nephites in the Land of Zarahemla, the expedition returned to the Land of
Nephi and reported that the Nephites in the Land of Zarahemla had been destroyed.
(Mosiah 21:26)
On this journey, the Limhi Expedition had to travel THROUGH the Narrow Neck of
Land to reach the point where they found the 24 gold plates. In doing so, they were
"lost." That is, they did not know where they were when they found the ancient Jaredite
ruins. Again, the distance requirement from Panama to either Mexico or New York seems
excessive.