< Mosiah 7 >
v. 1 ... he was desirous to know concerning the people who went up to dwell in the land of Lehi-Nephi, or in the city of Lehi-Nephi; for his people had heard nothing from them from the time they left the land of Zarahemla...
The land of Lehi-Nephi (often shortened to “the land of Nephi”) is the original Nephite homeland after they separated from the Lamanites, and it sits south of Zarahemla and up in elevation (Mosiah 7:1-4) and (Mosiah 21:26 where they go down to Zarahemla).
It was the original Nephite settlement after the separation from the Lamanites (2 Nephi 5) and it was near and often controlled by the Lamanites (Mosiah 10:8-11). Mosiah 1 left here becuase the people were being constantly attacked and were dwindling in unbelief. They found Zarahemla, the Mulekites and started a new covenant community.
The original land of Lehi-Nephi includes:
During the Book of Mosiah you have three Nephite groups interacting:
1. The Nephites in Zarahemla
(Mosiah I (who left the land of Nephi-Lehi), Benjamin, Mosiah II)
2. Zeniff’s group
Who leave Zarahemla to reclaim “their first inheritance,” the land of Nephi (Mosiah 9–10).
3. Limhi’s people
Descendants of Zeniff, now in bondage to the Lamanites (Mosiah 19–22).
The main Mosiah narrative turns on reconnecting the Zarahemla Nephites with the Nephites in Lehi-Nephi.
The land of Lehi-Nephi (often shortened to “the land of Nephi”) is the original Nephite homeland after they separated from the Lamanites, and it sits south of Zarahemla and up in elevation (Mosiah 7:1-4) and (Mosiah 21:26 where they go down to Zarahemla).
It was the original Nephite settlement after the separation from the Lamanites (2 Nephi 5) and it was near and often controlled by the Lamanites (Mosiah 10:8-11). Mosiah 1 left here becuase the people were being constantly attacked and were dwindling in unbelief. They found Zarahemla, the Mulekites and started a new covenant community.
The original land of Lehi-Nephi includes:
- The city of Nephi (Mosiah 9:5)
- Temples and religious sites established by Nephi
- The land of Shilom (Mosiah 9:6–7)
- The land of Shemlon (Mosiah 10:6)
During the Book of Mosiah you have three Nephite groups interacting:
1. The Nephites in Zarahemla
(Mosiah I (who left the land of Nephi-Lehi), Benjamin, Mosiah II)
2. Zeniff’s group
Who leave Zarahemla to reclaim “their first inheritance,” the land of Nephi (Mosiah 9–10).
3. Limhi’s people
Descendants of Zeniff, now in bondage to the Lamanites (Mosiah 19–22).
The main Mosiah narrative turns on reconnecting the Zarahemla Nephites with the Nephites in Lehi-Nephi.
v. 3 And it came to pass that on the morrow they started to go up, having with them one Ammon, he being a strong and mighty man, and a descendent of Zarehemla; and he was also their leader.
Who went back to the land of Nephi?
At the same time another group left the land of Nephi and returned to Zarahemla?
Who went back to the land of Nephi?
- Originally Zeniff (with volunteers) at the end of Omni when Mosiah I was king
- In Chapter 7 of Mosiah during Mosiah II's reign Ammon and 16 men go back (not the Ammon from Alma, this guy is a Mulekite descendent)
- They find Limhi (Remember it went Zeniff -- wicked King Noah -- his son Limhi)
At the same time another group left the land of Nephi and returned to Zarahemla?
- Alma the Elder and his people - on their own
- Limhi and his people with Ammon
v. 4 ... therefore they wandered. many days in the wilderness, even forty days did they wander.
In Hebrew scripture, 40 is one of the most common symbolic time lengths, representing:
“A long, divinely guided period of trial or travel.”
In Hebrew scripture, 40 is one of the most common symbolic time lengths, representing:
- A period of trial
- A transition
- A testing or refining period
- A journey toward a new covenant
- Moses on Sinai: 40 days (Exodus 24:18)
- Israel in the wilderness: 40 years (Numbers 14:33)
- Elijah travels to Horeb: 40 days (1 Kings 19:8)
- Christ fasting: 40 days (Matthew 4:2)
- The flood rains: 40 days (Genesis 7:17)
“A long, divinely guided period of trial or travel.”
v. 31 ... And again he saith: If my people shall sow filthiness they shall reap the east wind, which bringers immediate destruction.
The East Wind in Ancient Israel (the Old World)
In the Bible, the east wind (Hebrew: qadim) is: Hot, Dry, Scorching, Destructive
It comes from the semi-arid deserts east of Israel, blowing toward the Mediterranean.
The Bible mentions it repeatedly:
The East Wind in the Book of Mormon (the New World)
The Book of Mormon uses identical imagery:
This raises the question: Would this symbolism make sense in the New World? Actually, yes.
East Winds ARE a thing in the Americas
In Mesoamerica (the mainstream scholarly candidate for BoM geography), strong east or northeast trade winds occur seasonally:
Bring heat, Carry dust and dry air, strip leaves, damage crops, precede storms or hurricanes
These are the same winds that:
The Maya even documented destructive seasonal winds.
So the symbolic meaning (“destructive wind from the east”) works in both worlds.
The East Wind in Ancient Israel (the Old World)
In the Bible, the east wind (Hebrew: qadim) is: Hot, Dry, Scorching, Destructive
It comes from the semi-arid deserts east of Israel, blowing toward the Mediterranean.
The Bible mentions it repeatedly:
- Blights grain (Genesis 41:6, 23, 27)
- Dries up the sea (Exodus 14:21)
- Breaks ships (Psalm 48:7)
- Withers the vine (Ezekiel 17:10)
- Represents judgment (Hosea 13:15; Jonah 4:8)
The East Wind in the Book of Mormon (the New World)
The Book of Mormon uses identical imagery:
- “The east wind” as a symbol of destruction, scattering, or divine judgment.
- Appears in Mosiah 12:6, Helaman 12:11, Ether 14:3.
This raises the question: Would this symbolism make sense in the New World? Actually, yes.
East Winds ARE a thing in the Americas
In Mesoamerica (the mainstream scholarly candidate for BoM geography), strong east or northeast trade winds occur seasonally:
Bring heat, Carry dust and dry air, strip leaves, damage crops, precede storms or hurricanes
These are the same winds that:
- Blow African dust across the Atlantic
- Affect Caribbean and Central American climate
- Drive storm systems westward
The Maya even documented destructive seasonal winds.
So the symbolic meaning (“destructive wind from the east”) works in both worlds.