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 more idle Lamanites lives in tents in the wilderness. Which implies that the rest of them lives in homes and in a more civilized community. It also shows that they had their cultural divisions, just like every people. They had their own “slums”, just like we do, where the more idle people dwell.
It also tells us of their father’s first inheritance, which could refer to the land deeded to Laman and Lemuel by father Lehi. Where was this land? I do not know. Others have their educated theories. The only thing I believe for sure is that Zarahemla is on the opposite side of the Mississippi from Nauvoo, as the Lord in revelation identified as such in the D&C.
3 Let them build up a city unto my name upon the land opposite the city of Nauvoo, and let the name of Zarahemla be named upon it.
Is it possible the Lord named a random place with that name, and it wasn’t the ancient location of Zarahemla? Of course. But when considering all of the evidence together, I believe that was the location of ancient Zarahemla. And it is in the vicinity of other ancient Nephite cities that the Lord, through Joseph, identified by revelation. Not to mention the Zelph Mound....
And once again we have more geography. Why? He could have said the king’s proclamation went out to everyone in every corner of his land. Bam. Message given in one sentence. Once again, why occupy the plates with geography when the space was so precious and limited? So limited that Moroni ended his record because he had no more room on the plates, and ore he had none, for he was wondering alone to preserve his life.
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