William Clayton, one of the original pioneer company of 1847, is probably best
known for his writing of the well known pioneer hymn Come, Come, Ye Saints composed while crossing Iowa on April 15, 1846. A less known contribution to the pioneer trek was his publication of The Latter-day Saints' Emigrants' Guide: being a table of distances...published in St. Louis, Missouri in 1848. After staying in the Salt Lake Valley for the summer of 1847 he returned to Winter Quarters in the fall and compiled this "Emigrants' guide" from entries made in his detailed diary. (See: https://net.lib.byu.edu/imaging/into/pco1847/Clayton%27s/Claytonfs.html)
Clayton's guide is the best of its time for the Mormon route and includes numerous pieces of valuable information to emigrants. It lists the names and occasional locations of prominent points, the distances in miles between the points listed, the distance from Winter Quarters, and the distances from Great Salt Lake City. So the emigrant reading this guide always knew how far he had come, how far to the next camp site and how far it was to the valley of the Great Salt Lake.
There was only one route matching Clayton's description. Any deviation would have not corresponded to his guide. In a similar manner Mormon has given us a guide to Book of Mormon geography and has provided us with a very precise description. It must be matched exactly in every detail or the proposed geography is in error.
An example from Clayton's handbook: Independence Rock and ford. On the north side of the river-about 600 yards long and a hundred and twenty wide, composed of hard granite. From Winter Quarters 698 miles. From Great Salt Lake 332 miles. (page 15).
The following are descriptions of sites that define, either by geography or characteristics, the Book of Mormon geography in chronological order.
Jacob 2:12 gold, and for silver, and for all manner of precious aores, in the which this land, which is a bland of promise unto you and to your seed, doth abound most plentifully.
One of the things mentioned is that they encountered gold and silver shortly after they landed in the promised land. Would have been near sea shore.
Words of Mormon 1:13 And it came to pass that the armies of the Lamanites came down out of the land of Nephi ... . The book uses up and down to indicate respective elevations.
Mosiah 7:1 Up to city and land of Lehi-Nephi. See Words of Mormon 1:13.
4 Knew not the course they should follow in the wilderness.
They had not traveled north of their land for several generations. The geography was totally unknown.
5 They wandered for 40 days in wilderness. Hill north of land of Shilom. See verse 1 above.
9 Up out of land of Zarahemla to land of Lehi-Nephi.
The route to the land of Lehi-Nephi was up from land of Zarahemla.
10 City of Lehi-Nephi had walls and a gate.
13 Up out of land of Zarahemla. See verse 1 above.
16 Hill north of Shilom. There was a hill north of the city of Shilom.
21 Cities of Lehi-Nephi and Shilom.
Mosiah 8:2 Up out of the land (Zarahemla). See verse 1 above.
8 43 were lost in wilderness for many days. Found remnants of Jaredite destruction. Found ruins of buildings and evidence of large population. See verse 4 above. They were not familiar with the geography of land of Zarahemla and were lost.
9 Found 24 gold record plates.
10 Found breastplates of brass.
11 Found swords with decaying hilts. Wooden hilts would decompose in 15-20 years in tropics.
Mosiah 9:3:Go thru wilderness from Zarahemla to land of Nephi. Wilderness between two lands.
4 Wander in wilderness many days. Were lost in extensive wilderness for extended time.
6 Nephites possess land of Lehi-Nephi and the land of Shilom. These cities were in land southward.
8 City of Lehi-Nephi and Shilom had walls.
14 Nephites pasturing flocks and tilling land south of city of Shilom.
Mosiah 10:8 Lamanites came up upon land north of Shilom.
9 Nephites hide in wilderness.
18 Brought people up into land of Lehi-Nephi.
Mosiah 18:4 Place of Mormon named after king. In the borders of land (Lehi-Nephi) infested by wild animals.
5 A fountain of pure water there. There was a forest of trees, it was a wooded area.
8 Called Waters of Mormon.
31 Waters of Mormon in the borders of land Lehi-Nephi. Was within days journey of that city.
Mosiah 19:6 There was a tower in land of Lehi-Nephi which looked into land of Shemlon.
9 Wilderness near city of Lehi-Nephi.
23 Flee farther into wildeness.
Mosiah 20:4 Shemlon next to wilderness.
8. Tower looks down on land of Shemlon.
Mosiah 21:19 City of Lehi-Nephi had a wall and gates.
24 Ammon and his brethren came from land of Zarahemla.
25 King Limhi sent men to look for land of Zarahemla.
26 They found a land covered with dry bones and people who had been destroyed. They went far enough north to discover land of former Jardites.
Mosiah 22:7 Secret pass on left of Lamanite camp.
8 Nephites travel around land of Shilom.
11 They traveled around land of Shilom in the wilderness. Bent course toward land of Zarahemla.
13 Many days travel between Lehi-Nephi and Zarahemla.
16 After 2 days Lamanites could not follow tracks of Nephites.
Mosiah 23:1 Alma and people flee into wilderness.
3 Flee 8 days journey into wilderness.
4 Arrive at beautiful land of pure water.
5 Till the land.
19 Called the land Helam.
20 Built a city called Helam.
30 Armies of Lamanites lost many days in wilderness.
31 Lamanites find Amulonites in wilderness.
35 Amulonites join Lamanites, travel in wilderness searching for home, find land of Helam.
36-37 People of Alma show Lamanites way to land of Nephi.
Mosiah 24:20 Alma and people depart into wilderness. Come to valley of Alma one days journey.
25 After 12 days in wilderness come to land of Zarahemla.
Mosiah 25:1 All Mosiah's people gathered together in one place.
4 Gathered in 2 bodies (Mulekite and Nephite?).
23 Seven churches in land of Zarahemla.
Mosiah 27:6 people inhabit land on the north and on the south, on the east and on the west, building large cities and villages in all quarters of the land.
Mosiah 28:1 go up to land of Nephi.
5 Up to land of Nephi.
6 Up among the lamanites. Mentions going up 2 more times.
Mosiah 29:3 Aaron had gone up to land of Nephi.
Alma 2:6 The people hold a national referendum. Amlici rejected.
15 People of Amlici are gathered in one body on the Hill Amnihu which was east of the Sidon River where it ran by the Land of Zarahemla.
16 Alma with Nephite army goes from Zarahemla up to Hill Amnihu.
20 Nephites pursue Amlicites from Amnihu to the Valley of Gideon all on same day.
24 Nephite spies follow Amlicites to the Land of Minon.
25 Spies return to Valley of Gidion next morning pursued by Amlicites and Lamanites.
27 Nephites all flee toward Zarahemla. As they are crossing the Sidon their enemies catch up to them. Battle ensues on the banks and in the river.
34 Cross river (apparently on foot) fight on west side of river.
36 Amlicites/Lamanites flee to wilderness.
37 Wilderness called Hermounts. Infested by wild beasts.
Alma 8:3 Alma goes from Zarahemla to Land of Melek, on the west of Sidon, west by borders of wilderness.
6 Alma travels 3 days journey on north of Land of Melek to city of Ammonihah.
13 Alma goes from Ammonihah toward city of Aaron.
18 Alma returns to Ammonihah through south entrance.
Alma 16 Lamanites attack Ammonihah from wilderness side and destroy it. Zoram attacks Lamanites east side Sidon south of Manti.
Alma 17:1 Alma goes from Gideon south to Manti.
Alma 17:8-9 Sons of Mosiah go up to Land of Nephi. Travel in wilderness many days.
Alma 17:13 borders land of Lamanites. Ammon goes to Land of Ishmael. 26 Water of Sebus. A unique place where all went to water.
Alma 20:1-4 Relationship of cities Ishmael, Nephi and Middoni.
Alma 21:1-2 Borders of the Lamanites, to city Jerusalem, near borders of Mormon. Amalakites and Amulonites after order of Nehors. 11 From Jerusalem to village of Ani-Anti. 12 From Ani-Anti to Middoni.
Alma 22:1 go from Middoni to Nephi.
Alma 22:27 Sea east to sea west, narrow strip wilderness north by land of Zarahemla, goes from east to west, mentions Manti and head of river Sidon.
Alma 22:28 Lamanites in wilderness west of land of Nephi and west of land of Zarahemla by the seashore. Mentions land of first inheritance. 29 Nephites had north lands from head of Sidon to Bountiful. 30 Bountiful borders on land of Desolation. Bones of Jaredites discovered by people of Zarahemla. Land north place of first landing. 31 People of Zarahemla came to south wilderness from land northward. Land northward called Desolation, land south called Bountiful, filled with wild animals which came from north for food.
Alma 22:32 Day and a half journey from east to sea west on line of Bountiful and Desolation. Land of Nephi and Zarahemla nearly surrounded by water. Small neck of land separates north from south. 33 Nephites inhabited Bountiful from east to sea west. Lamanites limited to land of Nephi.
Alma 23:9-12 Area cities where Lamanites were converted: Ismael, Middoni, Nephi, Shilom, Shemlon, Lemuel, Shemnilom.
Alma 24:1 Group of cities, Helam, Amulon and Jerusalem. 5 from Land of Midan to Land of Ishmael.
Alma 25:2 Lamanites capture borders of land, to Ammonihah. 5 Lamanites flee to east wilderness. 8 Seed of Amulon flee to east wilderness. 13 Believing Lamanites gather to land of Ishmail and land of Nephi.
Alma 27: go down from Land of Nephi to Zarahemla. 14 go from area around Nephi to Wilderness separating Land of Nephi from Land of Zarahemla (narrow strip of wilderness). 22 Defines Land of Jershon, south of Bountiful, north of Nephi, by sea coast. 26 go from wilderness down to Jershon.
Alma 31:3 Antionum east of Zarahemla, bordering on seashore, south of land of Jershon, bordered on the wilderness south.
Alma 35:1 Go from Land of Zoramites to Land of Jershon. 13 Ammonites leave Jershon and go to Melek.
Hel. 1:18 Zarahemla heart of the land.
Hel. 3:4 Many leave Land of Zarahemla and go to land northward. 5 They go a long way and find lakes and rivers. 5 Land desolate because of former inhabitants. 6 Called desolate because of former destruction. Little timber or trees. 7 became expert in use of adobe and built houses of adobe. 8 mentions sea south, north, east west. 9 built all buildings with wood. 10 shipped wood north for buildings. 11 built cities of wood and adobe.
Hel. 4:5 Lammanites drive Nephites to Land of Desolation. 7 fortify Narrow Neck from east sea to west sea to preserve north country. Days journey across. 8 Lammanites gain possesion of all Nephite lands in land southward. 10 Nephites regain half their lands (the land of Bountiful?). 13 Nephites lost possession of almost all their lands.
Hel. 5:14-16 Nephi and Lehi teach in lands of Nephites beginning city of Bountiful, to city of Gid, to city of Mulek, to all cities in Bountiful, then to Land of Zarahemla among Lamanites. 20 go from Land of Zarahemla to Land of Nephi. 52 Lamanites yield lands to Nephites.
Hel. 6:6 Lamanites go into land northward. 9 & 11 Abundance of gold and silver in both land northward and southward. 10 Land south called Lehi, land north called Mulek. Mulek into land north and Lehi to land south.
Hel. 7:1 Nephi returns to Zarahemla from land northward.
Hel. 11:20 People spread over all land from sea east to sea west. 25 Robbers retreat back into mountains.
3 Ne. 1:27 Gadiantons hide in mountains (near population centers).
3 Ne. 2:17 Nephites/Lamanites drive robbers back into mountains.
3 Ne. 3:13 All people gathered to one place. 14 Fortified land. 21 Located in center of land. 22 All went to place appointed. 23 Land appointed was Land of Zarahemla, land between land of Zarahemla and land Bountiful, to boundary of Bountiful and land of Desolation. 24 Was in land southward not land northward. 25 All in one land in one body.
3 Ne. 4 All people in one body. Robbers come down out of mountains and wilderness. Nephites pursue robbers to border of wilderness. Robber lay siege and surround Nephites on every side. 23 Robbers try to escape to lands farthest north.
3 Ne. 6:2 People return to possessions in land northward and southward. 7-8 Many cities built over and many repaired. Many highways built.
3 Ne. 8:8 Destruction at death of Christ. City of Zarahemla burns. 9 City of Moroni submerged in sea. 10 Moronihah covered by mountain. 11 Terrible destruction in land southward. 12 Worse destruction in land northward. 13 Highways broken up. 14 Many cities burned, buried or destroyed. 18 Rock formations shattered and broken up. 19-22 Thick darkness for 3 days. Descriptive of volcanic eruption.
3 Ne. 9:3 Zarahemla burned. 4 Moroni sunk in sea. 5 Moronihah covered with mountain. 6 City of Gilgal buried in earth. 7 Cities of Onihah, Mocum and Jerusalem covered with water. 8 Cities of Gadiandi, Gadiomnah, Jacob and Gimgimno sunk in earth. 9 City of Jacobugath burned with fire. 10 Cities of Laman, Josh, Gad and Kishkumen burned with fire. 12 Many great destructions.
3 Ne. 19:1-3 People gathered during night to temple in Bountiful. Indicates a limited area.
Mormon 1:3 Land of Antum, hill Shim (records deposited there). 6 Mormon carried from land northward to Zarahemla. Land covered with inhabitants. 10 War began in borders of Zarahemla by River Sidon.
Mormon 3:5 Gather at land of Desolation, to city (of Desolation ?) near narrow pass leading to land southward. 6 Fortified that place (had to have been a strategic location). 7 Lamanites come down to city of Desolation. 8 come down again. Dead were cast into sea (had to have a sea nearby). 10 Nephites go up to battle against the Lamanites.
Mormon 4:1 go up out of land of Desolation. 2 Nephites driven back to city of Desolation, Lamanites take possession of Desolation. 3 Nephites flee to city of Teacum. Teacum near Desolation on borders of the sea. 7-8 Lamanites attack Teancum but repulsed. Nephites retake city of Desolation. 13-14 Lamanites take Desolation and Teancum. 15 Nephites drive Lamanites out of their lands. 19 Lamanites come down against Desolation and retake it. 20 Nephites retreat to city Boaz. 22 Nephites flee before advancing Lamanites. 23 Mormon retrieves records from Hill Shim.
Mormon 5:3 Nephites flee to city of Jordan. 4 Nephite cities by Jordan block passage of Lamanite in land of Desolation. 5 Nephite cities burned. 7 Nephites lose cities flee north from Lamanites.
Mormon 6:1-4 Nephites gather to Cumorah. Cumorah a land of waters, rivers, fountains, etc. Provided an advantage over Lamanites. 6 Hides all Nephite records in hill Cumorah. About a million people lived there for 4 years. Million or more killed there. Should be evidence of warfare and bodies.
Mormon 8:2 Some Nephites escape to south countries.
Ether 7:6 Land of Moron of Jaredites was near Land of Desolation of the Nephites.
Ether 9:3 Travel many days from Moron to seashore (Ablom). Passes by Hill Shim and Cumorah (Ramah). 31 Flee from Moron toward land of Zarahemla. 32 Animals flee to land southward.
Ether 10:19 Lib destroys plague of serpents blocking Narrow Neck and goes to land southward. 20 Lib builds great city by Narrow Neck, by place where sea divides the land.
Ether 13:27 Battle in Valley of Gilgal. 28 To Plains of Heslon. 29 Back to Valley of Gilgal.
Ether 14:3 Pursues to wilderness of Akish. 6 From wilderness of Akish to Moron. 11 From wilderness of Akish to Moron. 12 From Moron to seashore. 14 From seashore to wilderness of Akish. 15 From wilderness of Akish to plains of Agosh. 26 From Agosh passing many cities eastward to seashore. 27 Flee from seashore to land of Corihor. 28 Valley of Corihor near valley of Shurr, valley of Shurr near hill Comnor. Battle on hill Comnor. 31 Return from Comnor to valley of Corihor.
Ether 15:8 Flee to Ripliancum (probably eastern coast of Guatemala or Honduras). 10 Flee southward to Ogath. 11 Coriantumr follows to Ramah. 33 Ether hides records where people of Limhi find them.
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