“The People Who Were in the Land of Shilom”

Alan C. Miner

It is interesting that although the priests of Amulon were appointed teachers over "the people in the land of Shilom" (Mosiah 24:1), no mention is made of the land of Nephi-Lehi. Why did the Lamanites inhabit the land of Shilom and not the land of Lehi-Nephi? Perhaps the city of Shilom had been abandoned during the wars between the people of Limhi and the Lamanites (Mosiah 20). The text indicates that after each battle, the people of Limhi returned to the city of Nephi, but the text does not mention their returning to the city of Shilom (Mosiah 21:1, 12). In addition, in Mosiah 21:18 it says that "the people of Limhi kept together as much as possible." Perhaps Lehi-Nephi was more heavily fortified, and thus more valuable to the people of Limhi than the land of Shilom. [Alan C. Miner, Personal Notes]

Step by Step Through the Book of Mormon: A Cultural Commentary

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