Geography: Mormon summarizes what Moroni considered the Nephite lands. The northernmost border is the land of Desolation, the Nephite term for the Jaredite lands (Alma 22:30). He does not specify the southern border. Moroni considers “all the land” to be “on the north and on the south,” suggesting that his own probable location is nearer the center than a border (though Zarahemla would conceptually be the center, even if not completely correct geographically). The southern border may be in dispute between the Lamanites and the Nephites.
Moroni’s designation of this limited land as “chosen” is a clear allusion to Lehi’s promise:
But, said he, notwithstanding our afflictions, we have obtained a land of promise, a land which is choice above all other lands; a land which the Lord God hath covenanted with me should be a land for the inheritance of my seed. Yea, the Lord hath covenanted this land unto me, and to my children forever, and also all those who should be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord.
Wherefore, I, Lehi, prophesy according to the workings of the Spirit which is in me, that there shall none come into this land save they shall be brought by the hand of the Lord.
Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever. (2 Ne. 1:5–7)
Moroni applies Lehi’s two foundational themes: it is a land of promise (or a chosen land), and also a land of liberty. By extracting these terms and placing them on the banner, he was invoking Yahweh’s promise to the people and reminding them of their heritage.
Variant: Up until the 1920 edition, this verse read “he gave all the land which was south.… ” The intended meaning of “gave” is clearly to “give as a name” and so the alteration simply clarifies that meaning instead of leaving the more ambiguous word, “gave.”