Here in Helaman 5:14-16 it says that in their missionary journeys, Nephi and Lehi, "beginning at the city Bountiful," went forth "to the city of Gid; and from the city of Gid to the city of Mulek: and even from one city to another." In Amalikiah's initial invasion chronicled in the book of Alma, the city of Gid is mentioned as being taken over by the Lamanites. The chronological order of the cities taken as Amalickiah advanced northward is listed as: Moroni, Nephihah, Lehi, Morianton, Omner, Gid, Mulek (Alma 51:26). The Nephites fortified at Bountiful and stopped the advance of Amalickiah and Ammoron at the city of Mulek. In the subsequent Lamanite retreat (southward along the coast from the city of Mulek), the retaking of Gid is not mentioned. Here in Helaman 5:15, we find that the first city Nephi and Lehi traveled to from the city of Bountiful was the city of Gid and not the city of Mulek. How can that be? Perhaps if the city of Gid and the city of Mulek were approximately the same distance southward from the city of Bountiful (and from each other), and if the city of Gid was inland somewhat, then the more strategic site for military movement along the coast would have been the city of Mulek. Therefore, the Nephite-Lamanite battle was fought over that site.
The objectives of Nephi and Lehi were gospel oriented; therefore, the city of Gid would have been just as important to them as the city of Mulek. And even more important here than the geographical location of the cities named might be the power of the gospel message. The reader should note that these cities constituted part of the "half" of the Nephite possessions that could not be retaken by force at this particular time (see Helaman 4:10). We are shown here that although these cities could not be retaken by Moronihah with military force, they could be retaken by Nephi and Lehi with the power of the gospel. [Alan C. Miner, Personal Notes] [See the commentary on Alma 52:17-53:6; Alma 62:26-34]