The Amulonites were appointed teachers over the lands of Shemlon, Shilom, and Amulon. It might appear that all of these places were close to one another (see Mosiah 24:2, 4) because the priests would have to travel from one land to another. However, some of the priests may have moved from the land of Amulon to the lands of Shemlon and Shilom, thus eliminating the need to travel. Given the time frame of one to two years and the expanded travel back and forth because of the Lamanite occupation of the lands of Amulon and Helam, the distance of eight or more days between the lands of Helam and Amulon and the lands of Shilom and Shemlon would not have been a problem. Notice also that in Mosiah 24:3 it says that king Laman was king over a numerous people. Maybe the lands of Shemlon, Shilom, Helam and Amulon represented just a few of the lands of the Lamanites. Maybe they are specified only because they are the lands which related to this story. [Alan C. Miner, Personal Notes]