There Began to Be Much Peace in the Land

George Reynolds, Janne M. Sjodahl

The favor of the Lord in whose grace the people of Zarahemla were copiously blessed, was made evident in their growth and development as a great nation. Not only did they increase in numbers but also in power and riches. Colonists from their great city made their homes in every direction, and soon communities, both large and small, even large cities and villages, sprang up in "all quarters of the land." Their territorial expansion was from the north far to the south, and from, we imagine, the Atlantic Ocean on the East even to the Pacific on the West.

We are intrigued by the statement made in verse 7, "And the Lord did visit them and prosper them, and they became a large and wealthy people."

Up to this time no other city except Zarahemla is mentioned in the Book of Mormon as being in that land, but we may reasonably suppose that such cities as are mentioned in the annals of the next twenty years were built during that period. We have in mind such cities as, Aaron, Ammonihah, Gideon, Manti, Melek, and many others.

Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 2

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