The wilderness near the land of Nephi was where King Noah led his people when the Lamanite army advanced on them. After Gideon spared Noah’s life and the king saw the Lamanites within the borders of the land, Noah commanded the people to flee, and he went before them as they fled into the wilderness with their women and children (Mosiah 19:9).
The Lamanites pursued and overtook them. Noah then commanded that all the men leave their wives and children and flee; many refused and stayed, while the rest abandoned their families and fled (Mosiah 19:11-12). Those who had fled with Noah swore to return to the land of Nephi and, if their families had been killed, to seek revenge. When the king commanded them not to return, they turned on him and put him to death by fire (Mosiah 19:20). His priests, about to be killed as well, fled farther into the wilderness, and the people returned to the land of Nephi (Mosiah 19:21-23).