Manti was a Nephite land and city in the south of Nephite territory, lying at the head of the river Sidon on the narrow strip of wilderness that divided the Nephites from the Lamanites (Alma 22:27). It bordered the land of Gideon to the north; Alma traveled southward from Gideon toward Manti when he met the sons of Mosiah returning to Zarahemla (Alma 17:1). A hill called Manti stood within the land, where Nehor was executed after acknowledging that his teaching was contrary to the word of God (Alma 1:15).
The borders of Manti were a recurring site of war between the two peoples. Lamanite armies under Zoram crossed the river Sidon beyond the borders of Manti into the south wilderness, where the Nephites met them and recovered captives (Alma 16:6-7). Later the Lamanites departed from Antionum and marched through the wilderness by the head of the Sidon to take the land of Manti, attacking what they judged its weaker part; Moroni1, warned through Alma, marched his army there, concealed his forces near the hill Riplah and in the valleys on both sides of the river, and defeated the Lamanites as they crossed (Alma 43:22-42).
The Lamanites afterward took the land, or city, of Manti, along with the cities of Zeezrom, Cumeni, and Antiparah (Alma 56:13-14). Helaman2 set out to retake the city but found the Lamanite garrison too numerous to draw out or attack directly (Alma 58:1-2). He pitched his tents near the city, then sent Gid and Teomner with small bands to hide in the wilderness on his right and left. When the Lamanites came out, Helaman2 retreated toward Zarahemla and drew the army after him; Gid and Teomner rose from hiding, cut off the Lamanite spies, fell upon the guards left in the city, and took possession of it. The Lamanite army, fearing a trap, retreated into the wilderness, while Helaman2 marched his men by night along another route and arrived at the city of Manti before them, taking it without the shedding of blood (Alma 58:13-28).