The Sidon River is a notable geographical feature within the Nephite territories, as delineated in the Book of Mormon narrative. It originates near the south wilderness and the land of Manti and flows northward past the eastern boundary of Zarahemla, eventually reaching the sea. The significance of the Sidon River extends beyond its physical characteristics; it served as a critical landmark and played a crucial role in various military strategies, as evidenced during the clashes between Nephites, Amlicites, and Lamanites (Alma 2:15, Alma 2:34).
The river’s lengthy span, exceeding two hundred miles in a tropical zone, suggests it would have had a considerable volume of water, likely forming a delta where it met the sea. This delta could explain the widespread lowland region along the eastern seacoast, which became strategic in fortifications built by Captain Moroni to ward off Lamanite incursions (Alma 50:7, 9–11). As an integral part of the region’s topology, the river might have encompassed a natural line of defense, with its tributaries acting as barriers against enemy approach.
In times of peace, the waters of the Sidon River were hallowed by acts of faith, serving as the site for numerous baptisms under the direction of Alma, who was the high priest over the church (Alma 4:4). It is thus depicted as both a source of physical sustenance and spiritual renewal for the inhabitants of the land.
Over time, the label “land of Zarahemla” shifted to include a larger expanse of land surrounding the Sidon River. What began as a term encompassing the local vicinity of the city of Zarahemla eventually expanded to include vast swathes of territory, including the land by the east sea (Alma 50:7, 11). Such shifts in terminologies hint at the dynamic political and cultural changes occurring within Nephite society over the course of their recorded history.