the land surrounding were called by varied names, according to the wishes of the people, most frequently after the leader of the out-going colony or founder of the city. To distinguish the smaller land of Nephi from the whole country, it is sometimes called the land of Lehi-Nephi.
We have stated that the small land of Nephi was a very limited district. We think this is easily proven. It was so limited in extent that we are told king Noah built a tower near the temple so high that he could stand upon the top thereof and overlook not only the land of Lehi-Nephi where it was built, but also the land of Shilom and the land of Shemlon, which last named land was possessed by the Lamanites. No matter how high the tower, the land of Lehi-Nephi must have been comparatively small to have enabled a man to overlook all three lands from the top of one building.
It was on the borders of this land, in the forest of Mormon, that Alma used to hide himself. It was there he gathered the believers in his teachings, baptized them in the waters of Mormon, and organized the Church of Jesus Christ. From the waters of Mormon to Zarahemla it was twenty-two days' actual travel for an emigrant train.
Alma having been warned of the Lord fled with his people into the wilderness which divided the lands of Nephi and Zarahemla. They journeyed for eight days when they rested and commenced to build a city, which they called Helam. Being afterwards compelled to leave this city, on account of the persecutions of the Lamanites and Amulonites, they again took their journey northward, and reached the homes of the main body of the Nephites in Zarahemla in about fourteen days.
Here we have a people encumbered and delayed by flocks and herds, heavily laden with grain,
