MANTI, LAND OF. This land was situated contiguous to the wilderness at the head waters of the Sidon (Alma, 16:6), and lay on the line of march generally taken by the armies of the Lamanites when they invaded Zarahemla. Its exact boundaries are not defined; indeed, it is altogether probable that they varied considerably at different periods of Nephite history. However, it is evident that it was the most southerly of all the lands inhabited by the Nephites, in the western half of the South American continent, after they had moved from the land of Nephi.
MARY. The mother of Jesus Christ. She is twice mentioned by name in the prophecies of the ancient Nephite worthies. King Benjamin in prophesying to his people of the coming of the Redeemer (B. C. 125) said, "He shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning, and his mother shall be called Mary." (Mosiah, 3:8.) Alma, the younger, in his preaching to the people of Gideon (B. C. 83) declared that Jesus should "be born of Mary * * * * * she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed, and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God." (Alma, 7:10.) She was also shown to Nephi in a vision (B. C. 600), though not mentioned by him by name. He records: “I beheld the city of Nazareth; and in the city of Nazareth I beheld a virgin, and she was exceedingly fair and white." Of this virgin an angel tells him: "The virgin whom thou seest, is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh." Further on he states: "I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms. And the angel said unto me, Behold the Lamb of God, vea, even the Son of the Eternal Father!" (I Nephi, 11:13—21).
