Forts of Security in the Land of Promise

If there is one thing that marks the history of the Nephites, was their nearly 1000 year struggle against the Lamamite who sought to destroy them and wrest back the leadership their forefathers claimed had been stolen from them. In order to counter the constant threat, the Nephites, especially under the direction of Captain Moroni, and later his son, Moronihah, were constantly building forts, walls, and resorts (small outpost forts) to stem the aggression.

Moroni equipped his Nephite army with protective padding that frightened the Lamanites, who were only clad in loincloths

Consequently, besides walled cities, defensive walls covering many miles in length, and fortresses, the Nephites not only built many of their cities on mountainous areas overlooking the terrain below, but built small outposts, called resorts, to provide advance warning of the constant Lamanite incursions northward into the Land of Zarahemla.

Moroni drew up plans for the building of forts that would protect his army and people against the attacking Lamanites

“He [Moroni] had been strengthening the armies of the Nephites, and erecting small forts, or places of resort; throwing up banks of earth round about to enclose his armies, and also building walls of stone to encircle them about, round about their cities and the borders of their lands; yea, all round about the land” (Alma 48:8). “He kept his men round about, as if making preparations for war; yea, and truly he was preparing to defend himself against them, by casting up walls round about and preparing places of resort” (Alma 52:6). When the Lamanites came to attack, “they knew not that Moroni had fortified, or had built forts of security, for every city in all the land round about; therefore, they marched forward to the land of Noah with a firm determination; yea, their chief captains came forward and took an oath that they would destroy the people of that city” (Alma 49:13).

In fact, the Nephites were continually on the defensive against the aggressive Lamanites, for the Lord told them, “Ye shall defend your families even unto bloodshed. Therefore for this cause were the Nephites contending with the Lamanites, to defend themselves, and their families, and their lands, their country, and their rights, and their religion” (Alma 43:47).

Such a culture should have left example after example of defensive fortresses, forts, small outposts (resorts), protective walls, etc., which were built in the last two centuries B.C., as well as defensive areas around their major area of development in the City of Nephi and round about in the Land of Nephi before that.

While some point to dirt mounds and wooden stockade forts, or claim this or that area had such but time eroded them, leaving no evidence, we have to understand that Nephi and Sam were young adults when they left Jerusalem. Along with Lehi, they were all well aware of the construction of Jerusalem, which was built of magnificent rock walls, temple, synagogues and buildings. Their houses were solid structures with solid roofs, not the thatched roofing found in North America, nor the stick buildings that have long disappeared.

Despite Hollywood movies, wooden, palisade forts, provided little protection from a concentrated attack, as evidenced by the numerous forts of early America that were overrun and burned to the ground, or to which a successful siege was laid. Wooden walls due well against animals, but that is about it

It is unreasonable to think that Nephi built out of wood the mighty structures his people developed. He was taught his building knowledge by the Lord (1 Nephi 18:2), who also taught him how to make tools (1 Nephi 17:9,16) to construct a ship (1 Nephi 18:1) capable of carrying their entire colony and sailing across the deep oceans (1 Nephi 18:6). In the Land of Promise, Nephi taught others his knowledge of building and working with ore, precious metals, wood, iron and steel (2 Nephi 5:15).

The description of the Temple suggests a magnificent edifice, “did build a temple; and I did construct it after the manner of the temple of Solomon save it were not built of so many precious things; for they were not to be found upon the land, wherefore, it could not be built like unto Solomon's temple. But the manner of the construction was like unto the temple of Solomon; and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine” (2 Nephi 5:16). His very description suggests that such a building would last long, and obviously be recognizable today in some manner.

In Helaman we find “that there were many who heard the words of Samuel, the Lamanite, which he spake upon the walls of the city,” (Helaman 16:1), but he was not just hanging on to palisade logs, but standing “upon the wall” (Helaman 16:2) To stand upon city walls, it needs be that the wall must be of some substantial construction—like rock or stone—and certainly of some height to avoid being struck by thrown rocks and fired arrows. Such a structure would not be a few crumbled stones today, but show some remnants of a far more solid erection. In addition, “the walls of the prison did shake as if they were about to tumble to the earth” (Helaman 5:27,31) also suggests rock or stone construction. “…they were as if in the midst of a flaming fire, yet it did harm them not, neither did it take hold upon the walls of the prison” again suggests stone or rock walls (Helaman 5:44).

In another instance, we are told that “walls of the prison were rent in twain, so that they fell to the earth; and the chief judge, and the lawyers, and priests, and teachers, who smote upon Alma and Amulek, were slain by the fall thereof” (Alma 14:27), which would take a considerable weight, plus the fact that a log or stockade wall is not “rent in twain,” which is a term that applies to a rock or stone wall. This is definitely born out by “the prison had fallen to the earth, and every soul within the walls thereof, save it were Alma and Amulek, was slain; and they straightway came forth into the city” (Alma 14:28).

Stone fort built in ancient times in Andean Peru, which is far more intimidating to an attacking force than any wooden fort could be

Again, Alma tells us specifically the walls were of stone, when he wrote that “he had been…erecting small forts, or places of resort; throwing up banks of earth round about to enclose his armies, and also building walls of stone to encircle them about, round about their cities and the borders of their lands; yea, all round about the land” (Alma 48:8). Walls of stone, after all, are walls of stone!

All of this suggests a type of construction that is more than wood logs or simple rocks stacked on top of one another, but a solid building of the type that lasts in the form of ruins found in Central and South America.

It is ridiculous to look for a place where the Land of Promise existed that does not include such ruins of magnificent buildings, a Temple “like unto Solomons,” stone walls, small outpost forts (resorts), and the other building that Nephi taught his people and which marks the area of the old Nephite Nation, and in which Moroni later built. Yet, there are so many people who are so arrogant they think they know more than the scriptural record. After all, if it doesn’t match the scriptural account, then it is not the Book of Mormon Land of Promise.