4 For, behold, said he, I have seen a vision, in which I know that Jerusalem is destroyed; and had we remained in Jerusalem we should also have perished.
5 But, said he, notwithstanding our afflictions, WE HAVE OBTAINED A LAND OF PROMISE A LAND WHICH IS CHOICE ABOVE ALL OTHER LANDS; a land which the Lord God hath covenanted with me should be a land for the inheritance of my seed. Yea, the Lord hath covenanted this land unto me, and to my children forever, and also all those who should be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord.
6 Wherefore, I, Lehi, prophesy according to the workings of the Spirit which is in me, that THERE SHALL NONE COME INTO THIS LAND SAVE THEY SHALL BE BROUGHT BY THE HAND OF THE LORD.
7 Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a LAND OF LIBERTY unto them; wherefore, THEY SHALL NEVER BE BROUGHT DOWN INTO CAPTIVITY; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, BUT UNTO THE RIGHTEOUS IT SHALL BE BLESSED FOREVER.
8 And behold, it is wisdom that this land should be KEPT AS YET FROM THE KNOWLEDGE OF OTHER NATIONS; for behold, many nations would overrun the land, that there would be no place for an inheritance.
9 Wherefore, I, Lehi, have obtained a promise, that inasmuch as those whom the Lord God shall bring out of the land of Jerusalem shall keep his commandments, they shall prosper upon the FACE OF THIS LAND; and they shall be KEPT FROM ALL OTHER NATIONS, that they may possess this land unto themselves. And if it so be that they shall keep his commandments THEY SHALL BE BLESSED upon the FACE OF THIS LAND, and there shall be none to molest them, nor to take away the land of their inheritance; and THEY SHALL DWELL SAFELY FOREVER.
20 And he hath said that: INASMUCH AS YE SHALL KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS YE SHALL PROSPER IN THE LAND BUT INASMUCH AS YE WILL NOT KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS YE SHALL BE CUT OFF FROM MY PRESENCE. (2 Nephi 1)
Questions to Ask a Book of Mormon Geographer
- How are the lands in your model "choice above all other lands?" What made them choice?
- Are there stories of immigrants coming to those lands because "God brought them?"
- Do the lands in your model carry the nickname "liberty" because they are known as lands of freedom? Do people often make statements like: "It’s a free country!"
- Is the country in your model free of an established religion?
- Has the country in your model ever been taken over by a military coup, or an invading army?