Narrow and small necks

One of the noticeable geographical features of the Book of Mormon is the “neck of land.” 

People often ask me, “Where is the narrow neck of land?” 

My answer: Ether 10:20. That’s the only place in the scriptures where that phrase is used.

There is a “narrow neck” in Alma 63:5 and a “small neck of land” in Alma 22:32, but normally we treat different terms as meaning different things, and there’s no reason not to follow that rule here.

IOW, the three terms might refer to the same geographical feature, but nothing in the text requires that. And if they refer to three different features, most models of Book of Mormon geography don’t follow the text.

Relative terms. It’s true that the passages also refer to the “land northward” and the “land southward,” but these vague terms are relational, not proper nouns. If you live in Salt Lake, Provo is the land southward while Ogden is the land northward. If you live in Ogden, Salt Lake is the land southward and Brigham City is the land northward. 

True, these vague terms might possibly be proper nouns–that’s one of multiple working hypotheses–but nothing in the text requires them to be proper nouns, and if they are merely relative to where the speaker is, most models of Book of Mormon geography don’t follow the text.

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What constitutes “small” or “narrow.”

Lots of people have speculated about what these terms mean. Some authors who conflate the terms say the Isthmus of Tehuantepec is the small/narrow neck. Others think it’s the Isthmus of Darien (Panama). Such features are only “narrow” or “small” when viewed on a map or from space. 

I’ve looked at how the term was used in Joseph Smith’s day. It turns out that these were common terms during the Revolutionary War. I have about 20 examples, all showing a diverse application including land bridges, peninsulas and islands, but all consistently featuring no more than about 15 miles in width, down to a few paces wide.

The point is, the references in the Book of Mormon are subject to lots of alternative interpretations; i.e., multiple working hypotheses.

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Map of Virginia – Revolutionary War sites

Here’s what George Washington wrote:

I observe you are directed by the Governor to pay particular attention to the fortifications in the State and that in consequence of that you propose to garrison Portsmouth with 1200 men and to divide the remainder of what troops you may have among the posts at York, Hampton & Williamsburgh. The reasons you assign for having a garrison at Portsmouth are good; but I can by no means think it would be prudent to have any considerable stationary force at Hampton and York. These by being upon a narrow neck of land, would be in danger of being cut off. The enemy might very easily throw up a few ships into York and James’ river, as far as Queens Creek; and land a body of men there, who throw up a few Redoubts, would intercept their retreat and oblige them to surrender at discretion.

In this case, the “narrow neck of land” was about 12 miles wide at its widest point. And it’s not an isthmus, either. 

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In this example, Washington wrote of a “narrow neck of land” that is about 7.5 miles across, from Sandwich, MA, to Buzzards Bay, MA.

Your Letter of the twelfth Instant I received Saturday Evening;1 I gave immediate attention to your Orders, and as it was judged extremely difficult, if not impracticable, to convey the Mortars by land, I gave Orders to the proper persons to prepare every thing necessary for conveying them by water, and to work day and night until they were compleated. This day they will go on board of Lighters to Sandwich from which place they are to be conveyed over the narrow neck of land to a place called Buzzards Bay,2 where they will be put on board two Lighters and conveyed to Rhode Island, from thence, keeping near the land, to New York. 

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Washington referred to Manhattan as a narrow neck of land.

We discovered at the same time by their movements, and our Intelligence, that with the assistance of their Ships they intended to draw a Line round us, and cut of all communication, between the City and Country; thereby reducing us to the necessity of fighting our way out under every disadvantage—surrendering at discretion—or Starving—That they might have accomplished one or the other of these, if we had stayed at New York, is certain; because the City, as I presume you know, stands upon the point of a narrow Neck of Land laying between the East & North Rivers; & not more than a Mile Wide for Six or Seven Miles back; both Rivers having sufficient depth of Water for Ships of any burthen; and because they were not only Superior in Numbers, but could bring their whole force to any one point, whereas we, to keep open the communication were obliged to have an extended Line, or rather a chain of Posts, for near 18 Miles.

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The papers of Thomas Jefferson include a reference to Bunker’s Hill on a “peninsula joined to the mainland by a neck of land” that was only “a few paces wide.”

[13–18 Sep. 1786]

I am unable to say what was the number of Americans engaged in the affair of Bunker’s hill. I am able however to set right a gross falsehood of Andrews. He says that the Americans who were engaged were constantly relieved by fresh hands. This is entirely untrue. Bunker’s hill (or rather Brede’s hill whereon the action was) is a peninsula, joined to the main land by a neck of land almost level with the water, a few paces wide, and between one and two hundred toises long. On one side of this neck lay a vessel of war, and on the other several gun-boats. The body of our army was on the main land; and only a detachment had been sent into the peninsula. When the enemy determined to make the attack, they sent the vessel of war and gun-boats to take the position before mentioned to cut off all reinforcements, which they effectually did. 

the “small neck” at Bunker Hill

Source: Letter VII

2 thoughts on “Narrow and small necks

  1. Thanks again for this information about the narrow neck of land description in the US. I love your information

  2. As we all know, “the narrow neck of land” was a Jaredite term, and it is only found once in the scriptures. I’ve heard critics of the heartland model declare that the only place in the western hemisphere that fits this term is the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (land divides the water–opposite of what the scriptures state). My candidate for “the narrow neck of land” is the Isthmus of Niagara which is about 21 miles across. In the Iroquoian and Mohawk languages “Niagara” means “neck of land.” The distance from the western edge of Lake Superior to the eastern edge of Lake Ontario is about 800 miles. The Great Lakes contain 20% of the earth’s fresh water. This sounds like the “…waters of Ripliancum, which, by interpretation, is large, or to exceed all…” Again, this is a Jaredite term (Ether 15:8). I think Ripliancum is a very fitting description for the Great Lakes. Interestingly, when the armies of Shiz and Coriantumr came to these waters, they pitched their tents. The next day they fought a great battle and the armies of Shiz did flee southward, and did pitch their tents in a place which was called Ogath (Ether 15:10). “And it came to pass that the army of Coriantumr did pitch their tents by the hill Ramah; and it was that same hill where my father Mormon did ahide up the records unto the Lord, which were sacred (Ether 15:11).” The Jaredites spent the next 4 years gathering up their people for the final battles. They must have been spread far and wide over North America and possibly farther south.

    Mormon 6:4 states,
    “4 And it came to pass that we did march forth to the land of Cumorah, and we did pitch our tents around about the hill Cumorah; and it was in a land of amany waters, rivers, and fountains; and here we had hope to gain advantage over the Lamanites.”

    Here are additional scriptures about many waters.

    Mosiah 8:8
    8 And they were lost in the wilderness for the space of many days, yet they were diligent, and found not the land of Zarahemla but returned to this land, having traveled in a land among many waters, having discovered a land which was covered with bones of men, and of beasts, and was also covered with ruins of buildings of every kind, having discovered a land which had been peopled with a people who were as numerous as the hosts of Israel.

    Alma 50:29
    29 Therefore, Morianton put it into their hearts that they should flee to the land which was northward, which was covered with large bodies of water, and take possession of the land which was northward.

    Helaman 3:3–4
    3 And it came to pass in the forty and sixth, yea, there was much contention and many dissensions; in the which there were an exceedingly great many who departed out of the land of Zarahemla, and went forth unto the land northward to inherit the land.

    4 And they did travel to an exceedingly great distance, insomuch that they came to large bodies of water and many rivers.

    I believe the eastern and western seas were the Great Lakes and not the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
    The account of Zelph gives us additional clues.

    “The brethren procured a shovel and a hoe, and removing the earth to the depth of about one foot, discovered the skeleton of a man, almost entire, and between his ribs the stone point of a Lamanitish arrow, which evidently produced his death. Elder Burr Riggs retained the arrow. The contemplation of the scenery around us produced peculiar sensations in our bosoms; and subsequently the visions of the past being opened to my understanding by the Spirit of the Almighty, I discovered that the person whose skeleton was before us was a white Lamanite, a large, thickset man, and a man of God. His name was Zelph. He was a warrior and chieftain under the great prophet Onandagus, who was known from the Hill Cumorah, or eastern sea to the Rocky Mountains. The curse was taken from Zelph, or at least, in part—one of his thigh bones was broken by a stone flung from a sling, while in battle, years before his death. He was killed in battle by the arrow found among his ribs, during the last great struggle of the Lamanites and Nephites.” [History of the Church, by Joseph Smith, Deseret Book, 1976, vol. 2, ch. 5, pp. 79-80]

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