A Dictionary of the Book of Mormon/Bountiful, Land of (II)
BOUNTIFUL, LAND OF. The most northerly Nephite division of the South American Continent. It extended in the north to the Isthmus of Panama, where it was bounded by the land Desolation. Its other boundaries are indefinite, and undoubtedly varied greatly at different eras of Nephite history, diminishing in extent as the wilderness was settled, cities were founded and the neighboring regions made tributary to them. Jershon appears to have been south and east of it. Its chief city bore the same name. And on its northwest corner Hagoth built his celebrated ship yards (B. C. 55).
Before the land Bountiful was settled by the Nephites, it was a wilderness filled with wild animals of every kind; some of which had come from the land northward for food (Alma, 22:31). But the Nephites, to prevent the Lamanites creeping up through the wilderness along the coast, east and west, and in this way gaining a foothold in the land northward, at as early a date as possible inhabited the land Bountiful, from the east to the west sea (Alma, 22:33), thus retaining possession of the whole of the northern continent.
In this land (B. C. 68), a severe battle took place between the Nephite army, commanded by Teancum, and the people of Morianton, in which the latter were defeated and their leader slain.
The next year (B. C. 67), the victorious Lamanites, under Amalickiah, reached the borders of Bountiful from the southeast, driving the Nephites before them, but their advance northward was checked by the forces of Teancum, by whom Amalickiah, their king, was slain.
In B. C. 66, Teancum, under instruction from Moroni, greatly strengthened the fortifications in the land Bountiful, giving special attention to making the Isthmus secure from capture. In the year B. C. 64, a sanguinary battle was fought in the district between the cities of Bountiful and Mulek, which resulted in Mulek being recaptured from the Lamanites. In this battle the Nephites were commanded by Moroni, Lehi and Teancum; and the Lamanites by Jacob, who was slain. The Lamanite prisoners were so numerous that, as a precautionary step, they were set at the task of intrenching and fortifying the land and city of Bountiful.
In the year B. C. 51 the Lamanites invaded Zarahemla, captured the capital and advanced northward towards Bountiful, but their triumphal march was arrested by an army commanded by Lehi, and they were eventually driven back to their own lands.
In B. C. 35 the Lamanites again invaded the lands of the Nephites, and the latter, owing to their dissensions and wickedness, were everywhere driven before them, until, in B. C. 34, they had overrun and taken possession of all the Nephite possessions as far as the land Bountiful. The Nephites, under Moronihah, then threw up a line of fortifications entirely across the Isthmus, by which means they protected the northern continent from invasion. In B, C. 32, Moronihah reconquered the most northern portions of South America.
In A. C. 16, Lachoneus, the chief judge, by reason of the perilous condition of the people, from the constant attacks of the Gadianton robbers, decided to mass the Nephites in one region, and chose Bountiful and Zarahemla for that purpose. This bold movement he carried out, and held the people there until after the destruction of the hosts of the robbers. In A. C. 26, the people were permitted to return to their homes throughout the two continents.
It was in the land Bountiful that Jesus appeared and ministered to the Nephites.