Crossing the River Sidon

In our search for physical evidences of the Book of Mormon lands in the United States, we need to start with Zarahemla and the River Sidon.  From the 600 BC to 400AD, the Book of Mormon lands were described in the book itself.  Zarahemla was the largest city in the area and according to https://zarahemla.site/that-great-city “the most frequently mentioned place by name in the Book of Mormon.”

The U.S. Geological Survey tells us that the Mississippi River is one of the world’s largest river systems.  It is made up of several large tributaries making it the largest river and river system in North America.  It flows 2,340 miles from its source at Lake Itasca through the midcontinent of the United States all the way to the Gulf of Mexico passing by New Orleans.

From the National Park Service River Facts the name "Mississippi" comes from the Anishinabe people (Ojibwe Indians.) They called the river "Messipi" or "Mee-zee-see-bee," which means "Big River" or "Father of Waters." Dakota Indians called the river "Hahawakpa," meaning "River of the Falls" in reference to the falls we now call the Falls of St. Anthony.” 

So what does the River Sidon have to do with the Mississippi River and Zarahemla?

First, we learn the word Sidon is the Greek name which means “fishery” for the ancient Phoenician port city of Sidonia which is now Lebanon.  Many Native Americans have considered this river a great resource for fish.

We read about Prophet Joseph Smith receiving a revelation from God which is written in the Doctrine and Covenants, section 125 in verse 3:

 “3 Let them build up a city unto my name upon the land opposite the city of Nauvoo, and let the name of Zarahemla be named upon it.”  Interestingly enough, the word Zarahemla in this verse has a cross reference to Omni 1:14 in the Book of Mormon which says:

14 “And they discovered a people, who were called the people of Zarahemla. Now, there was great rejoicing among the people of Zarahemla; and also Zarahemla did rejoice exceedingly, because the Lord had sent the people of Mosiah with the plates of brass which contained the record of the Jews.”

For years and years the Heartland theory has matched the River Sidon with the Mississippi River.  How is this possible? We read in the Book of Mormon itself that Zarahemla is close to the River Sidon. According to The Book of Mormon, the River Sidon is east of Zarahemla which lines up with what 

Joseph Smith reveled. It would make sense from a geographical point of view that the River Sidon is the Mississippi River. As more study is done, we find that there is a possibility of finding the place of the war mentioned in Alma.

From Alma chapter 2 verses 27 and 28 and verses 33 through 35, “And behold, as they were crossing the river Sidon, the Lamanites and the Amlicites, being as numerous almost, as it were, as the sands of the sea, came upon them to destroy them.

28 Nevertheless, the Nephites being strengthened by the hand of the Lord, having prayed mightily to him that he would deliver them out of the hands of their enemies, therefore the Lord did hear their cries, and did strengthen them, and the Lamanites and the Amlicites did fall before them.

33 But Alma, with his guards, contended with the guards of the king of the Lamanites until he slew and drove them back.

34 And thus he cleared the ground, or rather the bank, which was on the west of the river Sidon, throwing the bodies of the Lamanites who had been slain into the waters of Sidon, that thereby his people might have room to cross and contend with the Lamanites and the Amlicites on the west side of the river Sidon.

35 And it came to pass that when they had all crossed the river Sidon that the Lamanites and the Amlicites began to flee before them, notwithstanding they were so numerous that they could not be numbered.”

We know that the bodies of the Lamanites who had been slain were tossed into the waters of the River Sidon. We just have to find it.  An exciting event will be taking place during the first week of August of this year on the Mississippi River. A group of more than 15 professionals in science and engineering will be joining together to search for this spot. A 32-foot Pontoon Mississippi Riverboat named “Truth” is being outfitted for this expedition. Surveys of this land and river area are being studied.  Using SENSYS, advanced magnetometry (which measures the magnetic pull of objects under the ground) and military-trained scuba diving, we will be able to see and chart the river bottom.  Hold onto your hats as all of these preparations are taking place to find the crossing of the River Sidon.

For more information: Zarahemla.site