Narrow Pass

 

The narrow pass is distinct from the “narrow neck of land.” It is common in Book of Mormon models to have the narrow pass simply a passage through the narrow neck, since both lead to the land northward. This model proposes that the "narrow pass" refers to the way into the land northward from the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay; in other words, from the land of Zarahemla.

Having the narrow pass in this location explains how Teancum and his army, who were coming from Bountiful (which is below the narrow neck), could head Morianton and his people by the narrow pass. Teancum’s army “did not head them until they came into the borders of the land Desolation; and there they did head them, by the narrow pass which led by the sea into the land northward, yea by the sea on the west and on the east” (Alma 50:34). This is only logical if Teancum’s army comes from Bountiful, located below the narrow neck, and Morianton’s people are coming from the “western shore” up through the narrow pass. Teancum comes up through the narrow neck and around to the narrow pass, heading them before they get too far into the land northward. 

In Alma 50:34 it says the narrow pass is “led by the sea on the west and on the east.” “Led” suggests that the narrow pass is connected to the sea in some way. Hence, the narrow pass could be referring to a way across the Susquehanna river, which flows into the sea. The phrase “by the sea on the west and on the east” suggests there is a west land mass and an east land mass on either side of this sea, which supports the idea that the sea divides the land southward. Interpreting that verse to mean by the west sea and the east sea would be equating the narrow pass to the narrow neck, which most models reject as being the same thing. Also, some models have the narrow neck so large that you wouldn’t be able to see the west and east sea from the narrow pass.

Another reference to the narrow pass is in Alma 52:9. Captain Moroni tells Teancum to fortify Bountiful and secure the narrow pass “lest the Lamanites should obtain that point and have power to harass them on every side.” At this point, the Lamanites are capturing the cities on the east sea leading up to the narrow pass. If the Lamanites had easy access to the narrow pass, they could attack Bountiful coming around from Mulek, in addition from both the south and the west. This would divide the forces at Bountiful and result in a possible over throw of the land. Thus, the narrow pass was strategic in the defense of Bountiful.