Pure Water

There are two references to places of "pure water." The first is Mosiah 18:5 and reads "Now, there was in Mormon a fountain of pure water, and Alma resorted thither, there being near the water a thicket of small trees, where he did hide himself in the daytime from the searches of the king." In verse 8 of the same chapter, Mormon explains this was called the "waters of Mormon." Alma brought believers from the city of Nephi to the waters of Mormon to be baptized. It has been proposed to be a one to three days journey from the city of Nephi (1). On the Delmarva peninsula, various salinity is present in the marshes and streams, but fresh streams flow from the higher elevation.

Another example of a land of "pure water" is Helam. Alma and his people from that Waters of Mormon, fled for eight days and came to a land of pure water, which they named Helam (Mosiah 23:4). Eight days with children and animals would be on the order of 80 miles (as a mother of small children, this seems optimistic). On the north end of the Delmarva Peninsula are areas of fresh or "pure" water that fit the distance from the waters of Mormon to Helam.   



1. John Sorenson "The Geography of Book of Mormon Events: A Source Book."

2. Map from "Eastern Shore Indians of Virginia and Maryland" by Helen C Roundtree

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