Here we have further confirmation that this is a new city. The idea that they had “gathered” suggests that they were in various locations and became converts to Zoram’s interpretation of religion. Seen in this light, Zoram is another Nehor, Zeezrom, and Korihor. Zoram has succeeded in teaching, where Korihor did not. Other than that, they are both apostates, and Alma’s story of the fight for conversion and against apostasy continues.
Geography: The land that they chose to go to lies on the outskirts of Nephite control, and borders a “wilderness [that] was full of the Lamanites.” Sorenson suggests that Antionum was a luminal land, neither under the control of the Nephites nor of the Lamanites (John L. Sorenson. The Geography of Book of Mormon Events. FARMS 1990, p. 268). This selection tells us something of the nature of the Zoramites. They understood their separation from Nephite ways, and possibly understood that they were incorporating some Lamanite philosophy in their religion. Thus they moved to a location away from Nephite strength, and toward the Lamanites. While not apparently an area of Lamanite strength, it was still a location that gave the Zoramites options for political alliances.