This verse provides supporting evidence that Antionum was a new city to which the Zoramites “gathered” after converting to Zoram’s religious interpretations. Nevertheless, I will suggest below that some farmers were already in the area but without a city center. (See commentary accompanying Alma 33:1.) In this light, Zoram is another Nehor, Zeezrom, or Korihor, although more successful than Korihor in making converts. Except for that detail, Alma’s story of the fight for conversion and against apostasy continues.
Because most cities in the Book of Mormon are named for their founders, the fact that this city is called Antionum rather than Zoram is particularly anomalous. Possibly this city really was named Zoram, but Mormon called it Antionum to give the reader a clue about it. Gordon C. Thomasson has noted the possibility of metonyms in several Book of Mormon names. (See commentary accompanying Alma 10:31–32.) In particular, he noted the relationship of Zeezrom and Antionum to measurement units (Alma 11:5–19). Antion is a gold measure.
Geography: Antionum lies on the outskirts of Nephite control, bordering a “wilderness [that] was full of the Lamanites.” Sorenson suggests that Antionum was under neither Nephite nor Lamanite control. If the Zoramites were separating from Nephite ways and possibly incorporating Lamanite philosophy in their religion, they thus moved geographically away from Nephite strength and toward a location that gave the Zoramites options for Lamanite alliances.