The widespread defensive military campaigns conducted by Moroni and his comrades—Helaman, Teancum, Lehi, Antipus, and others—restore to the land an era of peace around 56 BC. The Church is reestablished and the people again begin to prosper. A large group of people leave Zarahemla in 55 BC to settle the land northward (see verse 4). A shipbuilding industry also blossoms in that same year, championed by Hagoth. He builds a large ship on which many Nephites sail northward, carrying abundant provisions. The following year, Hagoth builds other ships. The original ship also returns and carries many more people northward but it’s not heard from again. A second ship also sails toward destinations unknown (see verses 6–8 for these details).
Other than the fact that Hagoth is an “exceedingly curious man” (verse 5), i.e., well-founded in artisanship and technical abilities, we know little of him and his outcomes. It is not clear that he is among the passengers of the ships he built. One of the sea-goers specifically mentioned, however, is Corianton, the son of Alma, who has “gone forth to the land northward in a ship, to carry forth provisions unto the people who had gone forth into that land” (verse 10).