According to David Palmer, it is unlikely that these people would go so far as to cut off all kinship ties, and they apparently didn't go beyond the land inhabited previously by the Jaredites and Mulekites. Were the bodies of water mentioned the same as those mentioned with respect to Cumorah (Mormon 6:4)? The text does not say. In Mesoamerica there are two possible areas this could have referred to. One was in the valley of Mexico, where there was a very large inland lake (Texcoco). The other area is the large region of lagoons forming the Papaloapan basin in Veracruz. [David A. Palmer, In Search of Cumorah, p. 79] [See Geographical Theory Maps]
An Exceeding Great Many Went Forth Unto the Land Northward an Exceedingly Great Distance and Came to Large Bodies of Water
According to Hugh Nibley, it's more than 1,200 air miles from Guatemala to Mexico City. That's a long way to push, you see . . . The Central Highland of Mexico is described in all early accounts as a land of many waters. There are many waters and streams here, and, of course, there was much more water at that time. As you all know, Mexico City was built over the water. Edward Seler wrote the old four-volume classic on early Mexico; he collected more data than anybody else. It was in the early part of the century, but he did a great work. Seler maintains that the name usually translated as "Highlands," Anauac, really meant "land of many waters." [Hugh W. Nibley, Teachings of the Book of Mormon, Semester 4, p. 237]
“They Came to Large Bodies of Water and Many Rivers”
According to Ammon O'Brien, Lake Texcoco is one of the several lakes which covered much of central Mexico in pre-Columbian times (see illustration). . . . The marsh conditions of this location were an inherent architectural challenge . . . Underneath Mexico City lie the remains of at least 4 distinct building phases from the former inhabitants of the land.
Archaeological discoveries in Mexico City have come largely as a result of construction work. In one typical case, while a firm was preparing the foundations for a new building, as they were drilling holes for reinforced concrete pilasters, the drills suddenly dropped through into open spaces. Excavation of the area revealed that they were inside a room of an ancient building. Not surprisingly, the government promptly reserved this spot for archaeological research. However, the owners were determined to proceed with the construction plans, so a lawsuit was started. When the builders continued drilling again, and got down about 30 feet below the street, their drills dropped through again into a sunken chamber or room of yet an earlier building phase. [Ammon O'Brien, Seeing beyond Today with Ancient America, p. 6]
Helaman 3:4 They came to large bodies of water and many rivers: Lake [Texcoco]--After the Establishment of Nueva Espana (New Spain) and Dissolution of Tenochtitlan (the Aztec Capital). [Ammon O'Brien, Seeing beyond Today with Ancient America, p. 6]
Helaman 3:4 They did spread forth into all parts of the land: (1) The Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan. The [Pyramid of the Sun,] covers about 550,000 square feet at its base, comparing closely to the largest of Egypt's pyramids--the Pyramid of Cheops--which covers 571,536 square feet, or about 13 acres. (2) Standing atop the Pyramid of the Moon, one embraces a view as shown here. (3) The Pyramid of the Moon prior to excavation. (4) 600 pyramids and 2000 residential compounds have been found at Teotihuacan. [Ammon O'Brien, Seeing beyond Today with Ancient America, pp. 7-9]
Helaman 3:4 They did spread forth into all parts of the land: Figure 8-2 [Pyramid of the sun] at Teotihuacan near Mexico City (150B.C.--A.D. 200); Figure 8--3a City plan of Teotihuacan, showing the Pyramid of the Moon (Period II) and the Pyramid of the Sun (Period I); Figure 8--3b City plan of Teotihuacan (continued), showing the Citadel of Quetzalcoatl (Period II); Figure 8--4 Temple of Quetzalcoatl, which was built during Teotihuacan Period II (A.D. 200 to A.D. 350); [Joseph L. Allen, Exploring the Lands of the Book of Mormon, pp. 99-102]
Helaman 3:4 They did spread forth into all parts of the land: Excavations on the [Great Pyramid at Cholula]. [Ammon O'Brien, Seeing beyond Today with Ancient America, p. 16]