Mormon records that in the 350th year, "the Lamanites did give unto us the land northward, yea, even to the narrow passage which led into the land southward. And we did give unto the Lamanites all the land southward" (Mormon 2:29). One might ask, Is the "narrow passage" referred to in Mormon 2:29 the same geographical location as the "small neck of land" referred to in Alma 22:31-32? First of all let's refer back to Alma:
Thus the land on the northward was called Desolation, and the land on the southward was called Bountiful . . . and now, it was only the distance of a day and a half's journey for a Nephite, on the line Bountiful and the land Desolation, from the east to the west sea; and thus the land of Nephi land the land of Zarahemla were nearly surrounded by water, there being a small neck of land between the land northward and the land southward. (Alma 22:31-32)
If the "narrow passage" mentioned in Mormon 2:29 is somewhat equal to the "small neck of land" mentioned in Alma 22:32, then the Nephites were giving up the general land of Bountiful and the general land of Zarahemla which constituted the Nephite land southward. Now as it says here in Mormon 2:28 "we (the Nephites) did get the lands of our inheritance divided." So, apparently much as it describes in Alma 22:29-32, this division occurred at the "small neck of land," or maybe otherwise called "the narrow passage," and the Nephites occupied the land northward of this passage. The land immediately north of this "small neck of land" was called "Desolation" according to Alma 22:31.
Another question might be asked: Is "the narrow passage" of Mormon 2:29 the same as "the narrow pass" referred to in Alma 52:9? Let us review that passage of scripture:
And (Moroni) also sent orders unto (Teancum) that he should fortify the land Bountiful, and secure the narrow pass which led into the land northward, lest the Lamanites should obtain that point and should have power to harass them on every side." (Alma 52:9)
Apparently then, the "narrow passage" was as important to Mormon as the "narrow pass" had been to captain Moroni centuries before. That is, the "narrow pass" or "narrow passage" were both defensible positions that prevented armies from advancing into the land northward.
Question: Is this "narrow passage" in Mormon 2:29 the same as the "narrow pass" in Mormon 3:5? Once again, let us review the scripture:
And it came to pass that I did cause my people that they should gather themselves together at the land Desolation, to a city which was in the borders, by the narrow pass which led into the land southward. (Mormon 3:5)
The value of this "narrow pass" area in Mormon 3:5 might be hinted at in Mormon 3:6, where it says that "there we did place our armies, that we might stop the armies of the Lamanites, that they might not get possession of any of our lands." The phrase "our lands" might be interpreted to mean that the Nephites were protecting the lands northward of the "narrow pass."
If we assume a Mesoamerican setting, then all these terms could be referring to the travel corridor through the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, which "narrow pass . . . went by the sea into the land northwards, yea, by the sea, on the west and on the east." (Alma 50:34) This Isthmus of Tehuantepec has been the main corridor of travel and trade from Central America northward toward what is now Veracruz since Olmec (Jaredite) times. Thus, one would travel "by the sea" on the west" along the Pacific Coast of Guatemala, and then travel through the Isthmus of Tehuantepec before reaching the Gulf of Mexico Coast "on the east." [Alan C. Miner, Personal Notes] [See the commentary on Alma 22:32; 50:34; 63:5; Mormon 2:29] [See Step by Step Cultural Commentary, Volume 2, Appendix B] [See Geographical Theory Maps]