Mormon notes that "we did march forth to the land of Cumorah, and we did pitch our tents around about the hill Cumorah; and it was in a land of many waters, rivers, and fountains; and here we had hope to gain advantage over the Lamanites" (Mormon 6:4). According to John Sorenson, the "advantage" the Nephites thought they might enjoy at the hill Cumorah could have been due to the broken terrain, which Mormon must have known intimately. Or possibly the Nephites thought the place would be fateful for the Lamanites because of superstitious beliefs or traditions concerning the end of the Jaredites on that very spot. [John L. Sorenson, An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon, pp. 347-348]
Mormon 6:4 Here we had hope to gain advantage over the Lamanites ([Illustration]): Morning sun sends streams of light through low-lying, misty valleys in the Tuxtla Mountains of Mexico. From the number of early fortifications that fill this naturally protected basin, it is clear that large scale, ancient battles took place here. It could very well be the site of the last battles of the Jaredites and the Nephites. Artifacts in this small basin date to two time periods: 300 to 400 B.C. and A.D. 300 to 400. Archaeologically it appears that large groups came here, not building extensive dwellings but only fortifications, then mysteriously disappeared, leaving huge amounts of artifacts behind. [Scot and Maurine Proctor, Light from the Dust, pp. 188-189]
Mormon 6:4 Here we had hope to gain advantage over the Lamanites ([Illustration]): Ceiba tree stands over 100 feet tall as a lone sentinel on a more than 2,000 foot-long, man-made ridge of dirt in a protected basin in the Tuxtla Mountains of Mexico. [Scot and Maurine Proctor, Light from the Dust, p. 190]
Mormon 6:4 Here we had hope to gain advantage over the Lamanites ([Illustration]): Lower battle complex in a basin area of the Tuxtla Mountains of southern Mexico. Line after line of artificial defensive mounds, hills, and ridges have been discovered in this area, with artifacts dating to the times of the last battles of the Jaredites and the Nephites. [Scot and Maurine Proctor, Light from the Dust, p. 195]
Mormon 6:4 Here we had hope to gain advantage over the Lamanites ([Illustration]): Defensive and ceremonial complex in the lower battle area of this protected basin in the Tuxtla Mountains of Mexico. If this was the place of the final battle, the Lamanites would have come from the south, which horizon is seen in the right of this picture. For a site to qualify as the last battle area, it must have massive fortification. The Nephites did not sit down at Cumorah and wait for four years for the appointed day of the battle. Out of love for his people, Mormon would surely have caused fortifications to be erected, as he had in all previous strongholds, with large heaps of earth to be thrown up, and strategies planned to defend themselves against the onslaught of the Lamanites. Sixteen centuries would not have completely hidden these fortifications. [Scot and Maurine Proctor, Light from the Dust, p. 195]
Mormon 6:4 Here we had hope to gain advantage over the Lamanites ([Illustration]): View from the top of a strategic hill at the north end of this basin in the Tuxtla Mountains. The fog in the middle of the picture outlines a man-made ridge that rims this hill, averaging 30 to 40 feet high and running over 2,000 feet long. On the right is a giant sinkhole that measures about 500 feet across and 200 feet deep with only one natural entry. This could have been used to protect the women and children of the Nephites. The number of women and children who were killed, with the soldiers, could have easily brought the total Nephite dead to over one million. Given a defensive position like this, it is clear that the Lamanites massively outnumbered the Nephites, so the dead Lamanites likely numbered in the millions. [Scot and Maurine Proctor, Light from the Dust, pp. 196-197]
Mormon 6:4 Here we had hope to gain advantage over the Lamanites ([Illustration]): Morning light touches a strategic hill in the north center of the basin complex of the Tuxtla Mountains. From atop this hill, part of which is man-made, the two mile by two and one-half mile basin can easily be seen. Mormon might not have wanted to retreat any farther north from here because of the mighty Teotihuacani people who were militarily the most powerful group in Mesoamerica. Mormon speaks remorsefully "that there were sorceries, and witchcrafts, and magics; and the power of the evil one was wrought upon all the face of the land." This area still attracts these evils and is a world center for witchcraft. [Scot and Maurine Proctor, Light from the Dust, p. 198]
Mormon 6:4 Here we had hope to gain advantage over the Lamanites ([Illustration]): First light touches gnarled and weather-worn tree anchored to the side of a strategic hill in the Tuxtla Mountains of southern Mexico. . . . From internal clues in the Book of Mormon and from all that scholarship can teach us, it appears that the great and last battle of the Nephites may have taken place somewhere in these verdant mountains rather than in western New York as tradition has taught us for generations. [Scot and Maurine Proctor, Light from the Dust, p. 203]