Helaman. 3:9–14 (constructed after 55 B.C.)

After 55 B.C., tens of thousands of the Nephites left the land of Zarahemla and the surrounding lands and settled new lands farther to the north (Alma 63:4–9; Hel. 3:9–14). Here in the northern land of Desolation, a land previously occupied, but left desolate and deforested by the Jaredites, “they did suffer [allow] whatsoever tree should spring up upon the face of the land that it should grow up, that in time they might have timber to build their houses, yea, their cities, and their temples, and their synagogues, and their sanctuaries, and all manner of their buildings” (Hel. 3:9). Note the need for timber to build more than one temple. The word “timber” in older English did not refer to raw trees but wood that had been cut and prepared for building, comparable to our use of the word lumber today. This scarcity of timber for building temples and other buildings was compensated by transporting “much” timber “by the way of shipping” (Hel. 3:10–14). Hagoth’s first ship sailed to the north lands with people and “with much provisions.” The record indicates that he “built other ships” (Alma 63:5–9). Some houses were built of a combination of cement and timber, but there is no mention of stone. Stone is not the same as cement, and only houses, and not temples, are mentioned as being built with cement construction. The Nephites desired timber for the construction of all their buildings, including their temples (Hel. 3:9, 14). The record does not mention stone construction. (For an analysis of Nephite cement construction see, Cement, below)