The river Sidon carries the distinction of being the only river in the Book of Mormon mentioned by name. The river and its relative position play a significant role, from its key location near the major city of Zarahemla, to serving as the site of numerous war battles along the geopolitical frontier: the buffer zone separating the Nephite-controlled land of Zarahemla on the north from the Lamanite-held land of Nephi towards the south. The river Sidon is mentioned twice within Mormon’s detailed description of the Book of Mormon lands (Alma 22:27-34). Mormon’s description leaves little question as to the river Sidon’s relative location. And this location accurately matches the position of the only river of significance within central Baja California. There is only one choice. Today the river is known as the Rio San Ignacio. It is of interest that the land of Israel with a similar climate regime has only one major river, the Jordan, and Egypt has only one, the Nile.

Beyond being in the appropriate location relative to major Book of Mormon lands, the Rio San Ignacio and its surroundings should match the following geographical features:

The river Sidon in the Book of Mormon account has a distinct and singular attribute, referred to as “the head” (Alma 22:27, 29; 43:22; 50:11; 56:25). This head of the river Sidon is described as a geographical feature one would go around (Alma 43:22; 56:25) and a possible site where baptisms were performed (Alma 4:4). Unlike nearly all rivers, which commonly have multiple tributaries as their source, the Rio San Ignacio has a striking and beautiful, elongated lagoon at its head. Directly fed by several springs, the water in this narrow lagoon flows from east to west, the same direction mentioned in Mormon’s account (Alma 22:27). This spring-fed head resembles the spring-fed head at the source of its namesake, the Sidon River in the country of Lebanon, called the Saida river in Arabic, and also similar to the Jordan River in Israel which is fed by multiple springs, one near Caesarea Philippi.

A wilderness area, with the curious name of Hermounts, is mentioned in the account of the war between the Nephites and the Amlicites, a breakaway group of Nephites who were joined by the Lamanites (Alma 2:37). During the final battle, the Amlicites and Lamanites were scattered by the Nephites, and fled to the wilderness area of Hermounts, which is described as being to the west and north of the battle area. The location of this final conflict was near the city of Zarahemla at the head of the river Sidon (Alma 2:24-34). Hermounts is depicted as “that part of the wilderness which was infested by wild and ravenous beasts” (Alma 2:37). And many Amlicites and Lamanites “were devoured by those beasts and also the vultures of the air; and their bones have been found, and have been heaped up on the earth” (Alma 2:38).

To the west and north of the Rio San Ignacio (river Sidon) in Baja California is an extensive wilderness area and mountain range called Sierra de San Francisco. We propose this mountain range as the wilderness of Hermounts. The Sierra de San Francisco extend 35 miles and rise from sea level to a height of some 5,000 feet. The crests are often covered with snow in the winter months. Wild animals roam this wilderness area today, and visitors are attracted to the world-class rock paintings scattered throughout the rugged interior. This mountain range is the source of the underground water feeding the springs at the head of the Rio San Ignacio (river Sidon).

We should note that the source of the springs at the head of the River Sidon in Lebanon is a large mountain range named Mount Hermon. It rises to heights of over 9,000 feet and extends into the surrounding areas of Syria, Israel and Lebanon. The Sierra de San Francisco (Hermounts) in Baja California and Mount Hermon in the biblical lands have similar characteristics: both are imposing mountain ranges that can be seen from many miles, and their profiles are striking when covered with snow. And both mountain ranges are positioned in such a manner that their respective rivers, the Rio San Ignacio (river Sidon) and the River Sidon, flow toward an ocean to the west. Because their names and settings are similar, one could surmise that Hermounts was named by the people of Mulek after its almost identical counterpart, Mount Hermon, in their biblical homeland. The writer of the book of Psalms calls the area of Mount Hermon in northern Israel, Hermonites (Ps. 42:6).

In the Book of Mormon record the Lamanite and Nephite armies cross the river Sidon multiple times in quick succession and with seemingly ease. During a single battle around hill Riplah, there are at least six separate crossings of the river Sidon by significantly large army groups (Alma 43:23-54. See also, Alma 2:27, 34-35; 16:6-7). No boats are mentioned. Directly downstream from the head of the Rio San Ignacio the watercourse noticeably narrows and can be readily crossed. And the river at this location can be waded with little effort, like the Jordan River in Israel and the Sidon River in Lebanon, in slow moving, shallow water. Much of the water originating at the head of the Rio San Ignacio reaches the sea through underground stream courses, thus diminishing its above-ground flow downstream. This is common in dryer climates, especially at certain seasons of the year.

In the Book of Mormon account, hills, valleys, and banks border the river Sidon (Alma 2:15, 17, 34; 3:3; 43:27, 32, 35, 40-41, 51; 49:16). Today, prominent hills, well-defined valleys, and banks with high and precipitous cliffs flank the Rio San Ignacio along much of its course, matching the features described in the record. For example, the Book of Mormon account notes that several battles were fought around prominent hills near the river Sidon (Alma 2:15-19; 43:25-54. See also, Morm. 1:10). The hill Amnihu, on the east of the river Sidon, was the site of a battle fought on its top, presumably somewhat flat. Hill Riplah is also described as east of the river Sidon with a valley on the south and east of the hill where part of the Nephite forces were sequestered from the advancing Lamanite army. Mormon describes numerous and intricate geographical features that contribute to Moroni’s military victory at hill Riplah (Alma 43). There are two prominent hills matching these topographic features on the east bank of the Rio San Ignacio, not far from its head.

During two Book of Mormon battles, the bodies of the slain Lamanites were cast by the Nephites into the “waters of Sidon.” Their bones ended up in the depths of the sea. Note that the record implies that this movement to the sea could have happened later, not immediately, and that the bones, not the bodies, are in the sea (Alma 2:34; 3:3; 44:21-22). Today the Rio San Ignacio periodically floods and overflows its lower banks, as is common with rivers in semi-arid regions, and sweeps away the debris in the river valley, including, at times, unfortunately, even live cattle and people.

It is noted in the Book of Mormon account that Alma went over the river Sidon when going from his home in the city of Zarahemla to the valley and city of Gideon on the east of the river (Alma 6:7). This infers that the city of Zarahemla was located on the west of the river Sidon, and that the city of Gideon, east of the river, within a valley of the same name, was near the city of Zarahemla. This two-city alignment matches the towns of La Joya (Zarahemla) and San Ignacio (Gideon) which are located today on opposite sides of the Rio San Ignacio at its head, with the town of San Ignacio positioned in a notable valley.

We propose that the Rio San Ignacio, and its surrounding riverine features, not only match the required location of the river Sidon in the Book of Mormon account, but also all the recorded geographical details.