The Book of Mormon explains that the Lehites traveled three days and then made camp in a valley containing a river that flowed into the Red Sea.
And it came to pass that when he had traveled three days in the wilderness, he pitched his tent in a valley by the side of a river of water.
And it came to pass that he called the name of the river, Laman, and it emptied into the Red Sea; and the valley was in the borders near the mouth thereof.
And when my father saw that the waters of the river emptied into the fountain of the Red Sea, he spake unto Laman, saying: O that thou mightest be like unto this river, continually running into the fountain of all righteousness! (1 Nephi 1:6, 8-9)LDS researchers have studied various trade routes out of Jerusalem and have found interesting parallels between the text of the Book of Mormon and the archeological and historical information now known about those trade routes. Cooper Johnson has written an interesting article for Fair that describes LDS research that parallels the descriptions given in the Book of Mormon. Excerpts from that article are not given here, because one needs to read the full article.
As we study possible routes used by the Lehites after they left Jerusalem, we need to realize that the Lehites were led by the Lord to find the more fertile parts of the desert, and they may not have followed traditional trade routes. However, a study of trade routes used in 600 BC or later will help us understand the context of the travels of the Lehites.
