D

DA-MAS'CUS
The D. of the Bible. Mentioned in 2 Ne. ix:21, 42, 90 in quotations from Isa. vii, viii, x.

Dark-ness
In the American catastrophe which took place simultaneously with the Palestinian crucifixion, there was awful d. It lasted for "three days" and was so thick that they "could feel the vapor of d." The density of this vapor was phenomenal because it says "there could be no light because of the d.; neither candles, neither torches; neither could there be fire kindled with their fine and exceeding dry wood, so that there could not be any light at all." 3 Ne. iv: 17-21. In Judea there was d. "over the whole land" from the sixth to the ninth hour. Which latter occurrence is confirmed by the pagan Phlegon of Trallium who lived about A. D. 150 and describes such a d. and accompanying "earthquake" as taking place in the 202 Olympiad, year 4, corresponding with the 33rd (crucifixion) year of the Christian era. See Mk. 15:38.

Also Lambert's Notes on Ingersoll p.148. Tangible darkness was one of the plagues visited upon ancient Egypt. Ex. 10:21.

DA'VID
The Bible D. Mentioned in 2 Ne. ix:14-22 in quotation from Isa. vii; also in Jac. ii:25-43 in de-nunciation of polygamy.

DA'VID
Land of. The Nephites were driven from there in 326 A. D. by the Lamanites, General Mormon being in command of the former. Mor. 1:21-33.

Des-'er-et'
Name given the honey bee by the Jaredites, which they brought to America with them 2200 B. C. Eth. i:22-27.

DES'O-LA'TION
City of. Evidently the chief city of the land D. (q. v.). The land of D. is referred to in the ante-Christian period, but we do not read of the city of D. till A. D. 360-374, when it is spoken of as the scene of several battles between the Nephites and Lamanites in that great war which terminated at Cumorah in A. D. 384. This city was taken from the Nephites twice by their enemies. Twice it was recaptured, but we have no account of any recovery of its possession after the third losing of it. Morm. i:63-75; ii:l-25.

DES'O-LA'TION
Land of. This land was occupied by the Jaredites before the Nephites or Zarahemlas came to America. It was, in fact, the landing place of the people of Zarahemla, the second colony from Jerusalem less than 600 B. C. It was at that time covered with the bones of their Jaredite ancestors, as it was also 121 B. C. when visited by the men of Limhi. Vide Cm. 36-39; Mos. ix:163-175; Al. xiii:67-77. It was bounded on the south by the land Bountiful. It was a day and a half's journey from the east to the west sea on the boundary line be-tween the lands D. and Bountiful. Al. xiii:67-77. Then, in the land Bountiful if not at its southern ex-tremity, it was a day's journey from the east to the west sea. Hel. ii:36-41. The land of D. was the scene of much carnage and bloodshed by the Nephite- Lamanite war as well as by the Jaredites.

DES'O-LA'TION OF NE'HORS
Name given to the place where had stood the city of Ammonihah (q. v.) They had rejected Alma and Amulek and put to death their converts. As a judgment upon them they were all destroyed by the Lamanites 81 B. C. It was a Nephite city not far from the Pacific Ocean. On account of their being of the profession of Nehor, it was called the D. of N. Al. xi:19.

Devil
See Lucifer.

Directors
See Liahona.

Disciples, Twelve
See "Twelve Disciples" also Apostles.