Canaan was the land of promise given to the children of Israel, possessed after Moses led them out of Egypt and they crossed the river Jordan — “and after they had crossed the river Jordan he did make them mighty unto the driving out of the children of the land” (1 Nephi 17:32). Nephi held the conquest up to his brothers as proof that the Lord “did destroy them who were ripe in iniquity” before Israel, esteeming the righteous (1 Nephi 17:32-35).