Helaman 2:6-14

Gadianton has taken over Kishkumen’s band and sent Kishkumen to assassinate Helaman₃.

⁶ And it came to pass as he went forth towards the judgment–seat to destroy Helaman, behold one of the servants of Helaman, having been out by night, and having obtained, through disguise, a knowledge of those plans which had been laid by this band to destroy Helaman—⁷ And it came to pass that he met Kishkumen, and he gave unto him a sign; therefore Kishkumen made known unto him the object of his desire, desiring that he would conduct him to the judgment–seat that he might murder Helaman.

⁸ And when the servant of Helaman had known all the heart of Kishkumen, and how that it was his object to murder, and also that it was the object of all those who belonged to his band to murder, and to rob, and to gain power, (and this was their secret plan, and their combination) the servant of Helaman said unto Kishkumen: Let us go forth unto the judgment–seat. ⁹ Now this did please Kishkumen exceedingly, for he did suppose that he should accomplish his design; but behold, the servant of Helaman, as they were going forth unto the judgment–seat, did stab Kishkumen even to the heart, that he fell dead without a groan.  And he ran and told Helaman all the things which he had seen, and heard, and done.

Helaman 2:6 – 9 (Emphasis mine)

Secret combinations have been around almost since the beginning.  Noel Reynolds explains, “Joseph Smith's Moses reports the sins of Cain and his descendants in much greater detail than the biblical account. Of particular interest is the evil conspiracy hatched by Cain to murder for gain: ‘And Cain said: Truly I am Mahan, the master of this great secret, that I may murder and get gain"’(Moses 5:31). The Book of Mormon describes several similar conspiracies.”[1]  (Emphasis in original)

                                                                                         

A servant of Helaman₃ became aware of the plan (“having obtained, through disguise, a knowledge of those plans) and “agreed” to assist Kishkumen.  When he saw Kishkumen coming to assassinate Helaman₃, he gave him a sign and Kishkumen came with him to the judgment-seat. 

While they were going to the judgment-seat, the servant stabbed and killed Kishkumen.  Leaving Kishkumen dead on the ground, he rushed to Helaman₃ and told him what had happened and who was responsible.

“Gadianton's object was to become chief judge himself, and he promised to remunerate his faithful followers by putting them into key positions if he were elected: ‘they should be placed in power and authority among the people’ (Helaman 2:5). But first of all the ruling judge, Helaman, had to be gotten out of the way, so Kishkumen went to work. Counter-espionage was also at work, however, and a servant of Helaman killed Kishkumen in Kishkumen's attempt to assassinate the judge (Helaman 2:8—9). Their plans to gain power having been discovered, the gang, under the leadership of Gadianton, ‘took their flight out of the land, by a secret way, into the wilderness’ and thus escaped the police (Helaman 2:10—11).”[2]   (Emphasis mine)

¹⁰ And it came to pass that Helaman did send forth to take this band of robbers and secret murderers, that they might be executed according to the law. ¹¹ But behold, when Gadianton had found that Kishkumen did not return he feared lest that he should be destroyed; therefore he caused that his band should follow him.  And they took their flight out of the land, by a secret way, into the wilderness; and thus when Helaman sent forth to take them they could nowhere be found.

Helaman 2:9 – 11 (Emphasis mine)

Helaman₃ set out to execute the band of robbers.  Unfortunately, Gadianton came to realize that something was wrong when Kishkumen failed to return; they fled into the wilderness.  Helaman₃ couldn’t find them.

John Welch explains the law and what would have happened had the band been caught.

“The Nephite government made little effort to deal with the robbers judicially. Helaman sent soldiers after the robber Gadianton, who fled, fearing that he would ;be destroyed’ (Helaman 2:11). It is doubtful that any kind of trial would have taken place if Gadianton had been apprehended, for Helaman sent men after these assassins already intending "that they might be executed according to the law" (Helaman 2:10), that is, the law permitted their immediate execution. 

“Similarly, clearing the Nephite countryside of robbers was a responsibility of the government. Helaman took official action against them (see Helaman 2:10), as the Nephites and Lamanites again did later (see Helaman 11:28).”[3] (Emphasis mine)

¹² And more of this Gadianton shall be spoken hereafter.  And thus ended the forty and second year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi. ¹³ And behold, in the end of this book ye shall see that this Gadianton did prove the overthrow, yea, almost the entire destruction of the people of Nephi. ¹⁴ Behold I do not mean the end of the book of Helaman, but I mean the end of the book of Nephi, from which I have taken all the account which I have written.

Helaman 2:12 - 14 (Emphasis mine)

Mormon makes clear the importance and significance of what has occurred.  “[I]n the end of this book, ye shall see this Gadianton did prove the overthrow, yea, almost entire destruction of the people of Nephi … I mean the end of the book of Nephi from which I have taken all the account which I have written.” 

One evil man and his actions will eventually lead to total destruction. “He did it not as a criminal and bandit but as one of the most able and successful men of his time, and entirely with the public's consent.”[4]

John Tvedtnes writes:

“In Helaman 2:12-14,Mormon said that he would speak more of Gadianton and his secret band ‘hereafter.’ Indeed he did. The problems caused by the robbers and much about their characteristics were detailed in Helaman 6; 3 Nephi 1:27-29; 2:11-18; 3:1-4:29; and beyond in 4 Nephi and Mormon. The editorial comments in Helaman 2:12-14 are particularly interesting, for they show how Mormon thought and worked in carrying out his task of preparing the Nephite record…

“If these acts were secret, how is it that the record told so much about them? That there were murderers was of course obvious to the people of the time, but they could have known nothing about any plan or society that was indeed secret. Only later, in the period reported in Helaman 6, was the Gadianton band discovered and some of them were arrested. Perhaps their confessions revealed the secret. We can see that Mormon, the historian writing years later, would have been aware of those later events when he edited what we see as Helaman 2, so he could refer to ‘secret work.’”[5] (Emphasis mine)

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[1] The Brass Plates Version of Genesis, Noel B. Reynolds, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed June 9, 2012.

[2] The Way of the Wicked, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed June 9, 2012.

[3] Law and War in the Book of Mormon, John W. Welch, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed June 9, 2012.

[4]Op cit., Nibley

[5] Mormon's Editorial Promises, John A. Tvedtnes, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed June 9, 2012.