Helaman 3:15-22

¹⁵ But behold, there are many books and many records of every kind, and they have been kept chiefly by the Nephites. ¹⁶ And they have been handed down from one generation to another by the Nephites, even until they have fallen into transgression and have been murdered, plundered, and hunted, and driven forth, and slain, and scattered upon the face of the earth, and mixed with the Lamanites until they are no more called the Nephites, becoming wicked, and wild, and ferocious, yea, even becoming Lamanites.

¹⁷ And now I return again to mine account; therefore, what I have spoken had passed after there had been great contentions, and disturbances, and wars, and dissensions, among the people of Nephi. ¹⁸ The forty and sixth year of the reign of the judges ended;

Helaman 3:15 – 18 (Emphasis mine)

Mormon tells us he had many records available for his use as he is abridging the writings over a millennia of Nephite history.  He had many sources, but not all Nephite. He writes that the records “have been kept chiefly by the Nephites.”  This implies that there were other records available to him, most likely Lamanite records.

John L. Sorenson further explains:

“The very idea that large numbers of books were written and preserved in any ancient American culture was also contrary to the notion universally held by literate and rustic citizens of the United States that the ‘Indians’ were only ‘savages.’ The writer in Helaman 3:15 tells of ‘many books and many records of every kind’ among his people in the first century BC, some kept by the Lamanites but a majority by Nephites. They had been ‘handed down from one generation to another’ (v. 16). Spaniards noted (but only in documents that Joseph Smith could not have known about) that large numbers of native books—many held in great reverence as sacred records—were in use when they arrived in Mexico in the early sixteenth century. Archaeologist Michael Coe believes ‘there must have been thousands of such books in Classic times’ (generally AD 300—900). Only four have been preserved from the Maya zone. But in the 1820s not even the experts knew about these Mesoamerican books.”[1] (Emphasis mine)

¹⁹ And it came to pass that there was still great contention in the land, yea, even in the forty and seventh year [45 B.C.], and also in the forty and eighth year. ²⁰ Nevertheless Helaman did fill the judgment–seat with justice and equity; yea, he did observe to keep the statutes, and the judgments, and the commandments of God; and he did do that which was right in the sight of God continually; and he did walk after the ways of his father, insomuch that he did prosper in the land.

²¹ And it came to pass that he had two sons.  He gave unto the eldest the name of Nephi, and unto the youngest, the name of Lehi.  And they began to grow up unto the Lord. ²² And it came to pass that the wars and contentions began to cease, in a small degree, among the people of the Nephites, in the latter end of the forty and eighth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.

Helaman 3:19 – 22 (Emphasis Mine)

Mormon writes that there were contentions over the next two years.  Even so, Helaman₃ was a righteous and fair judge, doing “that which was right in the sight of God continually.” (v. 20)

Helaman₃ “did walk after the ways of his father.” (v. 20) We should remember the term “’[w]ays’ often signifies religious behavior in the Book of Mormon text.”[2]

Helaman₃ had two sons.  In a Nephite tradition, he names his two sons after great men in Nephite history.  The oldest was named Nephi₂ and the youngest Lehi₂.

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[1] Worth Repeating: "The Book of Mormon as a Mesoamerican Record", John L. Sorenson, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed June 15, 2012.

[2] Religious Groups and Movements among the Nephites, 200–1 B.C., John L. Sorenson, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed June 15, 2012.