Helaman 6:1-8

Chapter 6

The righteous Lamanites preach to the wicked Nephites—Both peoples prosper during an era of peace and plenty—Lucifer, the author of sin, guides the Gadianton robbers in their murders and wickedness—They take over the Nephite government. About 29–23 B.C.

¹ AND it came to pass that when the sixty and second year of the reign of the judges had ended [29 B.C.], all these things had happened and the Lamanites had become, the more part of them, a righteous people, insomuch that their righteousness did exceed that of the Nephites, because of their firmness and their steadiness in the faith. ² For behold, there were many of the Nephites who had become hardened and impenitent and grossly wicked, insomuch that they did reject the word of God and all the preaching and prophesying which did come among them. ³ Nevertheless, the people of the church did have great joy because of the conversion of the Lamanites, yea, because of the church of God, which had been established among them.  And they did fellowship one with another, and did rejoice one with another, and did have great joy.

Helaman 6:1 – 3 (Emphasis mine)

We have arrived at a point in history where the Lamanites (“the more part of them” – v. 1) had become a righteous people, firm in their faith.  On the other hand, the Nephites, as a society, had become “hardened and impenitent, and grossly wicked” (v. 2). 

There was still a group who were righteous and faithful.  Mormon tells us, “the people of the church did have great joy because of the conversion of the Lamanites” (v. 3).  In fact, there was contact between the two groups.  “[T]hey did fellowship one with another, and did rejoice one with another, and did have great joy” (v. 3).

⁴ And it came to pass that many of the Lamanites did come down into the land of Zarahemla, and did declare unto the people of the Nephites the manner of their conversion, and did exhort them to faith and repentance. ⁵ Yea, and many did preach with exceedingly great power and authority, unto the bringing down many of them into the depths of humility, to be the humble followers of God and the Lamb.

⁶ And it came to pass that many of the Lamanites did go into the land northward; and also Nephi and Lehi went into the land northward, to preach unto the people.  And thus ended the sixty and third year. ⁷ And behold, there was peace in all the land, insomuch that the Nephites did go into whatsoever part of the land they would, whether among the Nephites or the Lamanites. ⁸ And it came to pass that the Lamanites did also go whithersoever they would, whether it were among the Lamanites or among the Nephites; and thus they did have free intercourse one with another, to buy and to sell, and to get gain, according to their desire.

Helaman 6:4 – 8 (Emphasis mine)

Not only were the Lamanites more righteous, they began to send missionaries to the Nephites.  They recounted their experiences and conversion.  “[M]any did preach with exceedingly great power and authority, unto the bringing down many of them into the depths of humility, to be the humble followers of God and the Lamb” (v. 5). 

The Lamanites went to the land northward along with Nephi₂ and Lehi₄.  At that time, both societies were free to move throughout the land.  Not only was the gospel preached, “they did have free intercourse one with another, to buy and to sell, and to get gain, according to their desire” (v. 8). 

It is not surprising that there was activity between the two societies.

“Captives taken by the Lamanites would have conveyed Nephite influences and brought counterpatterns with them when they returned (see, for example, Alma 58:30). Missionary activity went both directions (see Alma 17:8; Helaman 5:20, 49—51; and 6:4—5). Trade too would have carried ideas and practices back and forth between the two societies (see Helaman 6:6—10).”[1] (Emphasis mine)

Commerce also occurred between the two socities.

“Little is reported about merchants and their activities over much of Nephite history, but at a few points in the Book of Mormon account we read of extensive commerce. It is impossible that a civilization that included widespread trade and related components—record keeping, craft production, knowledge of routes, and so on—would have arisen suddenly at just those moments. The pattern must have been going on for a long time, becoming particularly visible when it reached a climax level. Helaman 6:7–8 reports at about the time of Christ…”[2] (Emphasis mine)

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[1] Religious Groups and Movements among the Nephites, 200–1 B.C., John L. Sorenson, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed July 3, 2012.

[2] Civilization, John L. Sorenson, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed July 3, 2012.