Lesson 33 - A Sure
Foundation
Purpose
To encourage class members to build their testimonies on the
foundation of
Jesus Christ.
Scriptures
Read, ponder, and pray about the
following scriptures:
&
Helaman 1–2. Internal strife develops
among the Nephites as secret works and wickedness increase. Gadianton becomes
the leader of Kishkumen’s secret band of robbers.
&
Helaman 3. Thousands join the Church
and begin to prosper. Some Church members are lifted up in pride.
&
Helaman 4. Lamanites and Nephite
dissenters defeat the Nephites because of the Nephites’ wickedness and pride.
&
Helaman 5. Nephi and Lehi remember
their father’s counsel to build their foundation on the rock of Christ.
Miracles attend their ministry as they preach repentance.
Background
For some reason, the curriculum people decided to ignore the
last part of Alma. Here’s a very quick
review of how the war ended (See Alma 59-63). (Note:
This is a very short overview. The
events were more complex and involved.)
·
The army is undermanned and does not have
adequate provisions.
o
Moroni1 sends an angry epistle to
Chief Judge Pahoran, calling on him to repent and to provide what is needed for
the army or he would overthrow the government and replace them with righteous
men.
·
Pahoran patiently responds he understands why Moroni1
is angry, but the king-men have started a rebellion in Zarahemla. He cannot provide the support because there
is war at home.
o
Moroni1 takes a small army to support
Pahoran.
o
The king-men were defeated.
§
Those that agreed to take up arms in defense of
the Nephites were freed.
§
Those that refused were executed.
·
Moroni1 returns and they began
battling the Lamanites.
·
Teancum was very angry with Ammoron.
o
He snuck into the Lamanite camp and executed
Ammoron.
o
Teancum was killed in the process.
·
Battles continue with Moroni1
defeating the Lamanites and bringing peace in the land.
·
Helaman2 returns and takes over his
church responsibilities.
o
He passes the records and sacred things to
Shiblon.
·
Moroni1 dies a young man, in his
early to mid 40’s.
·
There was a migration to the land northward.
o
Some travelled by ships.
o
Ships later returned for supplies and more
people left.
o
Alma2’s son Corianton travels in this
group.
o
Nothing more is known about these people.
·
Before Shiblon dies, he passes the records and
sacred things to Helaman3, son of Helaman2.
·
Nephite dissenters stirred up some Lamanites and
there was a battle.
o
Moronihah, son of Moroni1, becomes
chief captain.
o
He defeats the Lamanites.
The Book of Helaman
If I were looking for a point in Nephite history where their
collapse began, I would identify the Book of Helaman as that point. Nephite society continues its cycles of
righteousness and wickedness, prosperity and famine. But, with a few exceptions (including the 200
years of peace and righteousness [see 4 Nephi]), we see a downward spiral
leading to the collapse and end of the Nephite civilization around 400 years
from now.
There is war and the Nephites end up losing half of their
lands to the Lamanites, never to regain them.
The Gadianton Robbers make their appearance (and disappearance and
appearance). We will see the Lord never
gives up on the people. It is the people
who turn away from him.
Recommendations
There are two parts to the lesson I would recommend you
cover.
&
The first is in chapter 4 where we learn about
the consequences of ignoring the poor and needy.
&
The other is the experience of Nephi2
and Lehi4 in the Lamanite prison found in Chapter 5. This is a very powerful conversion story.
The Book of Helaman
An account of the
Nephites. Their wars and contentions,
and their dissensions. And also the
prophecies of many holy prophets, before the coming of Christ, according to the
records of Helaman, who was the son of Helaman, and also according to the
records of his sons, even down to the coming of Christ. And also many of the Lamanites are
converted. An account of their
conversion. An account of the
righteousness of the Lamanites, and the wickedness and abominations of the
Nephites, according to the record of Helaman and his sons, even down to the
coming of Christ, which is called the book of Helaman.
Chapter
1
Dissension and Assassination (v. 1-7)
·
Pahoran1 dies.
o
This is the end of the leadership that led the
Nephites to victory in the Amalickiahite
wars.
o
A new
generation of leadership is taking over the government, military, and church.
·
There were divisions among the Nephites.
o
Contentions arose over the selection of the new
chief judge.
·
Three of Pahoran’s sons contended for the
judgment-seat.
o They
were Pahoran2, Paanchi, and Pacumeni.
·
Pahoran2
was appointed chief judge and governor by the voice of the people.
o Pacumeni accepted the people’s choice.
o Paanchi did not.
§ He and his followers rose “up in rebellion
against their brethren” (v. 7).
§ Paanchi was discovered before the rebellion
began.
§ He was tried and condemned to death.
Secret Combinations (v. 8-13)
·
Paanchi’s
followers were angered by his execution.
o They conspired to have Kishkumen assassinate
Pahoran2.
o He went in disguise and assassinated Pahoran2
while he sat on the judgment-seat.
o He escaped and returned to his band.
o They made a covenant, “swearing by their
everlasting Maker,” they would “tell no man that Kishkumen had murdered
Pahoran” (v. 11).
§ See Quote #1
·
Notice
how these evil and dark secret societies take oaths in the name of God to keep
the membership and their deeds secret.
o We see evil men performing evil acts use
God’s name as a part of their oath.
o This shows the lengths the devil will go to
twist and pervert the name of God and righteousness.
o This has to be one of the most evil acts
used by the devil to mock God.
·
*Because of the secrecy oaths, Kishkumen and his
band blended in with society.
o
Those that were caught were condemned to death.
o
See Quote #2
·
Pacumeni became chief judge and governor by the
voice of the people.
o
There is some indication that this position was
hereditary in nature.
§
Mormon tells us that he “was appointed … to
reign in the stead of his brother Pahoran; and it was according to his right” (v.
13).
War (v. 14-30)
·
Being the Nephites, war is not too far away.
o
A Nephite dissenter named Coriantumr was
appointed head of the Lamanite army.
o
Coriantumr was a descendent of Zarahemla.
§
This makes him a Mulekite.
§
He also has a Jaredite name.
o
We see that the description of a “Nephite” and a
“Lamanite” has become more a political and cultural description.
·
Because of contention, sufficient forces were
not available to protect Zarahemla.
o
They believed the Lamanites wouldn’t dare attack
powerful Zarahemla.
·
Coriantumr quickly attacked and took Zarahemla.
o
Coriantumr killed Pacumeni as he fled.
§
For the second time in less than a year, a chief
judge is assassinated.
·
Coriantumr took control of Zarahemla.
o
He wanted “all the land” (v. 22).
o
He defeated any opposition as he marched towards
Bountiful.
o
Coriantumr marched through the center of the
land.
§
This was an unusual Lamanite tactic.
·
Moronihah had his armies along the borders.
o
He was able to head off Coriantumr’s army before
they reached Bountiful.
o
There was a battle and Coriantumr was drive back
towards Zarahemla.
·
There followed another “exceedingly bloody
battle” (v. 30).
o
Moronihah surrounded the Lamanite army.
·
The Lamanites were defeated by the Nephite army.
o
The Lamanites that surrendered and laid down
their arms were freed.
o
Those that refused were taken prisoner.
Chapter
2
Reorganizing Government (v. 1-2)
·
A new chief judge was needed.
o
The seat was patriarchal in nature.
o
None of Pahoran1’s surviving sons
accepted the judgment-seat (see Helaman 1:4).
o
No sons of Pahoran2 or Pacumeni were
mentioned as being considered.
§
Three possible reasons:
·
They had no sons.
·
Their sons were too young.
·
Their sons were old enough but showed no
interest.
·
The people turned to Helaman3.
·
His genealogy:
o
Alma1 (great-grandfather) – Alma2
(grandfather) – break - Helaman3.
Enter Gadianton (v. 3-5)
·
Here is where we can mark the beginning of the
end of the Nephite civilization.
·
Gadianton lays the final foundations.
o
He “was exceedingly expert in many words, and
also in his craft, to carry on the secret work of murder and of robbery” (v. 4).
§
We know nothing about him.
§
He has a Jaredite name.
§
He most likely was not of Nephite or Lamanite
ancestry.
§
He could have been a Mulekite or descended from
people who were here when Lehi1’s party arrived.
o
Through words and flattery, he “became the leader
of the band of Kishkumen” (v. 4).
·
See Quote #3.
·
Gadianton’s goal was to sit on the
judgment-seat.
·
He promised that if he did, his followers “should
be placed in power and authority among the people” (v. 5).
Attempt to Take Over Nephite Government (v.
6-12)
·
Kishkumen was assigned to kill Helaman3.
o
A servant of Helaman3 became a double
agent.
o
He agreed to assist Kishkumen.
o
The servant began to lead Kishkumen to Helaman3.
o
As they were going to the judgment-seat, the
servant stabbed and killed Kishkumen.
o
He ran and warned Helaman3.
·
Helaman3 set out to execute the band
of robbers.
o
When Kishkumen failed to return, Gadianton
realized Kishkumen failed.
o
The robbers fled into the wilderness.
o
Helaman3 couldn’t find them.
·
Mormon tells us, “[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” (v. 13).
Chapter
3
Peace and Pride (v. 1-3)
·
There is peace in the land.
·
Pride makes an appearance.
o
This never is a good sign with the Nephites.
·
By the next year, it led to dissensions and
contentions.
People Depart for the Land Northward (v.
3-13)
·
Many left Zarahemla for the land northward.
o
They found the land desolate and without timber.
o
This was “because of the many inhabitants who
had before inherited the land” (v. 5).
§
See Quote #4
·
Without timber, the people became “expert in the
working of cement” (v. 7).
o
They built homes of cement.
o
This has long been used as a tool by critics to
challenge the Book of Mormon.
o
What is the truth?
§
See Quote #5
·
The population increased.
o
It increased through immigration.
o
It increased through birth.
·
Nephites protected tree growth in the land.
o
“[T]hey did suffer whatsoever tree should spring
up upon the face of the land that it should grow up, that in time they might
have timber” (v. 9).
·
The people built cities, temple, synagogues,
sanctuaries, etc.
o
Timber was shipped to the land northward from
the south.
·
Many of the people of Ammon went to the land
northward.
o
This ends any reference to the Ammonites in the
Book of Mormon.
Mormon and the Records (v. 14-16)
·
Mormon has numerous records available.
·
He had to make choices about what was most
important.
o
He tells us he has not included “a hundredth
part of the proceedings of this people” (v. 14).
o
Mormon makes it clear we are not getting a
complete history.
§
See Quote #6
§
See Quote #7
Helaman3 Becomes Chief Judge/Prosperity
in the Land (v. 17-32)
·
In spite of contentions in the land, Helaman3
was a righteous and fair chief judge.
·
He has two sons.
o
He names them after great men in Nephite history
– Nephi2 and Lehi4.
·
There was a period of peace and prosperity.
o
Even so, the Gadianton Robbers were making their
presence felt.
·
Growth in the church increased.
·
The more faithful the more prosperous they were.
·
Mormon tell us:
o
The Lord is merciful to all who sincerely call
upon his name.
o
The gate of heaven open unto all who believe in
Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
·
See Quote #8
·
Mormon explains:
o
Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold
upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder
all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of
Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery
which is prepared to engulf the wicked—
Helaman 3:29
o
See Quote #9
Pride Enters the Church/A New Chief
Judge (v. 33-37)
·
For two more years there was peace.
o
Pride entered the hearts of the members of the
church.
o
While many were converted to the church, the was
a question about their commitment to the gospel.
·
As usual, it was “the more humble part of the
people” who suffered “great persecutions, and [had] to wade through much
affliction” (v. 34).
o
The persecuted stayed faithful.
o
They fasted; they prayed.
o
They became “stronger, and stronger in their
humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ” (v. 35).
·
The Nephite Syndrome struck.
o
“[E]xceedingly great pride … had gotten into the
hearts of the people … it did grow from day to day” (v. 36).
·
Helaman3 died.
o
He was succeeded by Nephi2.
o
Lehi4 was also no doubt involved with
the plates.
o
See Quote #10
Chapter
4
Dissensions, Contentions, War, and
Defeat (v. 1-11)
·
Contention and dissension pervade Nephite
society.
·
The Savior warned against contentions at all
costs.
o
For verily, verily I say unto you, he that
hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the
father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with
anger, one with another. (3 Nephi
11:29)
·
The rebellious part fled to the Lamanites.
·
They tried to stir up the Lamanites.
o
They didn’t succeed as the Lamanites feared the
Nephites.
·
Contentions continued and dissenters joined the
Lamanites.
o
They eventually convinced the Lamanites to go to
war.
o
See Quote #11
·
The war lasted two years.
o
The Nephites were defeated and lost the land of
Zarahemla.
o
They also lost all lands near the land of
Bountiful.
·
Moroniah began to fortify the land to protect
against Lamanite attacks.
o
At the end of the battles, the Lamanites
controlled all Nephite land in the land southward.
·
Moronihah was able to regain most of the lost
lands and cities.
o
The regained half of all their possessions.
·
Why was there war?
o
“[T]he great slaughter which was among them,
would not have happened had it not been for their wickedness and their abomination
which was among them” (v.11).
·
The Lord had made promises to the Nephites.
o
A promise made to Joseph Smith would equally
apply to the Nephites.
§
“I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say;
but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise” (D&C 82:10).
·
What could overthrow the Lord’s church?
o
The angel who appeared to Alma2 told
him,
o
“[T]he
Lord hath said: This is my church, and I will establish it; and nothing shall
overthrow it, save it is the transgression of my people” (Mosiah 27:13).
·
During the war, the was great slaughter among
the Nephites.
Oppression of the Poor (v. 12-13)
·
Many who belonged to the church were rich.
·
“And it was because of the pride of their
hearts, because of their exceeding riches, yea, it was because of their
oppression to the poor” (v. 12).
o
They also:
§
Withheld food from the hungry.
§
Withheld clothing from the naked.
§
“[Smote] their humble brethren upon the check.
§
Mocked that which was sacred.
§
Denied the spirit of prophecy and revelation.
§
Murdered, plundered, lied, stole, committed adultery.
§
Rose up in great contentions.
§
They boasted in their own strength.
·
When left to their own strength, they did not
prosper.
·
One of the greatest sins in the eyes of the Lord
is to oppress the poor.
o
Paul told Timothy:
§
“Charge them that are rich in this world,
that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living
God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17).
o
Obadiah wrote,
§
“The pride of thine heart hath deceived
thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high;
that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground? Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and
though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith
the LORD” (Obadiah 1:3-14).
o
King Benjamin said,
§
“[W]hosoever doeth this the same hath great
cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he
perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God” (Mosiah 4:18).
o
Solomon tells us that,
§
“Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his
Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished” (Proverbs 17:5); “[w]hoso stoppeth his ears at the
cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard” (Proverbs 21:13).
o
Why is taking care of the poor so
important?
§
James wrote,
·
“Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God
chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he
hath promised to them that love him” (James 2:5).
Moronihah, Lehi4, and Nephi2
Preaches the Gospel (v. 14-26)
·
The Nephites have a warrior prophet in
Moronihah.
o
He told the people it was because of their
iniquity they were suffering.
·
Lehi4 and Nephi2 also
preached to the people.
o
The people repented and began to prosper.
·
Moronihah led the Nephites into battle and was
able to regain half the lost Nephite lands.
o
The other half of the land lost to the Lamanites
would never be regained.
o
“[F]or for so numerous were the Lamanites that
it became impossible for the Nephites to obtain more power over them” (v. 19).
·
See Quote #12
·
The words of Alma2 and King Mosiah2
rang in their hearts.
·
Alma2
asked,
o
“[C]an ye
withstand these sayings; yea, can ye lay aside these things, and trample the
Holy One under your feet; yea, can ye be puffed up in the pride of your hearts;
yea, will ye still persist in the wearing of costly apparel and setting your
hearts upon the vain things of the world, upon your riches” (Alma 5:53).
·
King Mosiah2 warned them,
o
“[I]f the
time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time
that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will
visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land”
(Mosiah 29:27).
§
They chose iniquity and the judgments of God
came upon them.
·
King Benjamin warned,
o
“[I]f this
highly favored people of the Lord should fall into transgression, and become a
wicked and an adulterous people, that the Lord will deliver them up, that
thereby they become weak like unto their brethren; and he will no more preserve
them by his matchless and marvelous power, as he has hitherto preserved our
fathers” (Mosiah 1:13).
·
King Solomon also warned,
o
“Because I
have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also
will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear
cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress
and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not
answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me” (Proverbs
1:24-28).
·
Because of their sin, the Lord ceased to protect
the Nephites.
·
Because of the large number of Lamanites, if
they did not “cleave unto the Lord their God they must unavoidably perish” (v.
25).
·
The Nephites had become weak because of their
transgression.
·
See Quote #13
Chapter
5
Cezoram Takes the Judgment-Seat (v. 1-4)
·
For the first time, the people delivered the
judgment-seat to an unrighteous man.
o
“[T]hey who chose evil were more numerous than
they who chose good” (v. 2).
·
The Nephites were “ripening for destruction, for
the laws had become corrupted” (v. 2).
·
Nephi2 gave up the judgment-seat.
o
He and Lehi4 preached the word of God
for the rest of their days.
Nephi2 and Lehi4 Remember
Helaman3’s Words (v. 5-16)
·
They remembered the words Helaman3
spoke to them.
o
They were given names of the first parents out
of Jerusalem.
§
This was to remind them in all they do they were
good people.
·
He reminds them of the words of King Benjamin.
o
“[T]here is no other way nor means whereby man
can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ” (v. 9).
o
See Quote #14
·
The Lord will not save us in our sins.
o
It is impossible for the Lord to deny His word.
o
We are saved through repentance.
·
Christ is their foundation.
o
The devil will have no power over them to drag
them down to hell.
·
He taught them many words which were not
written.
Nephi2 and Lehi4 Preach
the Word (v. 17)
·
Lehi4 and Nephi2 did not
just preach to the Nephites.
o
They left their lands and taught the Lamanites.
·
They taught “with such great power and
authority” that they had much success.
o
They confounded many dissenters who had left the
Nephites.
o
These people repented and worked “to repair …
the wrongs which they had done” (v. 17).
o
8,000 Lamanites accepted the gospel.
Nephi2 and Lehi4 in
Prison (v. 18-52)
·
They were cast into the same prison Ammon and
his brethren were imprisoned.
o
The Lamanite intent was to slay them.
·
We see the Lord’s miraculous protecting of His
servants.
·
As the Lamanites arrived, they saw Nephi2
and Lehi4 surrounded by fire.
o
The guards wouldn’t lay hands on them.
o
They were surrounded by fire, but did not
burn.
o
Their jailers stood before them, dumb with
amazement.
o
There was much symbolism in this experience.
o
See Quote #15
·
Nephi2 and Lehi4 began
speaking to the people present.
o
“Fear not, for behold, it is God that has shown
unto you this marvelous thing, in the which is shown unto you that ye cannot lay
your hands on us to slay us” (v. 26).
·
The earth then shook and there was fear the
prison wall collapse.
·
Then, a cloud of darkness overshadowed the
people.
·
A voice came out of the cloud of darkness,
saying,
o
“Repent ye, repent ye, and seek no more to
destroy my servants whom I have sent unto you to declare good tidings” (v.
29).
o
It wasn’t a voice of thunder; it wasn’t a loud
voice.
o
It was
the still small voice of the Spirit, a voice which will “pierce even to the
very soul” (v. 30).
o
Even though it was a small voice, the “earth
shook exceedingly, and the walls of the prison trembled again” (v. 31).
·
Because of the fear, and the darkness, they were
unable to move.
·
A Nephite dissenter was in prison, Aminadab.
o
He had once belonged to the church.
·
He looked towards Lehi4 and Nephi2,
and saw their faces “did shine exceedingly, even as the faces of angels” (v.
36).
·
As they stood, they “did lift their eyes to
heaven” and it looked as though they were talking to someone not seen.
·
Aminadab called to the multitude, telling them
to look.
o
They beheld Lehi4 and Nephi2
and asked what this all means and to whom are they talking?
·
He told them they were conversing with angels.
·
He said to remove the cloud of darkness, they
must repent and “cry unto the voice, even until ye shall have faith in Christ”
(v. 41).
·
The cloud of darkness is a part of Lehi1’s
dream of the tree of life.
o
“And it
came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness; yea, even an exceedingly
great mist of darkness, insomuch that they who had commenced in the path did
lose their way, that they wandered off and were lost” (1 Nephi 8:23). An angel would tell Nephi1 “the
mists of darkness are the temptations of the devil, which blindeth the eyes,
and hardeneth the hearts of the children of men, and leadeth them away into
broad roads, that they perish and are lost” (1 Nephi 8:23).
·
Aminadab called on the people to remember what
had been taught by Alma2, Amulek, and Zeezrom.
o
The people had not accepted these teachings at
that point.
o
The darkness represented the spiritual darkness
in which they lived.
o
Repent and have faith on Christ, Aminadab told
them.
o
Do what they need to do to remove this spiritual
darkness from their hearts.
·
See Quote #16
·
See Quote #17
·
The Lamanites did as they were told; they began
crying unto the Lord.
o
They continued, “even until the cloud of
darkness was dispersed” (v. 42).
o
When the cloud dispersed, they saw that they
were surrounded by a pillar of fire, with Nephi2 and Lehi4
in their midst.
o
Standing in the midst of this fire, “they were
filled with that joy which is unspeakable and full of glory” (v. 43).
·
The Holy Spirit entered their hearts and “they
were filled as if with fire” (v. 45).
o
They then heard the still small voice,
testifying to them this occurred “because of your faith in my Well Beloved” (v.
47).
·
Faith was the key to this experience.
o
Moroni2 would tell us that “it was the faith of
Nephi and Lehi that wrought the change upon the Lamanites, that they were
baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost” (Ether 12:14).
·
When they looked towards heaven, they saw angels
come down and they began to minister to them.
·
The three hundred “who saw and heard these
things” were told to “go forth and marvel not, neither should they doubt” (v.
49).
·
See Quote #18
·
Those who were converted went out and preached
to the people, telling them what had happened and the things they had
heard.
·
Many were converted, laying “down their weapons
of war, and also their hatred and the tradition of their fathers” (v. 51).
·
Giving up the traditions of their fathers was an
important part of the conversion process.
·
Another result was that the converted Lamanites
“did yield up unto the Nephites the lands of their possession” (v. 52).
Quote #1
Victor Ludlow writes:
Starting some 50
years before Christ, the first of three secret, murdering bands organized to
make covenants to protect their members, who had murdered the chief judge
Pahoran and attempted to murder the prophet Helaman (see Helaman 1:11; 2:3).
This band of Kishkumen later fled into the wilderness, where it seems to have
died out (see Helaman 2:11) … The secret bands seek strength in numbers and
make their vows with each other in God's name and before each other, using
their own heads or lives as a final witness. However, they do not want their
membership and participation to be witnessed or known publicly (see Helaman
1:12; 2:3; 6:21—22; and 3 Nephi 6:28).[1]
Quote #2
Hugh Nibley explains:
The man who in disguise committed the crime, one Kishkumen,
went back to the Paanchi people and told them that they were now all in it
together, so they all took a vow “‘by their everlasting Maker” not to divulge
Kishkumen's secret (Helaman 1:11). Then having taken this pious religious oath
(not by the devil but by the Creator!) the defenders of Paanchi (who was only
trying to save his own life) went about their business unrecognized as
perfectly respectable citizens (Helaman 1:12).[2]
Quote #3
Hugh Nibley explains the future consequences and results.
When Nephite missionaries came among the Zoramites, a
general assembly was held to discuss the threat to vested interests, “for it
did destroy their craft” (Alma 35:3). Finally in Gadianton we find an
out-and-out criminal using the intellectual appeal and garb of reason as an
instrument to achieve his ends. This Gadianton “was exceedingly expert in many
words” (Helaman 2:4), and in the end he “did prove the overthrow, yea, almost
the entire destruction of the people of Nephi” (Helaman 2:13). And it all began
with perfectly reasonable and plausible talk.[3]
Quote #4
Kevin Christensen writes:
And who were the unnamed “many inhabitants” who had before
inherited the land (Helaman 3:5-6)? Must we assume Jaredites when they were not
named and were not necessarily in the same location? What about those “many
nations” that would overrun the land after the Nephite fall (2 Nephi 1:8)? John
Sorenson suggests these could include nearby American populations, rather than
exclusively referring to European
Gentiles.”[4]
Gentiles.”[4]
Quote #5
John Welch and Matthew Wells explain:
Recent research shows that cement was in fact extensively
used in Mesoamerica beginning largely at this time. One of the most notable
uses of cement is in the temple complex at Teotihuacan, north of present-day
Mexico City. According to David S. Hyman, the structural use of cement appears
suddenly in the archaeological record. Its earliest sample “is a fully
developed product.” The cement floor slabs at this site “were remarkably high
in structural quality.” Although exposed to the elements for nearly two
thousand years, they still “exceed many present-day building code
requirements.”[5]
See Quote #6
Hugh Nibley explains:
Mere mass made it necessary to edit. From the first, Nephi
had stated the guiding principle in the preserving of plates and records: “Wherefore,
the things which are pleasing unto the world I do not write, but the things
which are pleasing unto God and unto those who are not of the world” (1 Nephi
6:5). The primary and original aim of keeping those records which make up the
Book of Mormon was to preserve the religious tradition
of the righteous few who down through the centuries have heeded God's word and
been guided by his prophets.[6]
See Quote #7
Monte Nyman raises an interesting possibility about possible
sources or records used by Mormon.
In commenting upon his recording only a hundredth part of
what he had available to him, Mormon wrote that there were many other particular
and very large records of every kind that had been kept chiefly by the Nephites
(see Helaman 3:13—15). The word chiefly (emphasis in original) indicates that the Lamanites also kept
some records and implies that they were known to Mormon at the time he abridged
the Nephite records. It is not stated how he knew of them or whether they were
in his possession and had ”been handed down from one generation to another by
the Nephites” (Helaman 3:16). The context of Mormon's comments does not rule
out that possibility.[7]
Quote #8
Richard Rust explains how this is one example where we see
that we are Mormon’s audience.
Not only does Mormon speak to a latter-day audience but he
counsels with them and personalizes what they learn from his narratives. ”Now
we see," (emphasis in
original) he emphasizes, “that Ammon could not be slain” (Alma 19:23).
Regarding the conversion that follows, he says, “thus we see (emphasis
in original) that the Lord worketh in many ways to the salvation of
his people” (Alma 24:27). Commenting on circumstances of people living at the
time of the second Helaman, he confirms, “Thus we may see (emphasis in original) that the Lord is
merciful unto all who will, in the sincerity of their hearts, call upon his
holy name” (Helaman 3:27).[8]
Quote #9
Cynthia Hallen explains the choice of words in verse 29.
The study of words (called philology) can clarify Book of
Mormon terms that were familiar to Joseph Smith and his contemporaries but that
may seem obscure to today's readers. For example, to modern readers the
adjective quick usually
means "speedy," but in Joseph Smith's time, the word quick (emphasis in original) also
meant “alive, living, as opposed to dead or unanimated.” A careful reader would
notice that quick (emphasis in
original) means "alive" rather than "speedy" in
Helaman 3:29, “lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful.”[9]
Quote #10
Donald Sloan writes:
Although Helaman's eldest son, Nephi, was probably the
custodian of the Nephite records (see Helaman 3:37), ultimately passing them on
to his own son Nephi (see 3 Nephi 1:2), Helaman's son Lehi also apparently
participated in the writing of the records. The preface to the book of Helaman
records that the abridgment is an account which is “according to the records of
Helaman” and is “also according to the records of his sons” (see also Helaman
16:25).[10]
Quote #11
Lynn Wardle explains:
Frequently, the Book of Mormon notes that dissension
directly led to war. Often it was the dissenters from the Nephites who “stirred
up to anger” the Lamanites against the Nephites and caused them to “[commence]
a war with their brethren.” (Helaman 4:4; 11:24; see also Alma 46–47). The
Gadianton robbers existed because of, and their success depended upon, “dissenters
that went forth unto them” (Helaman 11:25; 3 Nephi 2:18; 7:12). It is no wonder
that Mormon declared that contention among the Nephites was “a cause of all
their destruction? during the great series of wars described in Alma (Alma
51:16).[11]
Quote #12
The Nephites feared being troddened down by the
Lamanites. This fear probably goes back
to Moroni1’s title of liberty.
Moroni prayed that the faithful Nephites would not be “trodden
down and destroyed” by their enemies (Alma 46:18). When the people accepted the
covenant of liberty, “they cast their garments at the feet of Moroni, saying:
We covenant with our God, that we shall be destroyed … if we shall fall into
transgression; yea, he [God] may cast us at the feet of our enemies, even as we
have cast our garments at thy feet to be trodden under foot, if we shall fall
into transgression” (Alma 46:22). The significance of this covenant for the
Nephite nation is likely reflected in the fact that Mormon later refers to the
Nephites in their times of wickedness as being “trodden down” (Helaman 4:20;
see Mormon 5:6).[12]
Quote #13
Hugh Nibley sums up the status of the Nephites.
“And it was because of the pride of their hearts, because of
their exceeding riches, yea, of their oppression of the poor, withholding their
substance from the hungry,” and so on (Helaman 4:11—12), that “in the space of
not many years” (Helaman 4:26) the Nephites were reduced to a sorry,
materialistic people, hopelessly outnumbered by their enemies but with no
inclination whatsoever to call upon God. “The voice of the people chose evil,
therefore they were ripening for destruction, for the laws had become corrupted”
(Helaman 5:2).[13]
Quote #14
John Welch explains:
These sacred words identifying the Savior evidently became important
in Nephite worship after they were revealed through Benjamin. Samuel the
Lamanite would have had the opportunity to learn these words through the
ministry of Nephi and Lehi among the Lamanites (see Helaman 5:50), for the
words of Benjamin were especially important to Lehi and Nephi. Their father,
Helaman, had charged them in particular to “remember, remember, my sons, the
words which King Benjamin spake unto his people” (Helaman 5:9). Nephi and Lehi
likely used the precise words of King Benjamin in their preaching, just as
their father had quoted to them some of the words of Benjamin: “Remember that
there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the
atoning blood of Jesus Christ” (Helaman 5:9; compare Mosiah 3:18; 4:8).[14]
Quote #15
Richard Rust explains:
The brothers Nephi and Lehi also have several experiences
that prefigure Christ, or hark back to other types of Christ. When they are
imprisoned and threatened with death by the Lamanites, they are preserved by a
pillar of fire that encircles them (Helaman 5:23–24). That pillar of fire
recalls the pillar of fire and cloud that accompanied the Israelites in the
wilderness—which pillar the Israelites were told represented the presence of
their God (Exodus 13:21). The fire also anticipates the pillar with which the
Nephite children are encircled after the Savior blesses them (3 Nephi 17:24).[15]
Quote #16
Richard Dilworth Rust said:
“Helaman's sons Nephi and Lehi--whose names are particularly
appropriate since they are representing the “fathers” to the Lamanites--are
taken by Lamanites who initially are bloodthirsty but ignorant. These Lamanites
are contrasted with the apostate Nephites who earlier had imprisoned Alma and
Amulek. Feeling imperiled by the shaking earth and frightened by the voice
which speaks to them three times, the Lamanites ask the crucial question: “What
shall we do, that this cloud of darkness may be removed from overshadowing us?”
(Helaman 5:40). The answer is, “Repent … until ye shall have faith in Christ”
(Helaman 5:41).[16]
Quote #17
Matthew Roper discusses Aminadab reminding them they had
been taught the truth.
In what is a key element of their conversion, the Nephite
dissenter Aminadab reminds his fellow Lamanites that Alma, Amulek, and Zeezrom
had taught them faith in Christ nearly 45 years earlier (Helaman 5:41),
presumably during the mission to the Zoramites. Shortly after this
mission, the Zoramites who remained unconverted “became Lamanites” (Alma 43:4).
Assuming that some of the dissenters in the prison had heard these prophets
preach to the Zoramites, several elements of the prison narrative in Helaman 5
would have both recalled and graphically reinforced for them those earlier
prophetic teachings.[17]
Quote #18
Richard Rust discusses the role fire plays in this
experience.
Fire plays an unexpected role in the experience of the
brothers Nephi and Lehi in prison. When they are about to be put to death, these
prophets are encircled about by fire—which instead of destroying them leads to
their release from prison. Likewise, their Lamanite captors, who had been
imprisoned within the walls of their hatred and error, are set free when they
repent and are encircled by a pillar of fire. Then all are “filled as if with
fire” (Helaman 5:45) by the Holy Ghost. Although the Lamanites at first are
immobilized by a cloud of darkness (typifying their spiritual condition), their
eventual faith brings light out of darkness. Shaken by the tremors under the
prison, the Lamanites are pierced to the soul by “a still voice of perfect
mildness” and later hear “a pleasant voice” whisper peace unto them (Helaman
5:30, 46).”[18]
[1] Covenant Teachings of the Book of Mormon, Victor L. Ludlow, Provo, Utah:
Maxwell Institute, accessed June 4, 2012.
[3] The Way of the "Intellectuals", Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell
Institute, accessed June 8, 2012.
[4] Indian Origins and the Book of Mormon, Kevin Christensen, Provo,
Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed June 10, 2012.
[5] Concrete Evidence for the Book of Mormon, John W. Welch, and Matthew G. Wells,
Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed June 10, 2012.
[6] Churches in the Wilderness, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah:
Maxwell Institute, accessed June 11, 2012.
[7] Other Ancient American Records Yet to Come
Forth, Monte S. Nyman, Provo,
Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed June 11, 2012.
[8] "To Show unto the Remnant of the House
of Israel" - Narrators and Narratives, Richard Dilworth Rust, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute,
accessed June 17, 2012.
[10] The Book of Lehi and the Plates of Lehi, David E. Sloan. Provo, Utah:
Maxwell Institute, June 20, 2012.
[11] Dissent: Perspectives from the Book of Mormon, Lynn D. Wardle, Provo, Utah:
Maxwell Institute, accessed June 21, 2012.
[12] Joseph's Coat and Moroni's Covenant of
Liberty, Insights Volume
- 22, Issue – 10, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed June 23, 2012.
[13] The Book of Mormon: Forty Years After, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah:
Maxwell Institute, accessed June 23, 2012.
[15] "That Jesus Is the Christ" –
Typology, Richard Dilworth
Rust, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed June 28, 2012.
[16] Annual FARMS Lecture, Richard Dilworth Rust, Provo, Utah:
Maxwell Institute, accessed June 29, 2012.
[17] Was Aminadab a Zoramite? Matthew Roper, Provo, Utah:
Maxwell Institute, accessed June 29, 2012.
[18] "Not Cast Off Forever" – Imagery, Richard Dilworth Rust, Provo,
Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed July 2, 2012.
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