We see a one-time occurrence in the Book of Mormon. Mormon breaks into his account and talks
directly to us through an entire chapter.
In the past, we see Mormon’s comments (“And thus we see,” “Thus we
plainly discern,” etc.), but those comments are usually brief observations
about the situations at hand.
The unusual nature of this should cause us to read this
chapter very carefully. As we read the
Book of Mormon, it’s obvious Mormon’s very careful about what he chooses to
include. That he would include comments
this long tells us he has something important to share with us.
Phyllis Roundy writes, “One of the most significant passages
from [Mormon’s] hand appears in Helaman 12 wherein he offers compelling views
about the often vain and fickle character of human nature, especially in
response to material prosperity.”[1]
Chapter 12
Men are unstable and
foolish and quick to do evil—The Lord chastens his people—The nothingness of
men compared with the power of God—In the day of judgment men shall gain everlasting
life or everlasting damnation. About 6 B.C.
1 AND thus we can behold how false, and also the
unsteadiness of the hearts of the children of men; yea, we can see that
the Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and prosper those who put
their trust in him. 2 Yea, and we may see at the very time when he doth
prosper his people, yea, in the increase of their fields, their flocks and
their herds, and in gold, and in silver, and in all manner of precious things
of every kind and art; sparing their lives, and delivering them out of the
hands of their enemies; softening the hearts of their enemies that they should
not declare wars against them; yea, and in fine, doing all things for the
welfare and happiness of his people; yea, then is the time that they do harden their hearts,
and do forget the Lord their God, and do trample under their feet the Holy
One—yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity.
3
And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions,
yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and
with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember him.
Helaman 12:1 – 3 (Emphasis mine)
The hearts of men are unsteady. We see that constantly throughout the Book of
Mormon. Nephites are righteous, receive
blessings, and prosperity, then become prideful and turn their backs on the
Lord. The Lord’s promises and blessings
are available to us if place our trust in Him.
Nephi1:
Behold, God is my
salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength
and my song; he also has become my salvation.
2 Nephi 22:2 – 3
King Benjamin:
I say unto you, if ye
have come to a knowledge of the goodness of God, and his matchless power, and
his wisdom, and his patience, and his long-suffering towards the children of
men; and also, the atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the
world, that thereby salvation might come to him that should put his trust in
the Lord, and should be diligent in keeping his commandments, and continue in
the faith even unto the end of his life, I mean the life of the mortal body—
Mosiah 4:6
We prosper many ways in the Lord. The Lord can prosper us through increase in
fields, flocks, and herds; increase in gold, silver, and precious things.
The Lord watches over us and protects us. He spares our lives and delivers us from our
enemies. He can soften the hearts of our
enemies. All things He does is for our
welfare and happiness, yet, we harden our hearts and forget Him, “this because
of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity” (v. 2).
The only way the Lord can get our attention and also
remember Him is through afflictions, being visited by death and terror, as well
as cause famines and pestilences among His people. Then, we will remember the Lord.
Alma1 taught the people, “the Lord seeth fit to chasten
his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith. Nevertheless—whosoever putteth his trust in
him the same shall be lifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was with this people” (Mosiah
23:21 - 22).
4 O how foolish, and how vain, and how evil, and
devilish, and how quick to do iniquity, and how slow to do good, are the children
of men; yea, how quick to hearken unto the words of the evil one, and
to set their hearts upon the vain things of the world! 5 Yea, how
quick to be lifted up in pride; yea, how quick to boast, and do all manner of
that which is iniquity; and how slow are they to remember the Lord their God,
and to give ear unto his counsels, yea, how slow to walk in wisdom's paths!
6 Behold, they do not desire that the Lord their God,
who hath created them, should rule and reign over them; notwithstanding
his great goodness and his mercy towards them, they do set at naught his
counsels, and they will not that he should be their guide.
Helaman 12:4 – 6 (Emphasis mine)
Mormon tells us that we are quick to do iniquity and slow to
do good. It is amazing how quickly we
turn from the Lord and “hearken unto the words of the evil one” (v. 4). The Savior taught, “But those things which proceed out of
the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart
proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false
witness, blasphemies: These are the
things which defile a man” (Matthew 15:18 - 20).
We are quick to be lifted up in pride, quick to boast, quick
to do “all manner of that which is iniquity” (v. 5). Solomon warned against
pride: “A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble
in spirit” (Proverbs 29:23). On the other
hand, we are “slow … to remember the Lord” (v. 5).
We don’t want the Lord to rule over us. This is despite of his great goodness and
mercy. We would rather set his counsel
aside and find someone else to be our guide.
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