Helaman continued service as the chief judge of the land. He
followed the commandments and obeyed God in all things. He followed the example
of his father. He had two sons. The oldest was named Nephi and the youngest
Lehi.
The Nephites enjoyed a time of peace and prosperity. The
secret combination headed by Gadianton had established themselves throughout
the land. Their efforts were unknown to those running the government.
In spite of the robber bands, the Nephites enjoyed a time of
great prosperity in the church. Thousands were baptized and joined the church.[1]
The level of prosperity and blessing “poured out upon the people, that even the
high priests and the teachers were themselves astonished beyond measure”
(Helaman 3:25).
Mormon breaks into his narrative to share his comments with
us. He begins by explaining the Lord is merciful to all who sincerely call on
Him and follow Him. “But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh
good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile [GR Greek]: For there is no
respect [GR partiality] of persons with God” (Romans 2:10-11). The gates of
heaven are open to anyone who believes in our Savior. “Open ye the gates, that
the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in” (Isaiah 26:2).
Mormon continues. Whomever wants to can hold onto the word
of God “And it supposeth me that they have come up hither to hear the pleasing
word of God, yea, the word which healeth the wounded soul” (Jacob 2:8).
The word of God is quick and powerful. “For the word of God is quick [GR living], and powerful, and
sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of [JST
body and] soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and
intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). “LISTEN to the voice of Jesus Christ,
your Lord, your God, and your Redeemer, whose word is quick and powerful” (D&C
27:1).
The word of God will divide all the cunning and snares of
the devil. “Behold, I am God; give heed unto my word, which is quick and powerful,
sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and
marrow; therefore give heed unto my words” (D&C 6:2).
God’s word will lead us to Christ on a strait and narrow
course. “O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember
that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth
in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of
Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it
be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name” (2
Nephi 9:41). “I also have charity for
the Gentiles. But behold, for none of these can I hope except they shall be
reconciled unto Christ, and enter into the narrow gate, and walk in the strait
path which leads to life, and continue in the path until the end of the day of
probation” (2 Nephi 33:9).
The strait and narrow course will led the righteous across
the gulf of misery prepared for the wicked. “And the large and spacious building,
which thy father saw, is vain imaginations and the pride of the children of
men. And a great and a terrible gulf divideth them; yea, even the word of the
justice of the Eternal God, and the Messiah who is the Lamb of God, of whom the
Holy Ghost beareth record, from the beginning of the world until this time, and
from this time henceforth and forever” (1 Nephi 12:18).
“And I said unto them that it was an awful gulf, which
separated the wicked from the tree of life, and also from the saints of God. And
I said unto them that it was a representation of that awful hell, which the
angel said unto me was prepared for the wicked. And I said unto them that our
father also saw that the justice of God did also divide the wicked from the
righteous; and the brightness thereof was like unto the brightness of a flaming
fire, which ascendeth up unto God forever and ever, and hath no end” (1 Nephi
15:28-30).
The souls of the righteous will land at the right hand of
God. “Then shall the King say unto them
on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared
for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34).
How objectively factual were the
reports by the original scribes? In many cases, obviously, they put down what
they had directly observed, but our experience tells us that different people
see the same event or situation in quite different ways. Mormon himself
certainly colored some of his reporting with personal interpretation. This
stance is often signaled by use of a phrase like “and thus we see” (for
instance, in Helaman 3:23–31; 4:11–15, 20–26).[2]
After a few years of peace and prosperity, some pride began
to enter into the hearts of those who were claimed to be members of the
church. “First among those among you,
saith the Lord, who have professed to know my name and have not known me, and
have blasphemed against me in the midst of my house, saith the Lord” (D&C 112:26).
The pride of some members led to the persecution of the more
humble members of the church. That did
not affect their faith.
They continued to obey God’s commandments. They continued to fast and prayer. Their humility was strengthened by their firm
faith in Christ.
After a decade of service as chief judge, Helaman died. Nephi was chose to replace his father. Mormon tells us he continued to walk in
righteousness, following the example of his father.
[1]“And
now there were seven churches in the land of Zarahemla. And it came to pass
that whosoever were desirous to take upon them the name of Christ, or of God,
they did join the churches of God; And they were called the people of God. And
the Lord did pour out his Spirit upon them, and they were blessed, and
prospered in the land” (Mosiah 25:23-24).
[2] Mormon’s
Sources, John L. Sorenson, Journal of the Book of Mormon and Other Restoration
Scripture 20/2 (2011): 12-13.
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