Helaman 8:1-10

Chapter 8

Corrupt judges seek to incite the people against Nephi—Abraham, Moses, Zenos, Zenock, Ezias, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lehi, and Nephi all testified of Christ—By inspiration Nephi announces the murder of the chief judge. About 23–21 B.C.

Nephi ended his words to the multitude. Within the multitude, there were judges who were a part of the Gadianton robbers. They were angered by the words Nephi directed towards them.

They turned to the multitude and asked them why they allowed Nephi to say these things, condemning the people. He also challenges their laws. Why do they allow him to do these things?

So, we again see the wicked complaining the words of those called of God were sinful in their condemning their sins. Remember Laman and Lemuel’s words after they had been called to repentance. “And now it came to pass that after I, [Nephi₁], had made an end of speaking to my brethren, behold they said unto me: Thou hast declared unto us hard things, more than we are able to bear” (1 Nephi 16:1).

The truth was Nephi₂ pointed out their laws were corrupt and the people were wicked. All his words condemned the people for violating God’s laws.

The judges were angry because Nephi₂ spoke plain and direct words considering their evil deeds and works of darkness. Once again, refer the words of Nephi₁ to Laman and Lemuel.

And it came to pass that I said unto them that I knew that I had spoken hard things against the wicked, according to the truth; and the righteous have I justified, and testified that they should be lifted up at the last day; wherefore, the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center.

And now my brethren, if ye were righteous and were willing to hearken to the truth, and give heed unto it, that ye might walk uprightly before God, then ye would not murmur because of the truth, and say: Thou speakest hard things against us. (1 Nephi 16:2-3)

Because they knew the truth of Nephi’s words, they feared the response of the people if they took Nephi before the “authorities.”

They, nevertheless, continued to cry to the people. The complained Nephi condemned the people and their cities to destruction. “And for this cause wo shall come unto you except ye shall repent. For if ye will not repent, behold, this great city, and also all those great cities which are round about, which are in the land of our possession, shall be taken away that ye shall have no place in them; for behold, the Lord will not grant unto you strength, as he has hitherto done, to withstand against your enemies” (Helaman 7:22).

This could not happen. They are powerful and their cities are great and cannot be destroyed. “In mine ears, said the Lord of Hosts, of a truth many houses shall be desolate, and great and fair cities without inhabitant” (2 Nephi 15:9).

“For if ye will not repent, behold, this great city, and also all those great cities which are round about, which are in the land of our possession, shall be taken away that ye shall have no place in them; for behold, the Lord will not grant unto you strength, as he has hitherto done, to withstand against your enemies” (Helaman 7:22).

“And many great and notable cities were sunk, and many were burned, and many were shaken till the buildings thereof had fallen to the earth, and the inhabitants thereof were slain, and the places were left desolate” (3 Nephi 8:14).

While the robbers were attempting to rile up the people, there were others who defended Nephi. They told the crowd to leave Nephi alone. He is a good man. They also believed Nephi’s words that, unless they repent, they destructions and judgements he said would happen would come about. His words condemning the people are true.

If he was not a prophet, he could not have testified these truths against the people.

The robbers realized they crowd had turned against them. Should they try to take Nephi, the crowd would stop them.