Helaman 16:11-25

Over the next few years, there was little change among the people. The wicked became even more so. They disobeyed God’s commandments. They had been warned of the consequences. “Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded” (Proverbs 1:24).

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say” (Luke 6:46).

“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous” (Romans 5:19).

“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God” (1 Peter 4:17).

“And now, I say unto you, my brethren, that after ye have known and have been taught all these things, if ye should transgress and go contrary to that which has been spoken, that ye do withdraw yourselves from the Spirit of the Lord, that it may have no place in you to guide you in wisdom's paths that ye may be blessed, prospered, and preserved—I say unto you, that the man that doeth this, the same cometh out in open rebellion against God…” (Mosiah 2:36-37).

Over a period of four years, many signs were given. The words of the prophets were beginning to be fulfilled. Samuel was one of those prophets. “And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day” (Helaman 14:3).

A year later we read, “And it came to pass that in the commencement of the ninety and second year, behold, the prophecies of the prophets began to be fulfilled more fully; for there began to be greater signs and greater miracles wrought among the people” (3 Nephi 1:4).

Angels appeared to men. The scriptures were beginning to be fulfilled. Alma had prophesied of this day. “And it shall be made known unto just and holy men, by the mouth of angels, at the time of his coming, that the words of our fathers may be fulfilled, according to that which they have spoken concerning him, which was according to the spirit of prophecy which was in them” (Alma 13:26).

All but the most faithful part of the Nephites and Lamanites ignored these signs and became firm in their denial of the signs. They fell back on the own wisdom and strength. “Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight” (Isaiah 5:21).

Lucky guess, the wicked said. But, all the things that were prophesied will not and cannot happen. “The unbelievers will readily admit a kind of luck involved in the accomplishment of any number of the prophetic signs, but their refusal to believe the prophets is staked on the claim that the total number of signs cannot possibly occur. Piqued, Mormon is all too happy to prove them wrong in 3 Nephi 1, and he does so repeatedly and with relish.”[1]

The wicked began to use reason and knowledge to explain away what they were seeing. We see this today. People claim something couldn’t have happened for the following reasons… The wicked are nothing if not consistent.

“Faith is anchored in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and the knowledge of him is both sure and possible. The contrast between faith as sure knowledge and the knowledge reason can provide is evident when we compare Amulek’s testimony of Christ as the anchor to sure knowledge with the conclusion of many Nephites just before His coming: ‘And they began to reason and to contend among themselves, saying: that it is not reasonable that such a being as a Christ shall come’ (Helaman 16:17–18). Not ‘reasonable,’ but nonetheless true.”[2]

“Human reasoning cannot place limits on God or dilute the force of divine commandments or revelations. Persons who allow this to happen identify themselves with the unbelieving Nephites who rejected the testimony of the prophet Samuel. The Book of Mormon says, ‘They began to reason and to contend among themselves, saying: That it is not reasonable that such a being as a Christ shall come’ (Helaman 16:17–18). Persons who practice that kind of ‘reasoning’ deny themselves the choice experience someone has described as our heart telling us things that our mind does not know.”[3]

The “so-called” wise people rejected the words of the prophets because it was not “reasonable.” It’s unreasonable that someone like a Christ will come. If he’s the Son of God, “why will he not show himself unto us as well as unto them who shall be at Jerusalem” (Helaman 16:18).

It’s obvious they are in full service of the Father of Lies, the source of all evil in the world.^[4]

They rejected Samuel’s words as a false and wicked tradition. It’s easy, they claimed, to “prophesy” about something that would occur half-way around the world.

“This may come as a surprise to many Latter-day Saints who have conflated Nephi’s explicit prophecies with those of Samuel’s, but a review of Helaman 13–15 easily confirms that Samuel did not, in fact, prophesy that the resurrected Jesus would appear among the Nephites. It can be surmised from the text that Samuel had intended to bring these good tidings (cf. Helaman 13:6–7) but because the people cast him out, he returned instead with predictions of judgment. Mormon does indicate that he has edited out many of Samuel’s prophecies (14:1), but given both the significance of a prediction concerning a visit from Christ and Mormon’s repeated use of the argument from fulfillment, it is doubtful that he would have targeted this sort of prophecy for deletion. Additionally, given the people’s specific complaint mentioned in Helaman 16:19 of ‘Why will [Jesus] not show himself in this land as well as in the land of Jerusalem?’ it is highly unlikely that Samuel had actually foretold Jesus’s Nephite ministry while preaching in Zarahemla.”[5] They could well have been quoting Korihor. “How do ye know of their surety? Behold, ye cannot know of things which ye do not see; therefore ye cannot know that there shall be a Christ” (Alma 30:15).

They claimed the devil was responsible for the prophesies to keep the people as servants. They got the devil part right. They didn’t realize they were the ones listening and following him.

The people continued to come up with explanations why Christ was not real.  Like the people in Noah’s time, “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5).

They spread rumors and there were contention throughout the land. 

“These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

“A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

“An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

“A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren” (Proverbs 6:16-19).

And here ends the year 1 B.C. and the book of Helaman, written by Helaman, son of Alma, and his sons Nephi and Lehi.

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[1] Temporality and Fulfillment in 3 Nephi 1, Kimberly M. Berkey, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 24 (2015): 59.

[2] Faith, Reason, Knowledge, and Truth, Richard N. Williams, FARMS Review 20/1 (2008): 109.

[3] Worthy of Another Look: The Historicity of the Book of Mormon, Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Journal of the Book of Mormon and Other Restoration Scripture 21/1 (2012): 70.

[4] “But behold, the devil hath deceived me; for he appeared unto me in the form of an angel, and said unto me: Go and reclaim this people, for they have all gone astray after an unknown God. And he said unto me: There is no God; yea, and he taught me that which I should say. And I have taught his words; and I taught them because they were pleasing unto the carnal mind; and I taught them, even until I had much success, insomuch that I verily believed that they were true; and for this cause I withstood the truth, even until I have brought this great curse upon me” (Alma 30:53).

[5] “Saving Christianity”: The Nephite Fulfillment of Jesus’s Eschatological Prophecies, Heather Hardy Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 23 (2014): 40-41.

Helaman 16:1-10

Chapter 16

The Nephites who believe Samuel are baptized by Nephi—Samuel cannot be slain with their arrows and stones—Some harden their hearts, and others see angels—The unbelievers say it is not reasonable to believe in Christ and his coming in Jerusalem. About 6–1 B.C.

After hearing Samuel’s words,^[1] many believed in his words. Those that did went to Nephi, confessed their sins, and desired to be baptized. “And behold, he cometh to redeem those who will be baptized unto repentance, through faith on his name” (Alma 9:27).

But, many were angry with Samuel. “The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul” (Proverbs 29:10). They attempted to stone him, they shot arrows at him, but the Lord aws with him and the stones and arrows missed him.

The Nephites acted like Laman and Lemuel.  After Laman and Lemuel told Nephi his words were hard, Nephi told them, “… 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” (1 Nephi 16:2).

“And it came to pass that not many days after [Lehi’s] death, Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael were angry with me because of the admonitions of the Lord” (2 Nephi 4:13).

“But behold, their anger did increase against me, insomuch that they did seek to take away my life”

(2 Nephi 5:2).

So we understand why the wicked Nephites were angry.

Many, having seen the stones and arrows missed Samuel, sought out Nephi.  While Samuel was preaching, Nephi was also preaching to the people.  He worked wonders and miracles among the people.  This was so they would understand the Savior would soon come.[2]

Most people, however, rejected Samuel’s words. When they couldn’t hit Samuel, they cried out, “Take this fellow and bind him,[3] for behold he hath a devil[4]” (Helaman 16:6).

“I would suggest that Samuel's prophecy was considered significant and unique because it was the first public disclosure of the date of Christ's birth among the people of Zarahemla and not because the information was new. The largely negative reaction of the people (Helaman 16:6~23; 3 Nephi 1:4-10) is reason enough for the prophets to have concealed the information so long.”[5]

Seeing the angry Nephites were coming to tie him up, he jumped off the wall and fled back to his land. He was never heard from again.

“[W]e gain insight into the writing, abridging, and translation of the Book of Mormon. Among other things, we know Samuel did not write the record, for he jumped from the wall, fled, and was never seen again among the Nephites (Helaman 16:8). Moreover, he would not have omitted the prophecy. Whether the passage was spoken in chiastic form or not, whoever wrote the account took great pains to write it so, but he forgot the one prophecy. The younger Nephi did not rewrite the account, but simply wrote in the margin or between the lines. He probably was constrained by the availability of space on the plates. Even if he understood the literary structure of the passage, he may not have been able to find room to preserve it when inserting the missing scripture.

Furthermore, this finding helps us understand.”

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[1][1] “And it came to pass that they would not suffer that he should enter into the city; therefore he went and got upon the wall thereof, and stretched forth his hand and cried with a loud voice, and prophesied unto the people whatsoever things the Lord put into his heart” (Helaman 13:4).

[2] “And behold, he said unto them: Behold, I give unto you a sign; for five years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the Son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on his name” (Helaman 14:2).

[3] “Yea, wo unto this people, because of this time which has arrived, that ye do cast out the prophets, and do mock them, and cast stones at them, and do slay them, and do all manner of iniquity unto them, even as they did of old time” (Helaman 13:24).

[4] “The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee” (John 7:20).

[5] A More Perfect Priority?, Matthew Roper, Review of Books on the Book of Mormon 6/1 (1994): 366.

Helaman 15:1-17

Chapter 15

The Lord chastened the Nephites because he loved them—Converted Lamanites are firm and steadfast in the faith—The Lord will be merciful unto the Lamanites in the latter days. About 6 B.C.

Samuel reminds the Nephites their house will become desolate unless they repent. When they flee, they will not find a place of refuge. Those who are pregnant will be trampled and left to die.

Unless the Nephites repent after having seen all the signs and wonders from the Lord, the Lord will punish the Nephites because of His love for them. “For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth” (Proverbs 3:12),

         

“Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you whom I love, and whom I love I also chasten that their sins may be forgiven, for with the chastisement I prepare a way for their deliverance in all things out of temptation, and I have loved you” (D&C 95:1).

The Lord hates the Lamanites because of their sin. They are a sinful people because of the traditions of the fathers. Here we again see the reason for the Lamanites hating the Nephites – their traditions blaming Nephi for how Laman and Lemuel were treated. “Therefore [Nephi₂ and Lehi₂] did speak unto the great astonishment of the Lamanites, to the convincing them, insomuch that there were eight thousand of the Lamanites who were in the land of Zarahemla and round about baptized unto repentance, and were convinced of the wickedness of the traditions of their fathers” (Helaman 5:19).

They have obtained salvation because of the missionaries sent by the Nephites. This is why “the Lord prolonged their days” (Helaman 15:4). “For there are many promises which are extended to the Lamanites; for it is because of the traditions of their fathers that caused them to remain in their state of ignorance; therefore the Lord will be merciful unto them and prolong their existence in the land” (Alma 9:16).

The Lamanites, Samuel said, were obeying the commandments of the Lord and following the law of Moses. “And now it came to pass in the eighty and sixth year, the Nephites did still remain in wickedness, yea, in great wickedness, while the Lamanites did observe strictly to keep the commandments of God, according to the law of Moses” (Helaman 13:1).

Many Lamanites are dedicated to serving the Lord, and many are being added to their numbers.

The Nephites have witnessed the Lamanites being brought to the truth. They turn their backs on the traditions of their fathers “and are led to believe the holy scriptures … [and] the prophecies of the holy prophets” (Helaman 15:7).

Many have buried their weapons and refuse to take them up again for fear they will become a sinful people again. “And as sure as the Lord liveth, so sure as many as believed, or as many as were brought to the knowledge of the truth, through the preaching of Ammon and his brethren, according to the spirit of revelation and of prophecy, and the power of God working miracles in them—yea, I say unto you, as the Lord liveth, as many of the Lamanites as believed in their preaching, and were converted unto the Lord, never did fall away” (Alma 23:6).

Why did they do this? They did so because of their faith in Christ.

“And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

“While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?

“As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe [GR exercise faith]” (Mark 5:34-36).

Because of their faithfulness, they refuse to break their covenant. Because of their faith, they receive blessings from the Lord.

“Samuel the Lamanite identified five basic elements in becoming converted unto the Lord: (1) believing in the teachings and prophecies of the holy prophets as they are recorded in the scriptures, (2) exercising faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, (3) repenting, (4) experiencing a mighty change of heart, and (5) becoming ‘firm and steadfast in the faith’ (see Helaman 15:7–8). This is the pattern that leads to conversion.”[1]

Even if the Lamanites fall away, their days will be lengthened. Samuel is quoting a prophecy from the prophet Zenos. “And now I would that ye should know, that even since the days of Abraham there have been many prophets that have testified these things; yea, behold, the prophet Zenos did testify boldly; for the which he was slain” (Helaman 8:19).

“Yea, the prophet Zenos did testify of these things, and also Zenock spake concerning these things, because they testified particularly concerning us, who are the remnant of their seed” (3 Nephi 10:16).

These prophets taught the Lamanites would again return and accept the gospel. “Now these things are written unto the remnant of the house of Jacob; and they are written after this manner, because it is known of God that wickedness will not bring them forth unto them; and they are to be hid up unto the Lord that they may come forth in his own due time” (Mormon 5:12).

The Lord had made promises about the Lamanites. “And it came to pass that after I had prayed and labored with all diligence, the Lord said unto me: I will grant unto thee according to thy desires, because of thy faith. And now behold, this was the desire which I desired of him—that if it should so be, that my people, the Nephites, should fall into transgression, and by any means be destroyed, and the Lamanites should not be destroyed, that the Lord God would preserve a record of my people, the Nephites; even if it so be by the power of his holy arm, that it might be brought forth at some future day unto the Lamanites, that, perhaps, they might be brought unto salvation” (Enos 1:12-13).

They will suffer hardships and be driven across the lands. “And also that the seed of this people may more fully believe his gospel, which shall go forth unto them from the Gentiles; for this people shall be scattered, and shall become a dark, a filthy, and a loathsome people, beyond the description of that which ever hath been amongst us, yea, even that which hath been among the Lamanites, and this because of their unbelief and idolatry” (Mormon 5:15).

They will not find a place of safe haven. Still the Lord will extend his mercy to them.

“Neither will he suffer that the Gentiles shall destroy the seed of thy brethren” (1 Nephi 13:31).

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, thus saith our God: I will afflict thy seed by the hand of the Gentiles; nevertheless, I will soften the hearts of the Gentiles, that they shall be like unto a father to them; wherefore, the Gentiles shall be blessed and numbered among the house of Israel.

“Wherefore, I will consecrate this land unto thy seed, and them who shall be numbered among thy seed, forever, for the land of their inheritance; for it is a choice land, saith God unto me, above all other lands, wherefore I will have all men that dwell thereon that they shall worship me, saith God” (2 Nephi 10:18-19).

“But behold, it shall come to pass that they shall be driven and scattered by the Gentiles; and after they have been driven and scattered by the Gentiles, behold, then will the Lord remember the covenant which he made unto Abraham and unto all the house of Israel.

“And also the Lord will remember the prayers of the righteous, which have been put up unto him for them” (Mormon 5:20-21).

The day will come the Lamanites will again receive the gospel truthfulness and be numbered among Christ’s sheep. “For behold, thus saith the Lord: I will not show unto the wicked of my strength, to one more than the other, save it be unto those who repent of their sins, and hearken unto my words. Now therefore, I would that ye should behold, my brethren, that it shall be better for the Lamanites than for you except ye shall repent” (Helaman 7:23).

Should the Nephites refuse to repent, the Lamanites will be in a better place with the Lord.

Samuel told them had the works and miracles shown to the Nephites had been shown to the Lamanites, they would have remained faithful.

“Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:

“Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

“But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.

“And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

“But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee” (Matthew 11:20-24).

While the Nephites will be destroyed, the Lamanites will not face destruction. When the Lord is ready, they will return to Him. “And now behold, this was the desire which I desired of him—that if it should so be, that my people, the Nephites, should fall into transgression, and by any means be destroyed, and the Lamanites should not be destroyed, that the Lord God would preserve a record of my people, the Nephites; even if it so be by the power of his holy arm, that it might be brought forth at some future day unto the Lamanites, that, perhaps, they might be brought unto salvation” (Enos 1:13).

Samuel ends his words warning the Nephites they will be destroyed if they fail to repent. 

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[1] Converted unto the Lord, Elder David A. Bednar, October 2012 General Conference.

Helaman 14:20-31

Having given the Nephites signs of the Savior’s birth, Samuel gives them signs concerning His death. When He dies, it will be dark, even when the Sun is in the sky. “And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth [GR earth, region, land, or country] until the ninth hour” (Luke 23:44).

It shall remain dark for three days. The darkness will depart after His resurrection. “And he sha1l rise the third day from the dead; and behold, he standeth to judge the world; and behold, all these things are done that a righteous judgment might come upon the children of men” (Mosiah 3:10).

“At the time he shall yield up the ghost”[1] (Helaman 14:21), the new world will experience thunder and lightning for hours.[2] The will be earthquakes throughout the area.[3] During this time, the land will be broken, going from one large area to many small ones.[4]

“Lightning had far different connotations in the New World, specifically in Mesoamerica. Unlike the ancient Near Eastern concept of lightning as a dangerous and destructive weapon in the hands of a storm god, in Mesoamerica lightning was associated with fertility and regeneration, even resurrection.10 A central tenet of ancient Maya theology was that the maize god died, was buried, and was resurrected when lightning cracked open the surface of the earth, which was variously conceptualized as a mountain, a rock, or even a giant turtle carapace.”[5]

There will be gales, whirlwinds, and storms at the time of His death.[6] Valleys will become mountains and mountain “shall be … laid low” (Helaman 14:23). Highways will be broken up; cities will be buried.[7] Many saints will be resurrected and appear to many people.[8]

The angel who spoke with Samuel told him many will see things greater than this if they believe these signs will happen. The intent of his message was to ensure they would believe these signs.[9]

Those who believe these signs will be saved. Those who don’t will experience a “righteous judgment … come upon them” (Helaman 14:29). If they are condemned, they will have brought their condemnation on themselves.

The Lord has sent this message to them so they will know good from evil. They are given the opportunity to choose life or death. They have a choice, they can be restored to good or to evil. It’s their choice.

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[1] “Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost” (Matthew 27:50).^[1]

[2] “For thus spake the prophet: The Lord God surely shall visit all the house of Israel at that day, some with his voice, because of their righteousness, unto their great joy and salvation, and others with the thunderings and the lightnings of his power, by tempest, by fire, and by smoke, and vapor of darkness, and by the opening of the earth, and by mountains which shall be carried up” (1 Nephi 19:11).

“And it came to pass in the thirty and fourth year, in the first month, on the fourth day of the month, there arose a great storm, such an one as never had been known in all the land.

“And there was also a great and terrible tempest; and there was terrible thunder, insomuch that it did shake the whole earth as if it was about to divide asunder.

“And there were exceedingly sharp lightnings, such as never had been known in all the land.

(3 Nephi 8:5-7).

[3] “And it came to pass that thus did the three days pass away. And it was in the morning, and the darkness dispersed from off the face of the land, and the earth did cease to tremble, and the ^brocks did cease to rend, and the dreadful groanings did cease, and all the tumultuous noises did pass away” (3 Nephi 10:9).

[4] “And it came to pass that I saw a mist of darkness on the face of the land of promise; and I saw lightnings, and I heard thunderings, and earthquakes, and all manner of tumultuous noises; and I saw the earth and the rocks, that they rent; and I saw mountains tumbling into pieces; and I saw the plains of the earth, that they were broken up; and I saw many cities that they were sunk; and I saw many that they were burned with fire; and I saw many that did tumble to the earth, because of the quaking thereof” (1 Nephi 12:4).

[5] “According to Their Language, unto Their Understanding”: The Cultural Context of Hierophanies and Theophanies in Latter-day Saint Canon, Mark Alan Wright, Studies in the Bible and Antiquity 3 (2011): 54.

[6] “And now, whoso readeth, let him understand; he that hath the scriptures, let him search them, and see and behold if all these deaths and destructions by fire, and by smoke, and by tempests, and by whirlwinds, and by the opening of the earth to receive them, and all these things are not unto the fulfilling of the prophecies of many of the holy prophets” (3 Nephi 10:14).

[7] “And the highways were broken up, and the level roads were spoiled, and many smooth places became rough…

“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 8:13-14).

[8] “And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept [GR who had died] arose,

“And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many” (Matthew 27:52-53).

“Verily I say unto you, I commanded my servant Samuel, the Lamanite, that he should testify unto this people, that at the day that the Father should glorify his name in me that there were many saints who should arise from the dead, and should appear unto many, and should minister unto them. And he said unto them: Was it not so” (3 Nephi 23:9-11).

“And his disciples answered him and said: Yea, Lord, Samuel did prophesy according to thy words, and they were all fulfilled.

“And Jesus said unto them: How be it that ye have not written this thing, that many saints did arise and appear unto many and did minister unto them” (3 Nephi 23:9-11).

[9] “And it came to pass that I saw a mist of darkness on the face of the land of promise; and I saw lightnings, and I heard thunderings, and earthquakes, and all manner of tumultuous noises; and I saw the earth and the rocks, that they rent; and I saw mountains tumbling into pieces; and I saw the plains of the earth, that they were broken up; and I saw many cities that they were sunk; and I saw many that they were burned with fire; and I saw many that did tumble to the earth, because of the quaking thereof.

“And it came to pass after I saw these things, I saw the vapor of darkness, that it passed from off the face of the earth; and behold, I saw multitudes who had not fallen because of the great and terrible judgments of the Lord” (1 Nephi 12:4-5).

“And the God of our fathers, who were led out of Egypt, out of bondage, and also were preserved in the wilderness by him, yea, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, yieldeth himself, according to the words of the angel, as a man, into the hands of wicked men, to be lifted up, according to the words of Zenock, and to be crucified, according to the words of Neum, and to be buried in a sepulchre, according to the words of Zenos, which he spake concerning the three days of darkness, which should be a sign given of his death unto those who should inhabit the isles of the sea, more especially given unto those who are of the house of Israel.

“For thus spake the prophet: The Lord God surely shall visit all the house of Israel at that day, some with his voice, because of their righteousness, unto their great joy and salvation, and others with the thunderings and the lightnings of his power, by tempest, by fire, and by smoke, and vapor of darkness, and by the opening of the earth, and by mountains which shall be carried up.

“And all these things must surely come, saith the prophet Zenos. And the rocks of the earth must rend; and because of the groanings of the earth, many of the kings of the isles of the sea shall be wrought upon by the Spirit of God, to exclaim: The God of nature suffers” (1 Nephi 19:10-12).

Helaman 14:14-24

After warning the Nephites about the consequences of their sin, Samuel told them the only reason they have been spared is because of the righteous among them.

Should the righteous be cast out of the city, they will be ready for destruction “because of the wickedness and abominations which are in her” (Helaman 14:14). “But in the fourth generation^[1] they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full” (Genesis 15:16).

“Yea, and cursed be the land forever and ever unto those workers of darkness and secret combinations, even unto destruction, except they repent before they are fully ripe” (Alma 37:31).

“And in that place they shall lift up their voices unto God against that people, yea, unto him whose anger is kindled against their wickedness, a people who are well–nigh ripened for destruction”

(D&C 61:31).

“Mine indignation is soon to be poured out without measure upon all nations; and this will I do when the cup of their iniquity is full” (D&C 101:11).

Samuel warns the city of Gideon as well as the cities throughout the land possessed by the Nephites.  They are a wicked people.

A curse will come on the land because of their wickedness.  “And behold, if a man hide up a treasure in the earth, and the Lord shall say—Let it be accursed, because of the iniquity of him who hath hid it up—behold, it shall be accursed” (Helaman 12:18).

The Lord has said those who will hide treasure will not find them again because of the curse on the land.

“But I did remain among them, but I was forbidden to preach unto them, because of the hardness of their hearts; and because of the hardness of their hearts the land was cursed for their sake.

“And these Gadianton robbers, who were among the Lamanites, did infest the land, insomuch that the inhabitants thereof began to hide up their treasures in the earth; and they became slippery, because the Lord had cursed the land, that they could not hold them, nor retain them again.

“And it came to pass that there were sorceries, and witchcrafts, and magics; and the power of the evil one was wrought upon all the face of the land, even unto the fulfilling of all the words of Abinadi, and also Samuel the Lamanite” (Mormon 1:17-19).

“AND now there began to be a great curse upon all the land because of the iniquity of the people, in which, if a man should lay his tool or his sword upon his shelf, or upon the place whither he would keep it, behold, upon the morrow, he could not find it, so great was the curse upon the land” (Ether 14:1).

The Lord had blessed them with riches, yet the fail to express gratitude to the Lord.  “[T]hey swell with great pride, unto boasting, and unto great swelling, envyings, strifes, malice, persecutions, and murders, and all manner of iniquities” (Helaman 14:22).  This is why a curse will come upon the land.

They mock, stone, and either kill or cast them out.  This happened during Old Testament times.

“And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes [HEB early, promptly], and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy” (2 Chronicles 36:15-16).

“Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great provocations” (Nehemiah 9:26).

“And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life, that they might take it away.  But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance” (1 Nephi 1:20).

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[1] Note in Ex. 6:16–20 that four generations of Levi's descendants are named; they include (1) Levi, (2) Kohath, (3) Amram, (4) Moses.

Helaman 14:1-13

Chapter 14

Samuel predicts light during the night and a new star at Christ's birth—Christ redeems men from temporal and spiritual death—The signs of his death include three days of darkness, the rending of the rocks, and great upheavals of nature. About 6 B.C.

Samuel continued to speak and prophesy to the Nephites. He gives us a simple statement – Samuel “did prophesy a great many more things which cannot be written” (Helaman 1:14). We cannot help but wonder about his prophecies. Mormon gives us no clue as to why these cannot be written. Was it a lack of space on his records? Did he feel these were too sacred to share? As more records come forth in the future, we will learn why he did not (or could not) share Samuel’s words with us.

Mormon shares with us Samuel’s prophecy of a sign the Nephites will be given when the Savior is born. “One of the main purposes for signs, according to Samuel, is to orient temporality around fulfillment, binding up their relationship. Samuel wants to be clear that fulfillment always carries temporal implications, and towards this end he delivers a sign to cement that connection.”[1]

The prophecy made by Samuel was that in five years, the Son of God will come, bringing salvation through his name.

Samuel gave a sign that would announce His birth. “[T]here shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day” (Helaman 14:3).

“The temporal overtones of Samuel’s signs are made explicit from the moment they are introduced. In announcing the first sign, Samuel tellingly refers to it not as a sign of Christ’s coming, but rather ‘a sign at the time of his coming’ (Helaman 14:3), thus indicating that this omen is intended not to point to Christ directly, but more precisely to point to the particular era in which Christ’s coming is inscribed.”[2]

There will be one day, a night, and a day where the Sun will not set. It will be daylight for this time. This will occur the night of the Savior’s birth.

Nephi had also prophesied his people would see signs from God. “And after the Messiah shall come there shall be signs given unto my people of his birth, and also of his death and resurrection; and great and terrible shall that day be unto the wicked, for they shall perish; and they perish because they cast out the prophets, and the saints, and stone them, and slay them; wherefore the cry of the blood of the saints shall ascend up to God from the ground against them” (2 Nephi 26:3).

Samuel told them another sign was a new star unlike anything they had ever seen.

“NOW when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

“Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him” (Matthew 2:1-2).^[3]

There will be many other signs and wonders they will see. When they see the signs, they will be so amazed, they will fall to the ground.[4]

Those that believe and accept Christ will have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Samuel is fulfilling the Lord commandments. He was told to “Cry unto this people, repent and prepare the way of the Lord” (Helaman 14:9).

“John the Baptist clearly preached of the imminence of the coming of the Lord, the need to prepare, and the fiery destruction awaiting those who failed to repent … Notably, the Baptist’s teachings are echoed by Samuel as the Lamanite prophet assumes the New World role of Elias (see Helaman 14:9, 18).”[5]

Because he is a Lamanite, they are angry with him, and want to cast him out of the land because they didn’t like his message.[6]

“And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell [OR sit] among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.

“And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious” (Ezekiel 2:6-7).

Whether they like his words or not, they will hear them. He is standing on the wall so they will know the judgements of God because of their sins. They also must know the conditions of their repentance.

He is ensuring they know about the coming of Christ, the Son of God. “And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary” (Mosiah 3:8).

“And in that day that they shall exercise faith in me, saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in me, then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all my revelations, saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are” (Ether 4:7).

“[T]he sign’s temporal elements are a way of keeping the Nephites rooted in the present and focused on the Messiah, but also interrupting their knowledge and assumptions, all so that they can begin to attend to the task of ‘believ[ing] on his name’ and ‘repent[ing] of all [their] sins’ (Helaman 14:12–13).”[7]

Samuel told them to believe His name and repent of their sins.

“But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

“Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

“And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

“And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:28-31).

If they do this, they will receive a remission of their sins through His sacrifice.

“For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent;

“But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;

“Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—

“Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.

“Wherefore, I command you again to repent, lest I humble you with my almighty power; and that you confess your sins, lest you suffer these punishments of which I have spoken, of which in the smallest, yea, even in the least degree you have tasted at the time I withdrew my Spirit” (D&C 19:16-20).

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[1] Temporality and Fulfillment in 3 Nephi 1, Kimberly M. Berkey, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 24 (2015): 73-74.

[2] Ibid., 72.

[3] “NOW when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

“Saying, Where is the child that is born, the Messiah of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him” (JST Matthew 2:1-2).

[4] “And there were many, who had not believed the words of the prophets, who fell to the earth and became as if they were dead, for they knew that the great plan of destruction which they had laid for those who believed in the words of the prophets had been frustrated; for the sign which had been given was already at hand.

“And they began to know that the Son of God must shortly appear; yea, in fine, all the people upon the face of the whole earth from the ^awest to the east, both in the land north and in the land south, were so exceedingly astonished that they fell to the earth” (3 Nephi 1:16-17).

[5] “Saving Christianity”: The Nephite Fulfillment of Jesus’s Eschatological Prophecies, Heather Hardy, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 23 (2014): 35.

[6] “And it came to pass that in this year there was one Samuel, a Lamanite, came into the land of Zarahemla, and began to preach unto the people. And it came to pass that he did preach, many days, repentance unto the people, and they did cast him out, and he was about to return to his own land” (Helaman 13:2).

[7] Op cit., Berkey: 78.

Helaman 13:29-39

Samuel asked how long they believed the Lord would tolerate the wickedness. How long will they follow “foolish and blind guides” (Helaman 13:29). “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing” (Ezekiel 13:3).

“Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines, and shall be puffed up in their hearts, and shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord; and their works shall be in the dark” (2 Nephi 28:9).

“Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch” (Matthew 15:14).

“Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor” (Matthew 23:16).

How long, he asks, will they follow the false prophets and choose darkness over light? “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19).

“They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof” (Job 24:13).

The Lord’s anger burns against you because of your sins. The land has been cursed. The day will come when you will not be able to keep your riches. “Moreover I will cause to cease in Moab, saith the LORD, him that offereth in the high places, and him that burneth incense to his gods. Therefore mine heart shall sound for Moab like pipes, and mine heart shall sound like pipes [OR flutes] for the men of Kir-heres: because the riches that he hath gotten are perished” (Jeremiah 48:35-36).

“But I did remain among them, but I was forbidden to preach unto them, because of the hardness of their hearts; and because of the hardness of their hearts the land was cursed for their sake.

“And these Gadianton robbers, who were among the Lamanites, did infest the land, insomuch that the inhabitants thereof began to hide up their treasures in the earth; and they became slippery, because the Lord had cursed the land, that they could not hold them, nor retain them again.

“And it came to pass that there were sorceries, and witchcrafts, and magics; and the power of the evil one was wrought upon all the face of the land, even unto the fulfilling of all the words of Abinadi, and also Samuel the Lamanite” (Mormon 1:17-19).

Brigham Young recounted how Porter Rockwell and others had searched for treasure. According to Rockwell, they found treasure but were unable to withdraw it because it kept sliding back into the earth. After sharing the cave experience, President Young said: “Now, you may think I am unwise in publicly telling these things, thinking perhaps I should preserve them in my own breast; but such is not my mind. I would like the people called Latter-day Saints to understand some little things with regard to the workings and dealings of the Lord with his people here upon the earth.” Therefore, in reporting the cave story, Brigham Young seems to have been teaching that, as part of the “workings and dealings of the Lord,” the earth’s treasures belong to God, who can either bless or curse them (see Helaman 13:31, 33, 36; Mormon 1:18).[1]

Instead of riches, they will live in poverty. Then they will cry to the Lord. They will weep and howl because of their circumstances.

Then they will weep and howl they should have repented and not killed the prophets, stoned them, or cast them out. Mormon would describe the situation towards the end of the Nephite civilization. “And it came to pass that the Nephites began to repent of their iniquity, and began to cry even as had been prophesied by Samuel the prophet; for behold no man could keep that which was his own, for the thieves, and the robbers, and the murderers, and the magic art, and the witchcraft which was in the land” (Mormon 2:10).

Towards the end of the Savior’s ministry, He would lament, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered [GR have I desired to gather] thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not” (Matthew 23:37).

They will cry they should have remembered the Lord when they had their riches. We would not have lost them.

Things will be so bad, Samuel said, if they lay down a tool, it will be gone in the morning. Swords are taken from them when they searched for them for a battle. Hidden treasures are lost because the land is cursed.

They will continue to cry they should have repented when the word of the Lord had come to them through the prophets. They are surrounded by demons, the angels of the devil who wants to destroy their souls. King Benjamin warned, “But, O my people, beware lest there shall arise contentions among you, and ye list to obey the evil spirit, which was spoken of by my father Mosiah” (Mosiah 2:32).

Samuel told them their “days of probation are past” (Helaman 13:38). “And it came to pass that my sorrow did return unto me again, and I saw that the day of grace was passed with them, both temporally and spiritually; for I saw thousands of them hewn down in open rebellion against their God, and heaped up as dung upon the face of the land. And thus three hundred and forty and four years had passed away” (Mormon 2:15).

They have procrastinated the day of salvation until it’s too late. Their day of destruction is at hand. “And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.

“Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world” (Alma 34:33-34).

They have spent their lives searching for happiness through iniquity. “Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness” (Alma 41:10).

But a God of love does not leave us to learn by sad experience that “wickedness never was happiness” (Alma 41:10; see also Helaman 13:38). His commandments are the voice of reality and our protection against self-inflicted pain. The scriptures are the touchstone for measuring correctness and truth, and they are clear that real happiness lies not in denying the justice of God or trying to circumvent the consequences of sin but in repentance and forgiveness through the atoning grace of the Son of God.[2]

They will never find happiness by doing that which “is contrary to the nature of that righteousness” (Helaman 13:38). “And now, my son, all men that are in a state of nature, or I would say, in a carnal state, are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; they are without God in the world, and they have gone contrary to the nature of God; therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness” (Alma 41:11).

Richard Williams writes, “I have pondered a bit about what the opposite of faith is. I believe the anchor opposite faith is darkness, nihilism, despair—that state of the soul that comes from living ‘without God in the world’ (Ephesians 2:12; Alma 41:11; see Helaman 13:38; Mormon 2:12–13).”^[3]

Samuel hoped they would hear his words. “And I pray that the anger of the Lord be turned away from you, and that ye would repent and be saved” (Helaman 13:39).

See comments by Elder Russell M. Nelson, "It's too late."

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[1] Cumorah’s Cave, Cameron J. Packer, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 13/1–2 (2004): 56.

[2] The Blessing of Scripture, Elder D. Todd Christofferson, April 2010 General Conference.

[3] Faith, Reason, Knowledge, and Truth, Richard N. Williams, FARMS Review 20/1 (2008): 104.