Helaman 13:21-28

Samuel the Lamanite continued preaching.

The people should listen to the word of the Lord. The people are cursed because of their riches and the fact they have “set your hearts upon them” (Helaman 13:21). “For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off” (Psalms 37:22).

“If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart” (Malachi 2:2).

They have refused to listen to and obey the word of the Lord. “And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known” (Deuteronomy 11:28).

“Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded” (Proverbs 1:24).

“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).

The people refuse to remember all the things the Lord has done for them and the blessings they have received. Instead, they remember their riches. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Luke 12:34).

They do not thank the Lord for their blessings. Instead, they boast of their great riches. “But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil” (James 4:16). They boast of there envyings, persecutions, murders, and all manner of sins.

“Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain” (Proverbs 25:14).

“Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth” (Proverbs 27:1).

“See that ye are not lifted up unto pride; yea, see that ye do not boast in your own wisdom, nor of your much strength” (Alma 38:11).

Because of their wickedness, the Lord sent a curse on the land and their riches. They cast out the prophets sent to them. This occurs when the wicked are warned about the consequences of their sins. “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).

“Then Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD” (Jeremiah 20:2).

They mock the prophets, stone them, and kill them.

The Nephites claimed they would not have been like those who and killed the prophets. They would not have treated those prophets the way they were treated. It has been said people are more likely to follow and listen to prophets of past years while ignoring the prophet and leaders we have today. Stephen warned the Jews, “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers” (Acts 7:51-52).

Samuel told the Nephites they were worse than those who killed the prophets. When a prophet comes among the, testifying of their sins, they become angry and cast out the prophet. “And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so” (2 Chronicles 18:7).

They cast him out and attempt to kill him, calling him a false prophet. “That this is a rebellious people [IE the Israelite people who won't hearken to the prophets], lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits” (Isaiah 30:9-10).

Samuel could have easily referred back to the treatment of Abinadi by the people. “And now, O king [IE King Noah], behold, we are guiltless, and thou, O king, hast not sinned; therefore, this man has lied concerning you, and he has prophesied in vain” (Mosiah 12:14).

In fact, they hate the prophet because of his words. “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth” (Galatians 4:16).

If a man comes among you, claiming to be a prophet, and he tells you, you do not sin, you will follow him. “But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin” (2 Kings 10:31).

“They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course” (Psalms 82:5).

“Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth” (John 12:35).

When you are told you can do whatever you want, you accept him as a prophet. You do this simply because he tells you what you want to hear. “Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment” (Lamentations 2:14).

“For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her” (Lamentations 4:13).

“If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people” (Micah 2:11).

They would honor this man. They will provide for him. They will give him gold and silver, dress him with costly apparel. All because he tells them what they want to hear. Paul could have had these Nephites in mind when he wrote, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).