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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