Helaman 5

Helaman 5

Helaman’s Counsel to His Sons

Helaman 5:1–4

1 And it came to pass that in this same year, behold, Nephi delivered up the judgment-seat to a man whose name was Cezoram.

2 For as their laws and their governments were established by the voice of the people, and they who chose evil were more numerous than they who chose good, therefore they were ripening for destruction, for the laws had become corrupted.

3 Yea, and this was not all; they were a stiffnecked people, insomuch that they could not be governed by the law nor justice, save it were to their destruction.

4 And it came to pass that Nephi had become weary because of their iniquity; and he yielded up the judgment-seat, and took it upon him to preach the word of God all the remainder of his days, and his brother Lehi also, all the remainder of his days;

Comments

Nephi₂ began his rule in the fifty-third year of the Reign of the Judges (Helaman 3:37). He abdicated in the sixty-second year, ruling for only ten years. Perhaps he chose the year of his abdication to coincide with the second full five-year period of his reign.

In abdicating, he followed his great-grandfather Alma₂ in leaving the Chief Judge seat to concentrate on the ministry, and for the same reasons. Alma₂ had believed that returning the people to God’s commandments would restore them to Yahweh’s protection and prosperity. Nephi₂ appears to believe he might have the same experience.

The difference is that in these years there appears to have been an even larger number of the Nephites who had left their covenants to Yahweh behind. Thus, verse 2 proclaims: “For as their laws and their governments were established by the voice of the people, and they who chose evil were more numerous than they who chose good, therefore they were ripening for destruction, for the laws had become corrupted.” That is the formula for contention and destruction.

Helaman 5:5–7

5 For they remembered the words which their father Helaman spake unto them. And these are the words which he spake:

6 Behold, my sons, I desire that ye should remember to keep the commandments of God; and I would that ye should declare unto the people these words. Behold, I have given unto you the names of our first parents who came out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I have done that when you remember your names ye may remember them; and when ye remember them ye may remember their works; and when ye remember their works ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were good.

7 Therefore, my sons, I would that ye should do that which is good, that it may be said of you, and also written, even as it has been said and written of them.

Comments

It would not be surprising to learn that many Nephite fathers gave their sons final blessings. We have Lehi₁’s blessings as Nephi₁ recorded them on the small plates, and we have Alma₂ and his grandson, Helaman₂, also giving final blessings. It was probably a general practice, but either additional blessings were not recorded, or Mormon only chose to record those from Alma₂ and Helaman₂.

Helaman₂ begins much as Alma₂ did in the chapters dedicated to the blessings that he gave his three sons. Helaman₂ desired “that [they] should remember to keep the commandments of God.” Doing so would invoke the positive promise of the land.

Also similar to Alma₂’s blessings, Helaman₂ asks his sons to remember their ancestral fathers. Alma₂ specifically spoke of the deliverance of the fathers from captivity, but Helaman₂ only mentions Jerusalem. That was, however, one of the examples of deliverance Alma₂ had used.

Helaman₂ has another reason for bringing up the ancestral fathers, however. Lehi₁ and Nephi₁ left Jerusalem, and Helaman₂ named his sons for those two illustrious ancestors. Therefore, he encourages them to live up to their names: “that it may be said of you, and also written, even as it has been said and written of them.”

Helaman 5:8–9

8 And now my sons, behold I have somewhat more to desire of you, which desire is, that ye may not do these things that ye may boast, but that ye may do these things to lay up for yourselves a treasure in heaven, yea, which is eternal, and which fadeth not away; yea, that ye may have that precious gift of eternal life, which we have reason to suppose hath been given to our fathers.

9 O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world.

Comments

In verse 6 of this chapter, Helaman₂ held up the founding fathers, Lehi₁ and Nephi₁, as examples, specifically, examples about whom it had been written in the Nephite records: “when ye remember their works ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were good.” He picks up on the theme of those about whom good has been written. He turns from Lehi₁ and Nephi₁ in the beginning and moves through time to invoke words which King Benjamin had spoken, and, of course, which had been written. Helaman₂ uses Benjamin to comment to his sons the understanding that the coming Messiah would provide redemption from sin.

Helaman 5:10–11

10 And remember also the words which Amulek spake unto Zeezrom, in the city of Ammonihah; for he said unto him that the Lord surely should come to redeem his people, but that he should not come to redeem them in their sins, but to redeem them from their sins.

11 And he hath power given unto him from the Father to redeem them from their sins because of repentance; therefore he hath sent his angels to declare the tidings of the conditions of repentance, which bringeth unto the power of the Redeemer, unto the salvation of their souls.

Comments

After quoting King Benjamin, Helaman₂ invokes Amulek’s sermon to Zeezrom in Ammonihah. While the coming Messiah would redeem humankind from sin, the redemption is from sin upon conditions of repentance, for humanity cannot be saved while in unrepentant sin.

Helaman₂ had been the record keeper, as his father had been. He not only kept the record, he had clearly read it and learned from it. Although the Nephites only used the word scripture to refer to the plates of brass, Helaman₂, nevertheless, considered the more religious parts of the record as scripture. In the case of Amulek and Zeezrom, Helaman₂ had also read the separate account that Alma₂, his grandfather, had kept. Perhaps the fact that it was written by his grandfather made it even more important that he read and understand it.

Helaman 5:12–13

12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

13 And it came to pass that these were the words which Helaman taught to his sons; yea, he did teach them many things which are not written, and also many things which are written.

Comments

Mormon did not include all that Helaman₂ said to his sons (see verse 13). What he did include allows Mormon’s readers to understand the desires Helaman₂ had when he named his sons Nephi and Lehi. It also gave Mormon the opportunity to provide yet another strong testimony of the Messiah, as well as a brief recapitulation of his redemptive mission.

The imagery that Helaman₂ used is interesting: “The devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you.” In order for the images to have any kind of impact, they must have been natural occurrences that were known, and known to be destructive. As John L. Sorenson has pointed out, those conditions, both whirlwinds and hail, are known from the Mesoamerican region where many believe the Book of Mormon took place.

Nephi and Lehi Go Forth to Preach

Helaman 5:14–16

14 And they did remember his words; and therefore they went forth, keeping the commandments of God, to teach the word of God among all the people of Nephi, beginning at the city Bountiful;

15 And from thenceforth to the city of Gid; and from the city of Gid to the city of Mulek;

16 And even from one city to another, until they had gone forth among all the people of Nephi who were in the land southward; and from thence into the land of Zarahemla, among the Lamanites.

Comments

When Nephi₂ and Lehi₃ begin their missionary journey, they begin in Bountiful, and then head south. Although Mormon had told us that the Nephites had lost most of their territory, his readers had to remember that this would have included the loss of what had previously been their capital city. Verse 16 drives that home when we learn that Nephi₂ and Lehi₃ enter “the land of Zarahemla, among the Lamanites.” In the interim, Bountiful may have, at least temporarily, been established as the new center city.

Even though the recapture of Zarahemla appears to make it again the seat of the Nephites prior to Christ’s birth, when the destruction comes at Christ’s death, the risen Lord appears in Bountiful. And Zarahemla takes fire (3 Nephi 9:3). The function of the seat of government appears to move north, most likely to Bountiful, after that time.

Helaman 5:17–19

17 And it came to pass that they did preach with great power, insomuch that they did confound many of those dissenters who had gone over from the Nephites, insomuch that they came forth and did confess their sins and were baptized unto repentance, and immediately returned to the Nephites to endeavor to repair unto them the wrongs which they had done.

18 And it came to pass that Nephi and Lehi did preach unto the Lamanites with such great power and authority, for they had power and authority given unto them that they might speak, and they also had what they should speak given unto them—

19 Therefore they 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.

Comments

The two sons of Helaman₂ follow in the footsteps of the four sons of Mosiah₂, their great-grandfather. They go preaching, eventually preaching to Lamanites.

Nephi and Lehi Miraculously Saved in Prison

Helaman 5:20–22

20 And it came to pass that Nephi and Lehi did proceed from thence to go to the land of Nephi.

21 And it came to pass that they were taken by an army of the Lamanites and cast into prison; yea, even in that same prison in which Ammon and his brethren were cast by the servants of Limhi.

22 And after they had been cast into prison many days without food, behold, they went forth into the prison to take them that they might slay them.

Comments

Again, in parallel to the sons of Mosiah₂, Nephi₂ and Lehi₃ enter the Lamanite lands and are imprisoned (as were three of Mosiah₂’s sons in the land of Middoni). As were those sons of Mosiah₂, Nephi₂ and Lehi₃ are not treated well in prison.

Secular records from the Maya suggest that the mistreatment of captives was common and to be expected. Of course, that might also be said of so many other ancient cultures that even though it fits in that context, it isn’t exclusive to that time and place.

Helaman 5:23–26

23 And it came to pass that Nephi and Lehi were encircled about as if by fire, even insomuch that they durst not lay their hands upon them for fear lest they should be burned. Nevertheless, Nephi and Lehi were not burned; and they were as standing in the midst of fire and were not burned.

24 And when they saw that they were encircled about with a pillar of fire, and that it burned them not, their hearts did take courage.

25 For they saw that the Lamanites durst not lay their hands upon them; neither durst they come near unto them, but stood as if they were struck dumb with amazement.

26 And it came to pass that Nephi and Lehi did stand forth and began to speak unto them, saying: Fear not, for behold, it is God that has shown unto you this marvelous thing, in the which is shown unto you that ye cannot lay your hands on us to slay us.

Comments

This event recalls the story in Daniel 3, where Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego are thrown into a fire, and are seen unharmed with an angel in the conflagration. The similarities are superficial, for the point of the story in Daniel is that it was a real fire. In this story, it is a visible manifestation that appeared “as if by fire.” In Daniel, the three were thrown into the fire to be executed. In this story, the appearance of the fire prevents those who came to execute Nephi₂ and Lehi₃ from carrying out their purposes.

In both cases, of course, the deliverance was obviously perceived as a miracle, and led to freedom.

Helaman 5:27–28

27 And behold, when they had said these words, the earth shook exceedingly, and the walls of the prison did shake as if they were about to tumble to the earth; but behold, they did not fall. And behold, they that were in the prison were Lamanites and Nephites who were dissenters.

28 And it came to pass that they were overshadowed with a cloud of darkness, and an awful solemn fear came upon them.

Comments

The shaking of the earth is not described as though it were a miracle as was the vision of the fire around Nephi₂ and Lehi₃. Assuming a Mesoamerican setting, this was perhaps an earthquake related to the eruption of a nearby volcano. That region is part of a geological region known as the Ring of Fire, a string of active volcanoes. There are several volcanoes in that region.

Being overcome with a cloud of darkness might have been the result of the walls falling down, or of the ejecta from the volcano. In any case, this verse is the start of several more that give a preview of the greater destruction to come prior to Christ’s arrival in the New World.

Helaman 5:29–33

29 And it came to pass that there came a voice as if it were above the cloud of darkness, saying: Repent ye, repent ye, and seek no more to destroy my servants whom I have sent unto you to declare good tidings.

30 And it came to pass when they heard this voice, and beheld that it was not a voice of thunder, neither was it a voice of a great tumultuous noise, but behold, it was a still voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it did pierce even to the very soul—

31 And notwithstanding the mildness of the voice, behold the earth shook exceedingly, and the walls of the prison trembled again, as if it were about to tumble to the earth; and behold the cloud of darkness, which had overshadowed them, did not disperse—

32 And behold the voice came again, saying: Repent ye, repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand; and seek no more to destroy my servants. And it came to pass that the earth shook again, and the walls trembled.

33 And also again the third time the voice came, and did speak unto them marvelous words which cannot be uttered by man; and the walls did tremble again, and the earth shook as if it were about to divide asunder.

Comments

This is narrative that Mormon is writing, rather than a text he is copying. Therefore, when we see the parallels to the great destruction in 3 Nephi, we must understand that the parallels are intentional. Mormon is setting up these conditions as preludes to both a miracle and to the declaration of a prophet, or of God coming to earth in 3 Nephi.

Most important is the voice from heaven, speaking after the cloud of darkness and the destruction. Mormon spends several sentences on this part of the event, making certain that his readers would be able to associate this miraculous event with the one that is coming in 3 Nephi.

Many Lamanites Are Converted

Helaman 5:34–37

34 And it came to pass that the Lamanites could not flee because of the cloud of darkness which did overshadow them; yea, and also they were immovable because of the fear which did come upon them.

35 Now there was one among them who was a Nephite by birth, who had once belonged to the church of God but had dissented from them.

36 And it came to pass that he turned him about, and behold, he saw through the cloud of darkness the faces of Nephi and Lehi; and behold, they did shine exceedingly, even as the faces of angels. And he beheld that they did lift their eyes to heaven; and they were in the attitude as if talking or lifting their voices to some being whom they beheld.

37 And it came to pass that this man did cry unto the multitude, that they might turn and look. And behold, there was power given unto them that they did turn and look; and they did behold the faces of Nephi and Lehi.

Comments

Even though the event is written to highlight parallels to the destruction in 3 Nephi, it is a different event. What occurs now is more similar to the story of the Lamanitish woman Abish (Alma 19:16). Similar to that event, there is “a Nephite by birth” who understands this event as symbolism understandable in the Nephite religion. He therefore convinces the Lamanites to look upon Nephi₂ and Lehi₃, and to understand that a miracle had taken place, a miracle that should be understood in connection with the Nephite religion.

Helaman 5:38–41

38 And they said unto the man: Behold, what do all these things mean, and who is it with whom these men do converse?

39 Now the man’s name was Aminadab. And Aminadab said unto them: They do converse with the angels of God.

40 And it came to pass that the Lamanites said unto him: What shall we do, that this cloud of darkness may be removed from overshadowing us?

41 And Aminadab said unto them: You must repent, and cry unto the voice, even until ye shall have faith in Christ, who was taught unto you by Alma, and Amulek, and Zeezrom; and when ye shall do this, the cloud of darkness shall be removed from overshadowing you.

Comments

Aminadab is the man who had been born a Nephite, and who clearly remembered what he had been taught of the Nephite religion. Seeing the destruction around them, and the miraculous preservation of Nephi₂ and Lehi₃, the Lamanites ask how they might survive this calamity. When they ask “what shall we do, that this cloud of darkness may be removed from overshadowing us,” Mormon provides a phrase with two meanings. One would be salvation from the physical conditions that led to the destruction of the walls and the physical cloud of darkness. However, there is the second meaning: they have been under a cloud of darkness because they knew not God.

Thus, Aminadab tells them that the solution is to have faith in Christ. There is no teaching at this time, and Aminadab simply assumes that they know of Christ, and that there were some there who had heard Alma₂, Amulek, and Zeezrom preach of Him. This suggests that many of those present were apostate Nephites, even though they were in Lamanite lands.

Helaman 5:42–45

42 And it came to pass that they all did begin to cry unto the voice of him who had shaken the earth; yea, they did cry even until the cloud of darkness was dispersed.

43 And it came to pass that when they cast their eyes about, and saw that the cloud of darkness was dispersed from overshadowing them, behold, they saw that they were encircled about, yea every soul, by a pillar of fire.

44 And Nephi and Lehi were in the midst of them; yea, they were encircled about; yea, they were as if in the midst of a flaming fire, yet it did harm them not, neither did it take hold upon the walls of the prison; and they were filled with that joy which is unspeakable and full of glory.

45 And behold, the Holy Spirit of God did come down from heaven, and did enter into their hearts, and they were filled as if with fire, and they could speak forth marvelous words.

Comments

The events they had witnessed were apparently sufficient to show them that they required a change of heart. Their desire to have the cloud of darkness removed from them was not simply temporal salvation, but a very real spiritual salvation. Their repentance is sufficient that the cloud disperses. That the cloud represented spiritual darkness is witnessed by its being replaced with the vision of a flaming fire of glory around them. Their repentance was confirmed by the Holy Spirit of God.

Helaman 5:46–49

46 And it came to pass that there came a voice unto them, yea, a pleasant voice, as if it were a whisper, saying:

47 Peace, peace be unto you, because of your faith in my Well Beloved, who was from the foundation of the world.

48 And now, when they heard this they cast up their eyes as if to behold from whence the voice came; and behold, they saw the heavens open; and angels came down out of heaven and ministered unto them.

49 And there were about three hundred souls who saw and heard these things; and they were bidden to go forth and marvel not, neither should they doubt.

Comments

In addition to the Spirit descending, the voice of God also comes to them to confirm their conversion and acceptance of the coming Messiah. Angels descended, and the whole event was such a powerful experience that “about three hundred souls” were converted.

Helaman 5:50–52

50 And it came to pass that they did go forth, and did minister unto the people, declaring throughout all the regions round about all the things which they had heard and seen, insomuch that the more part of the Lamanites were convinced of them, because of the greatness of the evidences which they had received.

51 And as many as were convinced did lay down their weapons of war, and also their hatred and the tradition of their fathers.

52 And it came to pass that they did yield up unto the Nephites the lands of their possession.

Comments

One of the hallmarks of a true Lamanite conversion during this decade or more has been that those who had been Lamanites and underwent the change of heart and soul to accept the gospel, also laid down their weapons.

Mormon writes the ending of this story as though the Lamanites gave up all their lands to the Nephites. That was certainly not the case. Even though the event takes place in Lamanite lands, it appears to involve apostate, or perhaps conquered, Nephites. Therefore, what the Lamanites gave up was probably the land of Zarahemla.

This is not the end of a chapter in the 1830 edition.