Helaman 6

Helaman 6

Helaman 6:1–3

1 And it came to pass that when the sixty and second year of the reign of the judges had ended, all these things had happened and the Lamanites had become, the more part of them, a righteous people, insomuch that their righteousness did exceed that of the Nephites, because of their firmness and their steadiness in the faith.

2 For behold, there were many of the Nephites who had become hardened and impenitent and grossly wicked, insomuch that they did reject the word of God and all the preaching and prophesying which did come among them.

3 Nevertheless, the people of the church did have great joy because of the conversion of the Lamanites, yea, because of the church of God, which had been established among them. And they did fellowship one with another, and did rejoice one with another, and did have great joy.

Comments

Nephi₂ and Lehi₃ have tremendous success among the Lamanites, perhaps paralleling, or even exceeding, the successes of the sons of Mosiah₂. Along with the historical information, Mormon includes this story because it is one of his themes that the Lamanites are capable of coming to the true faith. Where the picture of the Lamanites on the small plates is almost always negative, Mormon makes certain to include converted Lamanites—not infrequently with the idea that “their righteousness did exceed that of the Nephites.” Because Mormon was writing at the end of the Nephite nation, his hope for the reestablishment of the covenants of Israel among Lehi₁’s descendants lay with the Lamanites. Mormon does repeat the standard ethnocentric pejoratives associated with the Lamanites, but he also makes certain to include stories of Lamanite conversions.

The contrast between verses 1 and 2 with verse 3 is also a typical literary device. In verses 1 and 2, Mormon praises the Lamanites and, specifically in verse 2, declares that “there were many of the Nephites who had become hardened and impenitent and grossly wicked.” That paints a very dim picture of some of the Nephites. However, he contrasts that with verse 3, where he notes that, “nevertheless, the people of the church did have great joy because of the conversion of the Lamanites.”

Mormon makes a distinction between the people of the Nephites and the people of the church. This is more than part of a literary device. It is a continued underlining of the social, religious, and political divisions among the people of the Nephites. Those divisions have frequently festered into dissention.

Nephi, Lehi, and the Lamanites Go into the Land Northward

Helaman 6:4–6

4 And it came to pass that many of the Lamanites did come down into the land of Zarahemla, and did declare unto the people of the Nephites the manner of their conversion, and did exhort them to faith and repentance.

5 Yea, and many did preach with exceedingly great power and authority, unto the bringing down many of them into the depths of humility, to be the humble followers of God and the Lamb.

6 And it came to pass that many of the Lamanites did go into the land northward; and also Nephi and Lehi went into the land northward, to preach unto the people. And thus ended the sixty and third year.

Comments

Even though Mormon has drawn parallels to the mission of the sons of Mosiah₂ and the sons of Helaman₂, there is a major difference. The Lamanites have become sufficiently righteous that they send missionaries to the Nephites! This is an important development for two reasons. First, it shows that the Lamanites have truly become more righteous than the Nephites. Second, it sets the stage for the appearance of Samuel the Lamanite later in the book of Helaman. Mormon sets his readers up for that later inclusion by noting that he wasn’t the only righteous one, and that there was sufficient righteousness among the converted Lamanites that they would be able to send a prophet to go among the Nephites.

Verse 6 has Mormon continuing his emphasis on the lands northward. There are righteous Lamanites who go north, and Nephi₂ and Lehi₃ also go north. Mormon will briefly tell of that mission later.

Peace Prevails throughout the Land

Helaman 6:7–9

7 And behold, there was peace in all the land, insomuch that the Nephites did go into whatsoever part of the land they would, whether among the Nephites or the Lamanites.

8 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did also go whithersoever they would, whether it were among the Lamanites or among the Nephites; and thus they did have free intercourse one with another, to buy and to sell, and to get gain, according to their desire.

9 And it came to pass that they became exceedingly rich, both the Lamanites and the Nephites; and they did have an exceeding plenty of gold, and of silver, and of all manner of precious metals, both in the land south and in the land north.

Comments

From a historical perspective, this appears to be a time of not only peace, but of long-distance travel, which was typically for trade. Verses 8 and 9 confirm the trade aspects of this travel. The ability to increase wealth above and beyond what is basically available to most members of a community come through trade with others. In this case, there is a trade established that connects the south and the north, or the Lamanites and the people of the north.

The value of that long-distance trade route with the north appears at the same time as the beginnings of the movement of populations into Teotihuacan in the valley of Mexico. That trade connection will become a very important part of the end of story of the Nephites and may be the reason that Mormon adds it here. He is preparing his readers for the rest of the Nephite story. Even though we have the remainder of the book of Helaman to go, as well as 3 Nephi, those two books do not cover a significant amount of time. Most of 3 Nephi covers 3 days. Therefore, Mormon is preparing his readers for the aftermath that will lead up to the final destruction.

He is also setting up the events prior to the coming of the Savior as a precursor parallel to the later events. Before the Savior comes, Mormon will have the Gadiantons be the cause of the destruction of the Nephite government, and therefore, the Nephites as a people. That will also be the story in his own eponymous book.

Helaman 6:10

10 Now the land south was called Lehi, and the land north was called Mulek, which was after the son of Zedekiah; for the Lord did bring Mulek into the land north, and Lehi into the land south.

Comments

Verse 10 provides some geographical information, but information which is dissimilar to previous discussions of geography. There is still a land south and a land north. There is still Zarahemla in the center. What has shifted is perspective. Mormon gives us no way to know why he calls the land to the south the land of Lehi as opposed to the land of Nephi. Perhaps the previous designations were always to the city of Nephi and the surrounding lands. Perhaps the greater land, now inhabited by righteous Lamanites, is to be included in the sacred geography. In that case, the label “land of Lehi” would be used to include the Lamanite lands. The point of verses 1 through 9 of this chapter has been to include the Lamanites along with the Nephites in mutual prosperity.

The land to the north is Mulek, which makes a distinction between the land of the Jaredites and the original land of the Mulekites. Since both are in the north, both will likely have some negative associations, and Mormon appears to suggest that it is the descendants of the Mulekites who often foment dissent among the Nephites, desiring for a change in religion and a return to monarchy.

Since the implication of this geography is positive, it is also likely that the land of Mulek is included in the north so that it can have a more positive connotation than the desolation of the Jaredites.

Helaman 6:11–14

11 And behold, there was all manner of gold in both these lands, and of silver, and of precious ore of every kind; and there were also curious workmen, who did work all kinds of ore and did refine it; and thus they did become rich.

12 They did raise grain in abundance, both in the north and in the south; and they did flourish exceedingly, both in the north and in the south. And they did multiply and wax exceedingly strong in the land. And they did raise many flocks and herds, yea, many fatlings.

13 Behold their women did toil and spin, and did make all manner of cloth, of fine-twined linen and cloth of every kind, to clothe their nakedness. And thus the sixty and fourth year did pass away in peace.

14 And in the sixty and fifth year they did also have great joy and peace, yea, much preaching and many prophecies concerning that which was to come. And thus passed away the sixty and fifth year.

Comments

So many of Mormon’s lessons are set up according to a time of righteousness that leads to pride, and that leads to dissentions and to wars. Their prosperity at this time will also lead to problems. What is slightly different about this description of their prosperity is that Mormon spends more time noting that there were more riches, and more crops, flocks and herds. There is great prosperity, both in their living standard and in the things that are useful in trade. Mormon’s references to the north will become more important. He begins now to tell a story about the eventual destruction of the Nephite government and way of life due to the influence of the Gadiantons.

Mormon had introduced the Gadiantons early in the book of Helaman, and then had them disappear. After that point, Mormon began to write more about the north than he ever had. He will see the Gadiantons being associated with the north. This prosperity that comes with the greater trade with the north will also increase the numbers of Gadiantons in the Nephite lands.

Gadianton Robbers Rise to Power

Helaman 6:15–16

15 And it came to pass that in the sixty and sixth year of the reign of the judges, behold, Cezoram was murdered by an unknown hand as he sat upon the judgment-seat. And it came to pass that in the same year, that his son, who had been appointed by the people in his stead, was also murdered. And thus ended the sixty and sixth year.

16 And in the commencement of the sixty and seventh year the people began to grow exceedingly wicked again.

Comments

The book of Helaman began with the assassination of a sitting Chief Judge, and an attempt on Helaman₂. Now we have two more assassinations. Without specifically declaring that the Gadiantons were involved, Mormon expects that his readers will see the parallels and draw the conclusion. Further setting the stage for the Gadiantons is that, in the sixty-seventh year, “the people began to grow exceedingly wicked again.”

Helaman 6:17–19

17 For behold, the Lord had blessed them so long with the riches of the world that they had not been stirred up to anger, to wars, nor to bloodshed; therefore they began to set their hearts upon their riches; yea, they began to seek to get gain that they might be lifted up one above another; therefore they began to commit secret murders, and to rob and to plunder, that they might get gain.

18 And now behold, those murderers and plunderers were a band who had been formed by Kishkumen and Gadianton. And now it had come to pass that there were many, even among the Nephites, of Gadianton’s band. But behold, they were more numerous among the more wicked part of the Lamanites. And they were called Gadianton’s robbers and murderers.

19 And it was they who did murder the chief judge Cezoram, and his son, while in the judgment-seat; and behold, they were not found.

Comments

As should have been understood, Mormon expressly declares that the Gadiantons are behind the murders. The increase in wickedness has come directly on the heels of the “riches of the world.” Mormon spent time noting the increase of trade, specifically with the north. Now, the Gadiantons are here. The connections between the Gadiantons and the north will continue to be made through Mormon’s coming text.

As the Gadiantons had done before, they achieve their goals through secret murder rather than through the voice of the people. Thus, they move to make a change in the Nephite government by murdering Cezoram and his son. That removed two sitting Chief Judges, and likely threw the question of succession open to their own desires.

Helaman 6:20–21

20 And now it came to pass that when the Lamanites found that there were robbers among them they were exceedingly sorrowful; and they did use every means in their power to destroy them off the face of the earth.

21 But behold, Satan did stir up the hearts of the more part of the Nephites, insomuch that they did unite with those bands of robbers, and did enter into their covenants and their oaths, that they would protect and preserve one another in whatsoever difficult circumstances they should be placed, that they should not suffer for their murders, and their plunderings, and their stealings.

Comments

The contrast between the Lamanite and Nephite response to the presence of the Gadiantons is significant. Mormon is foreshadowing a time when the Nephites would be so much more wicked than the Lamanites that the Nephites would be destroyed while the Lamanites survived. The conditions will be a bit different in the end, because it will be a combination of Lamanites and Gadiantons that will destroy the Nephite nations (which Mormon foretold in Helaman 2:13).

Verse 21 reprises the nature of these Gadiantons. They have secret oaths to protect one another. They desire to gain power and prestige through “their murders, and their plunderings, and their stealings.” They are out to undermine other societies and peoples for their own gain.

Helaman 6:22–24

22 And it came to pass that they did have their signs, yea, their secret signs, and their secret words; and this that they might distinguish a brother who had entered into the covenant, that whatsoever wickedness his brother should do he should not be injured by his brother, nor by those who did belong to his band, who had taken this covenant.

23 And thus they might murder, and plunder, and steal, and commit whoredoms and all manner of wickedness, contrary to the laws of their country and also the laws of their God.

24 And whosoever of those who belonged to their band should reveal unto the world of their wickedness and their abominations, should be tried, not according to the laws of their country, but according to the laws of their wickedness, which had been given by Gadianton and Kishkumen.

Comments

The secret signs and words allow the Gadiantons to come in among another people and operate for their own interests without visibly being the cause of the disruption. They could appear to be a peaceful part of society while advocating and instigating major changes.

Even though Mormon will point to the north as their political connection, he continues his theme of noting that the worst enemies of the Nephites are apostate Nephites. These are more insidious than those he has previously mentioned, precisely because they hide their intentions.

The statement in verse 23, that they did their wickedness “contrary to the laws of their country and also to the laws of their God” speaks of the effects upon the Nephites. In verse 31 of this chapter, we will see Mormon’s suggestion that the Gadiantons are from a very different religious tradition.

Helaman 6:25–27

25 Now behold, it is these secret oaths and covenants which Alma commanded his son should not go forth unto the world, lest they should be a means of bringing down the people unto destruction.

26 Now behold, those secret oaths and covenants did not come forth unto Gadianton from the records which were delivered unto Helaman; but behold, they were put into the heart of Gadianton by that same being who did entice our first parents to partake of the forbidden fruit—

27 Yea, that same being who did plot with Cain, that if he would murder his brother Abel it should not be known unto the world. And he did plot with Cain and his followers from that time forth.

Comments

Mormon has had to point to the Gadiantons as the ultimate destroyers of the Nephite nation (Helaman 2:13), even though they disappear after they are first introduced. Mormon makes certain that his readers know that these new Gadiantons follow the same secret oaths and covenants as the first band, but that these Gadiantons may not have been connected directly to the first. This is not a continuation of the same people, but of the same ideas. This is a continuation of the oaths and covenants that Alma₂ wanted Helaman₁ to keep from the Nephite people.

Mormon makes certain that we know that Helaman₁ was not the one to blame. If fact, it was no human who is to blame, but rather Satan, “that same being who did plot with Cain.”

Helaman 6:28–30

28 And also it is that same being who put it into the hearts of the people to build a tower sufficiently high that they might get to heaven. And it was that same being who led on the people who came from that tower into this land; who spread the works of darkness and abominations over all the face of the land, until he dragged the people down to an entire destruction, and to an everlasting hell.

29 Yea, it is that same being who put it into the heart of Gadianton to still carry on the work of darkness, and of secret murder; and he has brought it forth from the beginning of man even down to this time.

30 And behold, it is he who is the author of all sin. And behold, he doth carry on his works of darkness and secret murder, and doth hand down their plots, and their oaths, and their covenants, and their plans of awful wickedness, from generation to generation according as he can get hold upon the hearts of the children of men.

Comments

As Mormon builds his case against the Gadiantons, he ties them directly to Satan, who is the opposite of, and opposer to, God. Mormon also makes certain to link the Gadiantons, through Satan, to “the people who came from that tower into this land; who spread the works of darkness and abominations over all the face of the land.” Mormon explicitly ties the Gadiantons to the Jaredites. Mormon uses the Jaredites as the example of a destroyed nation. The Gadiantons are connected to them, and thus the Gadiantons bring Jaredite-type destruction upon the Nephites.

Helaman 6:31–33

31 And now behold, he had got great hold upon the hearts of the Nephites; yea, insomuch that they had become exceedingly wicked; yea, the more part of them had turned out of the way of righteousness, and did trample under their feet the commandments of God, and did turn unto their own ways, and did build up unto themselves idols of their gold and their silver.

32 And it came to pass that all these iniquities did come unto them in the space of not many years, insomuch that a more part of it had come unto them in the sixty and seventh year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.

33 And they did grow in their iniquities in the sixty and eighth year also, to the great sorrow and lamentation of the righteous.

Comments

The effect of the Gadiantons among the Nephites is to turn them away from their God, and therefore, away from keeping God’s commandments. Of course, that will invoke the negative part of the promise of the land. If the Nephites do not keep their part of the covenant, God will not protect them in the land.

Specifically, verse 31 tells us that the Gadiantons changed the Nephites, “and [they] did turn unto their own ways, and did build up unto themselves idols of their gold and their silver.” The idea of having idols must have come from somewhere. It is certainly not a Nephite idea and hasn’t been present (at least as Mormon tells it) among the Nephites for a very long time. Thus, Mormon is suggesting that these Gadiantons are bringing in foreign ideas, and foreign gods, to the Nephites. The prosperity that came with the trade also brought an exchange of ideas, as happens in almost all human cultures. In this case, many Nephites begin to adopt the ideas, and the religion, of these northern traders. Not only does Mormon associate the Gadiantons with the north, but he also associates them with non-Nephite culture.

Helaman 6:34–36

34 And thus we see that the Nephites did begin to dwindle in unbelief, and grow in wickedness and abominations, while the Lamanites began to grow exceedingly in the knowledge of their God; yea, they did begin to keep his statutes and commandments, and to walk in truth and uprightness before him.

35 And thus we see that the Spirit of the Lord began to withdraw from the Nephites, because of the wickedness and the hardness of their hearts.

36 And thus we see that the Lord began to pour out his Spirit upon the Lamanites, because of their easiness and willingness to believe in his words.

Comments

The influx of Gadiantons and their foreign ideas and gods causes the Nephites “to dwindle in unbelief.” That phrase, “dwindle in unbelief” is used several times in the Book of Mormon. In the book of 1 Nephi, it is typically in the context of the predictions of the future of the children of Lehi, and in particular, the destruction of the Nephites. Thus, when these Nephites ”begin to dwindle in unbelief,” we may be certain that something bad is coming. Indeed, there will be a complete destruction of the Nephite government prior to the arrival of the Savior in Bountiful.

There is a contrast, however. There are righteous Lamanites. The blessings of the Lord are not exclusive to Nephites. Any who obey the covenants has access to the covenant promise of the land.

Helaman 6:37–38

37 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did hunt the band of robbers of Gadianton; and they did preach the word of God among the more wicked part of them, insomuch that this band of robbers was utterly destroyed from among the Lamanites.

38 And it came to pass on the other hand, that the Nephites did build them up and support them, beginning at the more wicked part of them, until they had overspread all the land of the Nephites, and had seduced the more part of the righteous until they had come down to believe in their works and partake of their spoils, and to join with them in their secret murders and combinations.

Comments

How is it possible that with a thousand years of being God’s favored people in the New World, could the tables be turned, and the Nephites destroyed, while the Lamanites, supposedly more wicked, should remain? Mormon answers such a possible question by showing that it had happened before. When the Nephites became so wicked that they embraced the Gadiantons, the Lamanites had become so righteous that they hunted them, and the Gadiantons were “utterly destroyed from among the Lamanites.”

This reversal of expectations will lead to the destruction of the Nephite nation, which will have to be rebuilt after Christ comes. At this point, however, it is important to know that there are righteous Lamanites who will be able to send Samuel among the Nephites in Helaman chapters 13 through 15.

Helaman 6:39–41

39 And thus they did obtain the sole management of the government, insomuch that they did trample under their feet and smite and rend and turn their backs upon the poor and the meek, and the humble followers of God.

40 And thus we see that they were in an awful state, and ripening for an everlasting destruction.

41 And it came to pass that thus ended the sixty and eighth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.

Comments

Verse 41 closes the chapter with the declaration of the year. Verse 39 describes the problem, that the unrighteous, Gadianton-influenced Nephites “did obtain the sole management of the government,” and that, therefore, the Nephites were “ripening for an everlasting destruction.”

This is the end of a chapter in the 1830 edition.