Helaman 7

Helaman 7

Nephi Prophesies upon His Tower

Helaman: Header

The Prophecy of Nephi, the Son of Helaman—God threatens the people of Nephi that he will visit them in his anger, to their utter destruction except they repent of their wickedness. God smiteth the people of Nephi with pestilence; they repent and turn unto him. Samuel, a Lamanite, prophesies unto the Nephites.

Comments

In addition to the headers at the beginnings of named books, Mormon will at times add a header for a chapter. These chapter headers typically reference a source that is not the large plates from which Mormon is taking most of his record. We saw several of these in the book of Alma, where Mormon was using a separate, personal record that Alma₂ had created.

There are two unusual features in this chapter header. The first is that it appears to be given a name: “The Prophecy of Nephi, the Son of Helaman.” The second is that it includes a reference to the record of Samuel the Lamanite, whose prophecy will have its own chapter header (before Helaman 13). In the case of the prophecy of Samuel, it may indicate that it was recorded on Nephi₂’s personal record rather than the large plates, and that Nephi₂ gave it that header. However, it still could be Mormon because he gives chapter headers to the records of the sons of Mosiah₂, whose records appear to have been copied into Alma₂’s personal record.

It is also possible that the interpretation of “The Prophecy of Nephi” as a title is simply a misunderstanding by the compositor. There is a prophecy that is important, but the whole of this record cannot be considered a prophecy. Therefore, it is best to see “the Prophecy of Nephi” as simply one of the descriptions of the contents rather than a title.

Helaman 7:1–3

1 Behold, now it came to pass in the sixty and ninth year of the reign of the judges over the people of the Nephites, that Nephi, the son of Helaman, returned to the land of Zarahemla from the land northward.

2 For he had been forth among the people who were in the land northward, and did preach the word of God unto them, and did prophesy many things unto them;

3 And they did reject all his words, insomuch that he could not stay among them, but returned again unto the land of his nativity.

Comments

Nephi₂ and his brother, Lehi₃, had had great success preaching to previously apostate Nephites, and then to the Lamanites themselves. After those successes, they headed north. Now, Mormon tells us about that part of their missionary journey. It is brief, but important.

Verse 2 tells us that Nephi₂ went to the people in the north and did what he had previously done with success: he preached the word of God. Verse 3 tells us what we need to know about the people in the north: “They did reject all his words, insomuch that he could not stay among them.” Even a prophet so great as Nephi₂ could not soften the hearts of those in the north. Once again, Mormon prepares his readers for the eventual destruction of the Nephites that will come at the hands of the Gadiantons who are connected to these unrighteous northern lands.

Helaman 7:4–5

4 And seeing the people in a state of such awful wickedness, and those Gadianton robbers filling the judgment-seats—having usurped the power and authority of the land; laying aside the commandments of God, and not in the least aright before him; doing no justice unto the children of men;

5 Condemning the righteous because of their righteousness; letting the guilty and the wicked go unpunished because of their money; and moreover to be held in office at the head of government, to rule and do according to their wills, that they might get gain and glory of the world, and, moreover, that they might the more easily commit adultery, and steal, and kill, and do according to their own wills—

Comments

When Nephi₂ returns to his homeland, he finds that the Gadianton robbers have managed to take over the government. They are not believers in the Nephite religion and appear to have replaced it. The only thing Mormon says is that they have laid ”aside the commandments of God.” In the ancient world it was extremely rare to not espouse some religion, and religion was the way ancient peoples defined reality. Thus, laying aside God’s commandments strongly suggests that they were replaced with some other god’s (or gods’) commandments.

In addition to taking over the religious beliefs, they have also overthrown the Nephite religious and political ideal of egalitarianism. There is support for hierarchy, and wealth becomes a means of exercising power. It cannot be known whether the statement that “they might the more easily commit adultery, and steal, and kill,” reflected their actions, or simply the antipathy that Mormon certainly feels towards them.

Helaman 7:6–9

6 Now this great iniquity had come upon the Nephites, in the space of not many years; and when Nephi saw it, his heart was swollen with sorrow within his breast; and he did exclaim in the agony of his soul:

7 Oh, that I could have had my days in the days when my father Nephi first came out of the land of Jerusalem, that I could have joyed with him in the promised land; then were his people easy to be entreated, firm to keep the commandments of God, and slow to be led to do iniquity; and they were quick to hearken unto the words of the Lord—

8 Yea, if my days could have been in those days, then would my soul have had joy in the righteousness of my brethren.

9 But behold, I am consigned that these are my days, and that my soul shall be filled with sorrow because of this the wickedness of my brethren.

Comments

Nephi₂ pours out his soul, declaring his agony at finding his nation so completely changed. He suggests that he wishes that he could have lived in different times, when everything was better. It is not uncommon that humankind have fond memories of times when things were good, or at least we believe they were. Thus, this Nephi₂ wishes that he were with Nephi₁ and his family as they came to the New World from Jerusalem. This, despite the intrafamilial conflicts that characterized those early days and the attempted fratricide that lead to the division between the Nephites and Lamanites.

Nephi₂, as with most of us, see only the things we wish to see in the past.

Helaman 7:10–11

10 And behold, now it came to pass that it was upon a tower, which was in the garden of Nephi, which was by the highway which led to the chief market, which was in the city of Zarahemla; therefore, Nephi had bowed himself upon the tower which was in his garden, which tower was also near unto the garden gate by which led the highway.

11 And it came to pass that there were certain men passing by and saw Nephi as he was pouring out his soul unto God upon the tower; and they ran and told the people what they had seen, and the people came together in multitudes that they might know the cause of so great mourning for the wickedness of the people.

Comments

The setting for Nephi₃’s lament is important, because it needs to be explained how he will attract a crowd. Thus, Mormon tells us a little about where he lived, something that is extremely unusual in the Book of Mormon. Mormon doesn’t describe living spaces, presumably because he considered them so common as to not require explanation.

Nephi₃’s home is apparently somewhat different. He seems to live in a compound that has a fence around it, and some kind of raised tower in it. This general description does reflect what can be seen archaeologically in Mesoamerica, but only for the elite in the city center. This would not describe the typical dwelling place.

If it were a Mesoamerican home, the tower would have been a lower truncated pyramid which would be open on the top platform. This would be the reason that Nephi₂ could be seen, and heard, by those passing. The fact that it is on the road to the market also meant that many would pass. The road to the market would be one of the most heavily traveled roads.

Helaman 7:12–15

12 And now, when Nephi arose he beheld the multitudes of people who had gathered together.

13 And it came to pass that he opened his mouth and said unto them: Behold, why have ye gathered yourselves together? That I may tell you of your iniquities?

14 Yea, because I have got upon my tower that I might pour out my soul unto my God, because of the exceeding sorrow of my heart, which is because of your iniquities!

15 And because of my mourning and lamentation ye have gathered yourselves together, and do marvel; yea, and ye have great need to marvel; yea, ye ought to marvel because ye are given away that the devil has got so great hold upon your hearts.

Comments

Nephi₂ notices that he has attracted a crowd. Indeed, it is highly likely that this is exactly what he had hoped to do. He knew that the road to the market was heavily traveled, and he also knew that he could be heard on his tower. Had he not wanted to be heard, he could have offered a quieter lament somewhere farther from the public.

When he has their attention, he begins to instruct them. He takes the opportunity to tell them that they have rejected their God, that they have “given away that the devil has got so great hold upon [their] hearts.” Since one of the signs that the people had rejected Nephite values was the desire for wealth and status, the fact that the people were on the way to the market may have also placed Nephi₂ in a position to preach to those who needed to hear the message, whether or not they would actually hear it.

Helaman 7:16–20

16 Yea, how could you have given way to the enticing of him who is seeking to hurl away your souls down to everlasting misery and endless wo?

17 O repent ye, repent ye! Why will ye die? Turn ye, turn ye unto the Lord your God. Why has he forsaken you?

18 It is because you have hardened your hearts; yea, ye will not hearken unto the voice of the good shepherd; yea, ye have provoked him to anger against you.

19 And behold, instead of gathering you, except ye will repent, behold, he shall scatter you forth that ye shall become meat for dogs and wild beasts.

20 O, how could you have forgotten your God in the very day that he has delivered you?

Comments

Nephi₂ calls the people to repentance. The promise of the land is that they would prosper, and be protected, if they kept God’s commandment. They are not doing that, and therefore, he tells them: “Except ye will repent, behold, he shall scatter you forth that ye shall become meat for dogs and wild beasts.” Of course, one of the problems with this call to repentance is that part of the promise was prosperity, and they appear to have prosperity under the Gadiantons; prosperity, but not equality.

When Alma₂ spoke to his sons, and then when Helaman₂ spoke to his sons (Nephi₂ and Lehi₃), the two prophets emphasized remembering the captivity of the fathers. Nephi₂ remembers it and attempts to remind those gathered that it has been their God who had delivered them in the past (see verse 20).

Helaman 7:21–22

21 But behold, it is to get gain, to be praised of men, yea, and that ye might get gold and silver. And ye have set your hearts upon the riches and the vain things of this world, for the which ye do murder, and plunder, and steal, and bear false witness against your neighbor, and do all manner of iniquity.

22 And for this cause wo shall come unto you except ye shall repent. For if ye will not repent, behold, this great city, and also all those great cities which are round about, which are in the land of our possession, shall be taken away that ye shall have no place in them; for behold, the Lord will not grant unto you strength, as he has hitherto done, to withstand against your enemies.

Comments

Nephi₂ comes to the issue of inequality. They have desired to “get gold and silver.” That in and of itself is not the problem. Rather it is that “ye have set your hearts upon the riches and the vain things of this world.” They desire them so much, that they are willing to reject their religious and political heritage to acquire them. When Mormon suggests that they are willing to “do murder, and plunder, and steal, and bear false witness against [their] neighbor,” he is listing traits that have, in other occasions, been associated with the Gadianton robbers. Nephi₂ is telling them that they have allowed the Gadianton’s to take over and change Nephite religion and social structures because they have apparently brought wealth and prosperity with them. Reading between the lines, this is the result of the trading networks that are being set up.

Nephi₂ also knows that this is a false prosperity, and that it will disappear when the Lord withdraws his protection. That is, in fact, exactly what will happen in the not too distant future.

Helaman 7:23–24

23 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.

24 For behold, they are more righteous than you, for they have not sinned against that great knowledge which ye have received; therefore the Lord will be merciful unto them; yea, he will lengthen out their days and increase their seed, even when thou shalt be utterly destroyed except thou shalt repent.

Comments

As early as Jacob, Nephi₁’s brother, the Lamanites had been used as the presumed opposite of the Nephites. In all things, both civil and religious righteousness, the Nephites were presumed to be superior.

This Nephi₂ echoes those same sentiments. The Nephites would naturally suppose themselves superior to the Lamanites, but Nephi₂ tells them “it shall be better for the Lamanites than for you except ye shall repent. For behold, they are more righteous than you.” In Jacob’s case, it was an indication that the Nephites were so bad that even the Lamanites were considered better. Here, the Lamanites are better. This is the Nephi₂ who had preached to them, and converted them.

One of the things that Mormon shows is that when Lamanites are truly converted, they could become even more righteous and faithful than the Nephites. That is exactly what Nephi₂ is saying here. Invoking the promise of the land again, Nephi₂ tells those gathered that they will be destroyed if they do not repent.

Helaman 7:25–29

25 Yea, wo be unto you because of that great abomination which has come among you; and ye have united yourselves unto it, yea, to that secret band which was established by Gadianton!

26 Yea, wo shall come unto you because of that pride which ye have suffered to enter your hearts, which has lifted you up beyond that which is good because of your exceedingly great riches!

27 Yea, wo be unto you because of your wickedness and abominations!

28 And except ye repent ye shall perish; yea, even your lands shall be taken from you, and ye shall be destroyed from off the face of the earth.

29 Behold now, I do not say that these things shall be, of myself, because it is not of myself that I know these things; but behold, I know that these things are true because the Lord God has made them known unto me, therefore I testify that they shall be.

Comments

Nephi₂ names their greatest sin: “Ye have united yourselves . . . to that secret band which was established by Gadianton.” The Gadiantons have not only taken over the Nephite government, they have altered Nephite religion, and changed Nephite hearts away from their God. Nephi₂ declares that he is speaking in the name of God and declares that “except ye repent ye shall perish.”

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