Day 56: Helaman 2-5

Welcome to Day 56...

Kishkumen and Gadiaton really shook things up! Mormon gave a little commentary to inform us that "in the end of this book ye shall see that this Gadiaton did prove the overthrow, yea almost the entire destruction of the people of Nephi." (Helaman 2:13) 

Mormon told of a huge migration northward and described large piles of records saying, "behold a hundredth part of the proceedings of these people cannot be contained" in the Book of Mormon. He picked out stories that he felt inspired would "be of worth."                                       
The Nephites enjoyed sweet periods of peace, countered with times of considerable contention. At one point, tens of thousands of Nephites joined the Church during a great time of peace and prosperity.

"And thus we see that the gate of heaven is open unto all, even those who will believe on the name of Jesus Christ..." (Helaman 3:28) Following this great prosperity, the more humble members of the Church grew in their faith despite persecution. 

                      
But then "pride cycle" kicked in! The Nephites deteriorated in wickedness and miracles ceased. They consequently lost their southern lands to the Lamanites. "The Spirit of the Lord does not dwell in unholy temples...the Lord did cease to preserve them by his miraculous and matchless power..." 

Enter Nephi and Lehi, the sons of Helaman!  Two more amazing scripture heroes! They devoted themselves to preaching the gospel and teaching the people the importance of building their lives on Jesus Christ. 

                            

This, of course, got them tossed into prison. But miracles never cease for the righteous! They experienced a truly AMAZING miracle, where not only the "still voice of perfect mildness" of the Savior spoke, but the "pleasant voice" of Heavenly Father, as well. 

The message: FAITH in Christ and REPENTANCE. Thousands converted as a result of this miracle, even the majority of the Lamanites! Welcome miracles in your life today through faith, repentance and righteousness.

• Opening Song:

"Do You Have Room For the Savior?"

• Begin Study Session With Prayer 
• Scripture Study: Helaman 2-5 (listen)
• Study Guide: (here)
• Video: Discussions on the Book of Mormon, Helaman 1-6

• Video: "Lehi and Nephi"

Favorite passage: "Thus we may see that the Lord is merciful unto all who will, in the sincerity of their hearts, call upon his holy name.Yea, thus we see that the gate of heaven is open unto all, even to those who will believe on the name of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God.Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked and land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out." Helaman 3:27-30

                                                   

"Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God." Helaman 3:35

Elder Robert D. Hales testifies that the Spirit does not dwell in unholy temples (Helaman 4:23–26) :

                                        

“No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God... and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven.”--Orson F. Whitney, in Kimball, Faith precedes the miracle, 98.

This scripture is so powerful I had my children memorize it years ago. We continue to recite it frequently: 

"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."  (Helaman 5:12)

President Henry B. Eyring on Helaman 5:12:

• Record thoughts and impressions in your journal.

• Close study session with prayer.

Day 55:Alma 62-Helaman 1

Welcome to Day 55...
Moroni was greatly relieved to discover that Pahoran was faithful and supportive of the "freemen." After apologies and a few laughs, he and Pahoran teamed up to tackle Pachus. They put together a brilliant strategem to take back the city of Nephihah!

Teancum attempted a final ninja mission. Moroni was "exceedingly sorrowful" about this, and it fueled his motivation to attack the Lamanites "insomuch that they did slay them with a great slaughter." 
             
Mormon pointed out two diverse scenarios: "But behold, because of the exceedingly great length of the war between the Nephites and the Lamanites many had become HARDENED, because of the exceedingly great length of the war; and many were SOFTENED because of their afflictions, insomuch that they did humble themselves before God, even in the depths of humility." (Alma 62:41) Trials either harden or soften us. The choice is up to us. 

But "notwithstanding their riches" the people in general were "not lifted up in the pride of their eyes...and did humble themselves exceedingly before him." (Alma 62:49)  
                                       
In Alma 63, the Nephites migrated northward by land and sea. Shiblon conferred the sacred records to Helaman. Captain Moroni died, and his son Moronihah lead an army that drove back a Lamanite attack.

We now enter the Book of Helaman! When Pahoran died there was a commotion about who should be the next chief judge. His son Pahoran was appointed by the voice of the people, but was soon murdered by Kishkumen, who acted as part of a "secret combination." Taking advantage of the civil unrest, the Lamanites conquered the city of Zarahemla! Moronihah, son of Moroni, got a chance to follow in his daddy's valiant footsteps by repossessing Zarahemla. 

Important lessons from today's reading: Trials can make or break us - the key is to be humble and turn to God. 
It's possible to be rich AND humble. Contention makes us vulnerable to the influence of the adversary. 
When we share the gospel we can make a big difference in our communities.  

• Opening Song "Never A Better Hero"
• Begin study session with prayer
• Scripture Study: Alma 62 - Helaman 1 (listen)
• Study Guide: (here)
• Video: "Hagoth" (Alma 63:5)                           

                 

"But notwithstanding their riches, or their strength, or their prosperity, they were not lifted up in the pride of their eyes; neither were they slow to remember the Lord their God; but they did humble themselves exceedingly before him.Yea, they did remember how great things the Lord had done for them, that he had delivered them from death, and from bonds, and from prisons, and from all manner of afflictions, and he had delivered them out of the hands of their enemies." Alma 62:49-50 

• Video "Evil Secret Words" (Helaman 1:11)    

• Video: "Our Own Storehouse of Faith" (Alma 62:39–41) 

                   

"Therefore, Helaman and his brethren went forth, and did declare the word of God with much power unto the convincing of many people of their wickedness, which did cause them to repent of their sins and to be baptized unto the Lord their God." Alma 62:45

Introduction to the Book of Helaman

Why study this book? (Seminary Teacher Guide)

In their study of the book of Helaman, students will learn from the examples and teachings of great men such as Helaman, his sons Nephi and Lehi, and Samuel the Lamanite, who courageously obeyed the Lord and testified of Him. The ministries of these men demonstrate that God grants power to help His servants accomplish His will and that the efforts of righteous individuals can bless thousands. Students will also learn about the devastating effects of pride, wickedness, and secret combinations.

Who wrote this book?Mormon compiled and abridged records from the large plates of Nephi to create the book of Helaman. The book is named for Helaman, who was a son of Helaman and a grandson of Alma the Younger. Helaman received the records from Shiblon, his uncle, and served as a righteous chief judge over the Nephites. He taught his sons Nephi and Lehi to keep the commandments and to remember their Redeemer and make Him the foundation of their lives (see Helaman 5:9–14). Inspired by these teachings and concerned about the wickedness of the people, Nephi and Lehi preached repentance to the Nephites and the Lamanites. Nephi gave up his position as chief judge to do so. After thousands of Lamanites were converted, a Lamanite prophet named Samuel was inspired to preach repentance and prophesy among the Nephites. The book of Helaman draws from the records kept during the reigns and ministries of Helaman (Helaman 1–3) and Nephi (Helaman 4–16). Nephi’s records included the prophecies and teachings of Samuel the Lamanite.

To whom was this book written and why?Mormon wrote the book of Helaman for the people in the latter days who would receive his record. Like his other abridgments from the large plates of Nephi, the book of Helaman testifies of the divinity and redeeming mission of Jesus Christ (see Helaman 3:27–30; 5:9–12;8:13–23; 14:1–29; 16:4–5).

When and where was it written?The original records used as sources for the book of Helaman were likely written between 52 B.C. and 1 B.C. Mormon abridged those records sometime between A.D. 345 and A.D. 385. Mormon did not record where he was when he compiled this book.

What are some distinctive features of this book?The book of Helaman portrays the Nephites fluctuating between righteousness and wickedness with greater frequency than at any other time in their history. The book relates multiple instances of dissension, war, murder, and secret combinations. It also introduces and describes the activities of the Gadianton robbers, whose works of darkness eventually brought about the destruction of the Nephites (see Helaman 2:13–14). The book of Helaman is also unique because it describes a period when “the more part” of the Lamanites were converted and “their righteousness did exceed that of the Nephites” (Helaman 6:1). Additionally, it demonstrates the power God gives to His prophets, such as when Nephi revealed the murder of a chief judge and prophesied the confession of the judge’s brother (see Helaman 8–9) and when Nephi received the sealing power from the Lord and then exercised it to induce and revoke a famine (see Helaman 10–11). Furthermore, in its preservation of the words of Samuel, this book contains the only record of a sermon of a Lamanite prophet delivered to the Nephites (seeHelaman 13–15). In this sermon, Samuel prophesied the signs of the birth and death of Jesus Christ.

“New members... must choose for themselves in faith to be baptized, trusting in their perfect friend, the Savior...They must choose to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost...And that choice must be made not once, but every day, every hour, every minute. Even when the Holy Ghost comes and inspires them what they should do. Doing it or not, is a choice.” --Henry B. Eyring

• Record thoughts and impressions in your journal.

• Close study session with prayer.