pgs. 372 and 373...there are many books and many records of every kind...

THE BOOK OF HELAMAN

CHAPTER 3

Many Nephites migrate to the land northward—They build houses of cement and keep many records—Tens of thousands are converted and baptized—The word of God leads men to salvation—Nephi the son of Helaman fills the judgment seat. Between 49 and 39 B.C.

  1 And now it came to pass in the *forty and third year of the reign of the judges, there was no contention among the people of Nephi save it were a little pride which was in the church, which did cause some little dissensions among the people, which affairs were settled in the ending of the forty and third year.

  2 And there was no contention among the people in the forty and fourth year; neither was there much contention in the forty and fifth year.

  3 And it came to pass in the *forty and sixth, yea, there was much contention and many dissensions; in the which there were an exceedingly great many who departed out of the land of Zarahemla, and went forth unto the land ^anorthward to inherit the land.

  4 And they did travel to an exceedingly great distance, insomuch that they came to ^alarge bodies of water and many rivers.

  5 Yea, and even they did spread forth into all parts of the land, into whatever parts it had not been rendered desolate and without timber, because of the many inhabitants who had before inherited the land.

  6 And now no part of the land was desolate, save it were for timber; but because of the greatness of the ^adestruction of the people who had before inhabited the land it was called ^bdesolate.

  7 And there being but little timber upon the face of the land, nevertheless the people who went forth became exceedingly ^aexpert in the working of cement; therefore they did build houses of cement, in the which they did dwell.

  8 And it came to pass that they did multiply and spread, and did go forth from the land southward to the land northward, and did spread insomuch that they began to cover the face of the whole earth, from the sea south to the sea north, from the sea ^awest to the sea east.

  9 And the people who were in the land northward did dwell in ^atents, and in houses of cement, and they did suffer whatsoever tree should spring up upon the face of the land that it should grow up, that in time they might have timber to build their houses, yea, their cities, and their temples, and their ^bsynagogues, and their sanctuaries, and all manner of their buildings.

  10 And it came to pass as timber was exceedingly scarce in the land northward, they did send forth much by the way of ^ashipping.

  11 And thus they did enable the people in the land northward that they might build many cities, both of wood and of cement.

  12 And it came to pass that there were many of the ^apeople of Ammon, who were Lamanites by birth, did also go forth into this land.

  13 And now there are many ^arecords kept of the proceedings of this people, by many of this people, which are particular and very large, concerning them.

  14 But behold, a ^ahundredth part of the proceedings of this people, yea, the account of the Lamanites and of the Nephites, and their wars, and contentions, and dissensions, and their preaching, and their prophecies, and their shipping and their building of ships, and their building of ^btemples, and of synagogues and their ^csanctuaries, and their righteousness, and their wickedness, and their murders, and their robbings, and their plundering, and all manner of abominations and whoredoms, cannot be contained in this work.

  15 But behold, there are many books and many ^arecords of every kind, and they have been kept chiefly by the Nephites.

  16 And they have been ^ahanded down from one generation to another by the Nephites, even until they have fallen into transgression and have been murdered, plundered, and hunted, and driven forth, and slain, and ^bscattered upon the face of the earth, and mixed with the Lamanites until they are ^cno more called the Nephites, becoming wicked, and wild, and ferocious, yea, even becoming Lamanites.

  17 And now I return again to mine account; therefore, what I have spoken had passed after there had been great contentions, and disturbances, and wars, and dissensions, among the people of Nephi.

  18 The forty and sixth year of the reign of the judges ended;

  19 And it came to pass that there was still great contention in the land, yea, even in the *forty and seventh year, and also in the forty and eighth year.

  20 Nevertheless ^aHelaman did fill the judgment-seat with justice and equity; yea, he did observe to keep the statutes, and the judgments, and the commandments of God; and he did do that which was right in the sight of God continually; and he did walk after the ways of his father, insomuch that he did prosper in the land.

  21 And it came to pass that he had two sons. He gave unto the eldest the name of ^aNephi, and unto the youngest, the name of ^bLehi. And they began to grow up unto the Lord.

  22 And it came to pass that the wars and contentions began to cease, in a small degree, among the people of the Nephites, in the latter end of the forty and eighth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.

  23 And it came to pass in the *forty and ninth year of the reign of the judges, there was continual peace established in the land, all save it were the ^asecret combinations which ^bGadianton the robber had established in the more settled parts of the land, which at that time were not known unto those who were at the head of government; therefore they were not destroyed out of the land.

  24 And it came to pass that in this same year there was exceedingly great prosperity in the church, insomuch that there were thousands who did ^ajoin themselves unto the church and were baptized unto repentance.

I am fascinated by the fact that so many records were kept by the people of this civilization.  It seems like it would have been so hard to keep a record if it had to be engraved on metal, and yet we know there were a lot of records kept.  We know from Brigham Young that when Oliver Cowdery and Joseph Smith returned the plates to the hill Cumorah, "they laid the plates on a table, it was a large table that stood in the room.  Under this table there was a pile of plates as much as two feet hight, and there were altogether in this room more plates than probably many wagon loads... (Journal of Discourses, 19: 38-39)  It will be a great day when we are able to read some of those records!

pgs. 370 and 371...and more of this Gadianton shall be spoken hereafter.

20 Therefore Coriantumr did cut down the watch by the entrance of the city, and did march forth with his whole army into the city, and they did slay every one who did oppose them, insomuch that they did take possession of the whole city.

  21 And it came to pass that Pacumeni, who was the chief judge, did flee before Coriantumr, even to the walls of the city. And it came to pass that Coriantumr did smite him against the wall, insomuch that he died. And thus ended the days of Pacumeni.

  22 And now when Coriantumr saw that he was in possession of the city of Zarahemla, and saw that the Nephites had fled before them, and were slain, and were taken, and were cast into prison, and that he had obtained the possession of the strongest hold in all the land, his heart ^atook courage insomuch that he was about to go forth against all the land.

  23 And now he did not tarry in the land of Zarahemla, but he did march forth with a large army, even towards the city of ^aBountiful; for it was his determination to go forth and cut his way through with the sword, that he might obtain the north parts of the land.

  24 And, supposing that their greatest strength was in the center of the land, therefore he did march forth, giving them no time to assemble themselves together save it were in small bodies; and in this manner they did fall upon them and cut them down to the earth.

  25 But behold, this march of Coriantumr through the center of the land gave Moronihah great advantage over them, notwithstanding the greatness of the number of the Nephites who were slain.

  26 For behold, Moronihah had supposed that the Lamanites durst not come into the center of the land, but that they would attack the cities round about in the borders as they had hitherto done; therefore Moronihah had caused that their strong armies should maintain those parts round about by the borders.

  27 But behold, the Lamanites were not frightened according to his desire, but they had come into the center of the land, and had taken the capital city which was the city of Zarahemla, and were marching through the most capital parts of the land, slaying the people with a great slaughter, both men, women, and children, taking possession of many cities and of many strongholds.

  28 But when Moronihah had discovered this, he immediately sent forth Lehi with an army round about to ^ahead them before they should come to the land Bountiful.

  29 And thus he did; and he did head them before they came to the land Bountiful, and gave unto them battle, insomuch that they began to retreat back towards the land of Zarahemla.

  30 And it came to pass that Moronihah did head them in their retreat, and did give unto them battle, insomuch that it became an exceedingly bloody battle; yea, many were slain, and among the number who were slain ^aCoriantumr was also found.

  31 And now, behold, the Lamanites could not retreat either way, neither on the north, nor on the south, nor on the east, nor on the west, for they were surrounded on every hand by the Nephites.

  32 And thus had Coriantumr plunged the Lamanites into the midst of the Nephites, insomuch that they were in the power of the Nephites, and he himself was slain, and the Lamanites did ^ayield themselves into the hands of the Nephites.

  33 And it came to pass that Moronihah took possession of the city of Zarahemla again, and caused that the Lamanites who had been taken prisoners should depart out of the land in ^apeace.

  34 And thus ended the forty and first year of the reign of the judges.

THE BOOK OF HELAMAN

CHAPTER 2

Helaman the second becomes chief judge—Gadianton leads the band of Kishkumen—Helaman’s servant slays Kishkumen, and the Gadianton band flees into the wilderness. 50 B.C.

  1 And it came to pass in the *forty and second year of the reign of the judges, after Moronihah had established again peace between the Nephites and the Lamanites, behold there was no one to fill the judgment-seat; therefore there began to be a contention again among the people concerning who should fill the judgment-seat.

  2 And it came to pass that ^aHelaman, who was the son of Helaman, was appointed to fill the judgment-seat, by the ^bvoice of the people.

  3 But behold, ^aKishkumen, who had murdered Pahoran, did lay wait to destroy Helaman also; and he was upheld by his band, who had entered into a covenant that no one should know his wickedness.

  4 For there was one ^aGadianton, who was exceedingly expert in many words, and also in his craft, to carry on the secret work of murder and of robbery; therefore he became the leader of the band of Kishkumen.

  5 Therefore he did ^aflatter them, and also Kishkumen, that if they would place him in the judgment-seat he would grant unto those who belonged to his band that they should be placed in power and authority among the people; therefore Kishkumen sought to destroy Helaman.

  6 And it came to pass as he went forth towards the judgment-seat to destroy Helaman, behold one of the servants of Helaman, having been out by night, and having obtained, through disguise, a knowledge of those plans which had been laid by this band to destroy Helaman—

  7 And it came to pass that he met Kishkumen, and he gave unto him a sign; therefore Kishkumen made known unto him the object of his desire, desiring that he would conduct him to the judgment-seat that he might murder Helaman.

  8 And when the servant of Helaman had known all the heart of Kishkumen, and how that it was his ^aobject to murder, and also that it was the object of all those who belonged to his band to murder, and to rob, and to gain power, (and this was their ^bsecret plan, and their combination) the servant of Helaman said unto Kishkumen: Let us go forth unto the judgment-seat.

  9 Now this did please Kishkumen exceedingly, for he did suppose that he should accomplish his design; but behold, the servant of Helaman, as they were going forth unto the judgment-seat, did stab Kishkumen even to the heart, that he fell dead without a groan. And he ran and told Helaman all the things which he had seen, and heard, and done.

  10 And it came to pass that Helaman did send forth to take this band of robbers and ^asecret murderers, that they might be executed according to the law.

  11 But behold, when Gadianton had found that Kishkumen did not return he feared lest that he should be destroyed; therefore he caused that his band should follow him. And they took their flight out of the land, by a secret way, into the wilderness; and thus when Helaman sent forth to take them they could nowhere be found.

  12 And more of this Gadianton shall be spoken hereafter. And thus ended the forty and second year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.

  13 And behold, in the end of this book ye shall see that this ^aGadianton did prove the overthrow, yea, almost the entire destruction of the people of Nephi.

  14 Behold I do not mean the end of the ^abook of Helaman, but I mean the end of the book of Nephi, from which I have taken all the account which I have written.

* VERSE 1 (50 B.C.).

When Helaman is elected the chief judge in verse 2 it immediately makes him the target of Kishkumen.  Helaman is so fortunate that his servant was in the right place at the right time to hear of the murderous plan of Kishkumen and kill him before he was successful in taking Helaman's life.  Unfortunately his evil contemporary Gadianton carried on his awful ways and as we read in verse 13, "at the end of this book (the Book of Mormon) ye shall see that this Gadianton did prove the overthrow, yea almost the entire destruction of the people of Nephi."It just goes to show that you can never underestimate the influence of one man, for good or for evil.

pgs. 368 and 369...and Kishkumen and his band...did mingle themselves among the people, in a manner that they all could not be found...

THE BOOK OF HELAMAN

An account of the Nephites. Their wars and contentions, and their dissensions. And also the prophecies of many holy prophets, before the coming of Christ, according to the records of Helaman, who was the son of Helaman, and also according to the records of his sons, even down to the coming of Christ. And also many of the Lamanites are converted. An account of their conversion. An account of the righteousness of the Lamanites, and the wickedness and abominations of the Nephites, according to the record of Helaman and his sons, even down to the coming of Christ, which is called the book of Helaman.

CHAPTER 1

Pahoran the second becomes chief judge and is murdered by Kishkumen—Pacumeni fills the judgment-seat—Coriantumr leads the Lamanite armies, takes Zarahemla, and slays Pacumeni—Moronihah defeats the Lamanites and retakes Zarahemla, and Coriantumr is slain. Between 52 and 51 B.C.

  1 AND now behold, it came to pass in the *commencement of the fortieth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, there began to be a serious difficulty among the people of the Nephites.

  2 For behold, ^aPahoran had died, and gone the way of all the earth; therefore there began to be a serious contention concerning who should have the judgment-seat among the brethren, who were the sons of Pahoran.

  3 Now these are their names who did contend for the judgment-seat, who did also cause the people to contend: Pahoran, Paanchi, and Pacumeni.

  4 Now these are not all the sons of Pahoran (for he had many), but these are they who did contend for the judgment-seat; therefore, they did cause three ^adivisions among the people.

  5 Nevertheless, it came to pass that Pahoran was appointed by the ^avoice of the people to be chief judge and a governor over the people of Nephi.

  6 And it came to pass that Pacumeni, when he saw that he could not obtain the judgment-seat, he did ^aunite with the voice of the people.

  7 But behold, Paanchi, and that part of the people that were desirous that he should be their governor, was exceedingly wroth; therefore, he was about to ^aflatter away those people to rise up in rebellion against their brethren.

  8 And it came to pass as he was about to do this, behold, he was taken, and was tried according to the ^avoice of the people, and condemned unto death; for he had raised up in rebellion and sought to destroy the ^bliberty of the people.

  9 Now when those people who were desirous that he should be their governor saw that he was condemned unto death, therefore they were angry, and behold, they sent forth one ^aKishkumen, even to the judgment-seat of Pahoran, and murdered Pahoran as he sat upon the judgment-seat.

  10 And he was pursued by the servants of Pahoran; but behold, so speedy was the flight of Kishkumen that no man could overtake him.

  11 And he went unto those that sent him, and they all entered into a covenant, yea, ^aswearing by their everlasting Maker, that they would tell no man that Kishkumen had murdered Pahoran.

  12 Therefore, Kishkumen was not known among the people of Nephi, for he was in disguise at the time that he murdered Pahoran. And Kishkumen and his band, who had covenanted with him, did mingle themselves among the people, in a manner that they all could not be found; but as many as were found were condemned unto ^adeath.

  13 And now behold, Pacumeni was appointed, according to the ^avoice of the people, to be a chief judge and a governor over the people, to reign in the stead of his brother Pahoran; and it was according to his right. And all this was done in the fortieth year of the reign of the judges; and it had an end.

  14 And it came to pass in the *forty and first year of the reign of the judges, that the Lamanites had gathered together an innumerable army of men, and ^aarmed them with swords, and with cimeters and with bows, and with arrows, and with head-plates, and with breastplates, and with all manner of shields of every kind.

  15 And they came down again that they might pitch battle against the Nephites. And they were led by a man whose name was ^aCoriantumr; and he was a descendant of Zarahemla; and he was a ^bdissenterfrom among the Nephites; and he was a large and a mighty man.

  16 Therefore, the king of the Lamanites, whose name was Tubaloth, who was the son of ^aAmmoron, supposing that Coriantumr, being a mighty man, could stand against the Nephites, with his strength and also with his great ^bwisdom, insomuch that by sending him forth he should gain power over the Nephites—

  17 Therefore he did ^astir them up to anger, and he did gather together his armies, and he did appoint Coriantumr to be their leader, and did cause that they should march down to the land of Zarahemla to battle against the Nephites.

  18 And it came to pass that because of so much contention and so much difficulty in the government, that they had not kept sufficient guards in the land of Zarahemla; for they had supposed that the Lamanites durst not come into the heart of their lands to attack that great city Zarahemla.

  19 But it came to pass that Coriantumr did march forth at the head of his numerous host, and came upon the inhabitants of the city, and their march was with such exceedingly great speed that there was no time for the Nephites to gather together their armies.

We are introduced to the wicked man Kishkumen in this reading and his beginning of secret combinations among the Nephites who lived during this time.  He murders Pahoran and then makes the men who asked him to do it swear an oath under God that they would not reveal his identity.  It makes a complete mock of God that these men would commit such evil and then use the name of God as a guarantee that they will keep it secret.  So wrong on so many levels!  And then to think they are hiding among the general population...it should be a reminder to us that evil is never to be trusted or underestimated...it will do any thing at any price to try and prevail.

pgs. 366 and 367...thus ended the account of Alma, and Helaman his son, and also Shiblon, who was his son.

 41 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 ^aafflictions, insomuch that they did humble themselves before God, even in the depth of humility.

  42 And it came to pass that after Moroni had fortified those parts of the land which were most exposed to the Lamanites, until they were sufficiently strong, he returned to the city of Zarahemla; and also Helaman returned to the place of his inheritance; and there was once more peace established among the people of Nephi.

  43 And Moroni yielded up the ^acommand of his armies into the hands of his son, whose name was ^bMoronihah; and he retired to his own house that he might spend the remainder of his days in peace.

  44 And Pahoran did return to his judgment-seat; and Helaman did take upon him again to preach unto the people the word of God; for because of so many wars and contentions it had become expedient that a ^aregulation should be made again in the church.

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

  46 And it came to pass that they did establish again the church of God, throughout all the land.

  47 Yea, and regulations were made concerning the law. And their ^ajudges, and their chief judges were chosen.

  48 And the people of Nephi began to ^aprosper again in the land, and began to multiply and to wax exceedingly strong again in the land. And they began to grow exceedingly rich.

  49 But notwithstanding their riches, or their strength, or their prosperity, they were not lifted up in the pride of their eyes; neither were they ^aslow to remember the Lord their God; but they did humble themselves exceedingly before him.

  50 Yea, they did remember how great things the Lord had done for them, that he had ^adelivered them from death, and from bonds, and from prisons, and from all manner of ^bafflictions, and he had^cdelivered them out of the hands of their enemies.

  51 And they did pray unto the Lord their God continually, insomuch that the Lord did bless them, according to his word, so that they did wax strong and ^aprosper in the land.

  52 And it came to pass that all these things were done. And ^aHelaman died, in the *thirty and fifth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.

* verse 12 (61 B.C.); Verse 39 (60 B.C.); Verse 52 (57 B.C.).

THE BOOK OF ALMA
THE SON OF ALMA

CHAPTER 63

Shiblon and later Helaman take possession of the sacred records—Many Nephites travel to the land northward—Hagoth builds ships, which sail forth in the west sea—Moronihah defeats the Lamanites in battle. Between 56 and 53 B.C.

  1 And it came to pass in the *commencement of the thirty and sixth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, that ^aShiblon took possession of those ^bsacred things which had been delivered unto Helaman by Alma.

  2 And he was a just man, and he did walk uprightly before God; and he did observe to do good continually, to keep the commandments of the Lord his God; and also did his brother.

  3 And it came to pass that ^aMoroni died also. And thus ended the thirty and sixth year of the reign of the judges.

  4 And it came to pass that in the *thirty and seventh year of the reign of the judges, there was a large company of men, even to the amount of five thousand and four hundred men, with their wives and their children, departed out of the land of Zarahemla into the land which was ^anorthward.

  5 And it came to pass that Hagoth, he being an ^aexceedingly curious man, therefore he went forth and built him an exceedingly large ship, on the borders of the land ^bBountiful, by the land Desolation, and launched it forth into the west sea, by the ^cnarrow neck which led into the land northward.

  6 And behold, there were many of the Nephites who did enter therein and did sail forth with much provisions, and also many women and children; and they took their course northward. And thus ended the thirty and seventh year.

  7 And in the thirty and eighth year, this man built ^aother ships. And the first ship did also return, and many more people did enter into it; and they also took much provisions, and set out again to the land northward.

  8 And it came to pass that they were never heard of more. And we suppose that they were drowned in the depths of the sea. And it came to pass that one other ship also did sail forth; and whither she did go we know not.

  9 And it came to pass that in this year there were many people who went forth into the land ^anorthward. And thus ended the thirty and eighth year.

  10 And it came to pass in the *thirty and ninth year of the reign of the judges, ^aShiblon died also, and Corianton had gone forth to the land northward in a ship, to carry forth provisions unto the people who had gone forth into that land.

  11 Therefore it became expedient for ^aShiblon to confer those sacred things, before his death, upon the son of ^bHelaman, who was called ^cHelaman, being called after the name of his father.

  12 Now behold, all those ^aengravings which were in the possession of Helaman were written and sent forth among the children of men throughout all the land, save it were those parts which had been commanded by Alma should ^bnot go forth.

  13 Nevertheless, these things were to be kept sacred, and ^ahanded down from one generation to another; therefore, in this year, they had been conferred upon Helaman, before the death of Shiblon.

  14 And it came to pass also in this year that there were some dissenters who had gone forth unto the Lamanites; and they were ^astirred up again to anger against the Nephites.

  15 And also in this same year they came down with a numerous army to war against the people of ^aMoronihah, or against the army of Moronihah, in the which they were beaten and driven back again to their own lands, suffering great loss.

  16 And thus ended the thirty and ninth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.

  17 And thus ended the account of ^aAlma, and Helaman his son, and also Shiblon, who was his son.

This reading concludes the book of Alma which has basically coincided with the 1st year of the reign of the judges through the 39th year (Alma 63:10.)  Over this 39 year period so many events occurred and much was accomplished.  Finally in chapter 62 verse 42 peace is again brought to the land! Moroni and Helaman both die in this reading and it marks the end of an era.  Those two men were amazing in their faith and their commitment to the Lord.  They were able to commune with God and lift others through their faithfulness. 

I read a commentary about verses 48 through 51 of chapter 62.  It explained how these verses are Mormon teaching the way for individuals as well as nations to live in righteousness during times of prosperity.  I feel like this is important for us in the United States today because even though we are in a recession we are still relatively prosperous when compared with the human population over the history of the earth.