Book of Mormon Commentary - Vol. 4 - THE RECORD of HELAMAN - a Teaching Commentary on the Book of Helaman

The title of this volume of the Book of Mormon commentary serieswould more appropriately be called “The Records of Helaman,”since there are the two Helaman’s whose records were abridged byMormon. The first record abridged consisted of Alma chapters 45through 63. The author was Helaman, the oldest son of Alma theyounger. He kept the record for twenty-one years, from 73 B.C. through51 B.C. These twenty-one years are known as the war years in the Bookof Mormon, along with the previous year recorded in the book of Alma(Alma 43–44; 74 B.C.). These two chapters of Alma were included inthis volume since the primary subject was war. The law of war, thecause of war, the principles of war, and the results of war are allincluded in this section of the Book of Mormon, and are very applicableto our day which is the prophesied time “of wars and rumors ofwars” in the latter days (JS–Matthew). These chapters of Alma alsoinclude the abridged record of the two thousand stripling warriors,known as “the sons of Helaman.” The young warriors set a wonderfulexample to follow for the Latter-day Saints who presently serve in themilitary service. The sixty-third chapter of Alma informs us of the people movinginto the land northward, and one Hagoth, a Nephite man who builtships and sailed away never to be heard of again. He is connected withthe Polynesians of our day. The second record of Helaman, abridged by Mormon, was keptby Helaman, son of Helaman, and his sons. Their abridged record isthe Book of Helaman in our present-day Book of Mormon. The firstsix chapters of Helaman were kept by Helaman and warn us of thesecret combinations that do and will exist in the latter days. They alsotell us how to avoid those secret combinations. Helaman chapters 7through 12 are called the Prophecy of Helaman, the son of Helaman,and inform us of the relationship between God and man. Helamanchapters 13 through 16 are called the Prophecy of Samuel theLamanite. These prophecies constitute his prophecies made from thewalls of Zarahemla, and the results of his prophecies. The prophecieswere basically about the destruction of the Nephites, and the comingof the Lord Jesus Christ in the Meridian of Time. The entire book ofHelaman covers all but the last year of the fifty-two years precedingthe birth of Christ. There are twenty-one chapters of Alma, and sixteen chapters ofHelaman discussed in this volume of this work (vol. 4). The thirtysevenchapters are again a light touch of history, as Nephi, son of Lehi,had instructed his brother Jacob to keep the records (see Jacob 1:2–3).Although basically an historical account, the record includes much“preaching which was sacred, or revelation which was great, orprophesying” as Nephi also instructed (Jacob 1:4). These three categoriesare summarized at the end of each chapter. It is often difficultto determine whether it is Helaman, Nephi, Samuel the Lamanite, orMormon, as he is abridging, who inserts many precepts for the readersto apply to their lives. The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “The Book ofMormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystoneof our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by itsprecepts, than any other book” (Teachings of the Prophet JosephSmith, 194; see also the Introduction to the Book of Mormon).Although there are many such precepts, the ones inserted by Helaman,Nephi, Samuel the Lamanite or Mormon are usually introduced withphrases such as “I will show unto you,” or “thus we see.”There are also many points of doctrine taught throughout the Bookof Mormon. Isaiah foretold that when the Book of Mormon came forth,“They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and theythat murmured shall learn doctrine” (Isaiah 29:24; 2 Nephi 27:35).In a revelation given on the day the Church was established, the Lordenumerated many doctrines that are found in the Bo