1. Internal strife develops among the Nephites.

Helaman 1:4 “Pahoran, Paanchi, and Pacumeni”

‘There is in the Book of Mormon, within one important family, a group of names beginning with Pa-.  They are peculiar names and can be matched exactly in Egyptian. ‘ (Hugh Nibley, An Approach to the Book of Mormon, 282).

‘It is hard to explain bull’s-eyes like Korihor, Pahoran, and Paankhi as pure accidents.  Paankhi was a popular Egyptian name in the seventh century B.C., but it was not known until the end of the last [nineteenth] century.’ (Hugh Nibley, Since Cumorah, 170).

‘In a study by Gardiner [an Egyptologist], he refers to “Piankhi’s Instructions to His Army.”  That is a peculiar name, a pure Egyptian name, and one odd enough that no one could have possibly invented it in the Book of Mormon.  Piankhi was a general before the time of Lehi, was very famous, became king of Egypt, and the name became quite popular afterwards …. But of course the name occurs in the Book of Mormon (Helaman 1:3).’ (Hugh Nibley, Temple and Cosmos, 255).

Helaman 1:16 Tubaloth and Coriantumr

“It may be rememberedbthat this king, named Tubaloth, was not really a Laminate. Rather, he was the son of Ammoron, the brother and successor of the notoriously unscrupulous Nephite adventurer, Amalackiah. Tubaloth had chosen yet another dissenter from the Nephites, by the name of Coriantumr, to lead his warriors. It was certainly a common practice of those who would lead the Lamanites into battle against the Nephites to choose apostates as their assistants…These apostates could be counted upon to feel a powerful hatred for the Nephites, which made them very useful to the great manipulators who appear with such appalling frequency in the pages of the Book of Mormon.”  (Daniel C Peterson, Their Own Worst Enemies)

Helaman 1:18 Because of so much contention

‘At the risk of wearying the reader, we should not belabor the point, but the only time that the Lamanites were ever able to make significant progress in their battles with the Nephites was when the Nephites were in the midst of internal strife. Internal strife naturally came only in times of Nephite wickedness but this problem had plagued Moroni for his entire career. Now his son Moronihah inherits the legacy of internal instability and its costly consequences.’ (Bryan Richards, GospelDoctrine.com)

Helaman 2:2 Who was this Helaman?

“ This Helaman was prophet, record-keeper (Alma 63:11), and chief judge (Helaman 2:2); he was the son of the prophet Helaman who led the stripling warriors, and the grandson of Alma the Younger. Helaman was preserved by his servant from the robber Kishkumen, and served righteously until his death (Helaman 3:20,37). He left a powerful testimony and blessing on his sons Nephi and Lehi that is often quoted (Helaman 5:5-13).” (Thomas R Valletta, The Book of Mormon Study Guide.)

Helaman 2:13 Gadianton robbers

“The Book of Mormon teaches us that secret combinations engaged in crime present a serious challenge, not just to individuals and families but to entire civilisations. Among today’s secret combinations are gangs, drug cartels, and organised crime families. The secret combinations of our day function mush like the Gadianton robbers of the Book of Mormon times. They have secret signs and code words. They participate in secret rites and initiation ceremonies. Among their purposes are ‘to murder, and plunder, and steal, and commit whoredoms and all manner of wickedness, contrary to the laws of the land and also the laws of their God.’ (Helaman 6:23).” (M Russell Ballard, Standing for Truth and Right”

2. Thousands join the Church; some Church members are lifted up in pride.

Helaman 3:27-28 Thus we see

‘We love to find the words “thus we see” because we know that Mormon wants us to see and draw a conclusion from the events being described.  Here we are reminded of the Lord’s mercy to all who call on his name, and that the “gate of heaven” is open to all. 2 Nephi 31:17 refers to repentance and baptism as the “gate by which ye should enter.”’ (JohnBytheway.com)

Helaman 3:33 People who professed to belong to the church

“…there are two churches. There are the people who profess it, and the people who really are. They all profess to belong to the church of God, but how do you distinguish? Well, as Paul says, our security rests in this. God knows his own. Only he knows the ones who are true Latter-day Saints and those who aren’t. We have no means of knowing. You’d be surprised what rascals there are among us and what good people there are among us too. But you never suspect.” (Hugh Nibley, Teachings From The Book of Mormon, Lecture 75, p. 215)

Helaman 3:35 They did fast and pray oft

“The world needs self-discipline. You can find it in fasting and prayer. Our generation is sick for lack of self-control. Fasting and prayer help to instill this virtue…In addition to the occasional fasting experience for a special purpose, each member of the Church is expected to miss two meals on the fast and testimony Sunday. To skip two consecutive meals and partake of the third normally constitutes approximately a 24-hour period. Such is the counsel.

“Competent medical authorities tell us that our bodies benefit by an occasional fasting period. That is blessing number one and perhaps the least important. Second, we contribute the money saved from missing the meals as a fast offering to the bishop for the poor and the needy. And third, we reap a particular spiritual benefit that can come to us in no other way. It is a sanctification of the soul for us today just as it was for some choice people who lived 2,000 years ago.” (Robert L Simpson, Conference Report, Oct. 1967)

Helaman 3:36 The Fifty and Second Year

‘According to Dr. Sami Hanna, the numbering system throughout the Book of Mormon is clearly Semitic. As illustrated in Helaman 3:36, there is a connective word “and” between each digit: “And it came to pass that the fifty and second year ended in peace.”

If Joseph had been merely writing his own book, it would have been natural and expected for him to write “fifty-second year.” But again, he was only translating from the hieroglyphics placed before him. ‘[Brenton G. Yorgason, Little Known Evidences of the Book of Mormon, p. 34]

3. Lamanites and Nephite dissenters defeat the Nephites.

Helaman 4:5 They succeeded in obtaining possession of the land of Zarahemla

‘Mormon’s purpose in abridging the plates is not to give us a long description of every war which occurred among the Nephites. Chapter 4 chronicles a war which was about as extensive as the ones described in Alma 43 to Alma 62. In fact, never had the Lamanites had such military success, capturing the land of Zarahemla and also all the lands in the land southward. However, Mormon does not bother us with the details. He doesn’t give us warfare for the sake of warfare. He never elaborates on the strategic successes of the Lamanites. As a Nephite general, it would have been too painful for him to write them.

Rather, he described the warfare in the end of Alma because it taught us certain lessons. It provided great examples of integrity and strength in Moroni, Pahoran, Helaman, and his stripling warriors. Having given us such a characteristic description of Nephite and Lamanite warfare, he abridges the current war into less than a chapter because he has already taught us the major lessons to be learned.’ (Bryan Richards, GospelDoctrine.com)

Helaman 4:12 Because of their exceeding riches

“For the most part, the Church today finds itself in much the same circumstances as those in the beginning of the book of Helaman. It is wealthy and growing rapidly. Are we in danger? The Book of Mormon suggests that the only real danger to the Church itself is not an outward foe but rather a more powerful and far more devastating enemy within-pride. It grows in the hearts of those who profess to be Saints. It is little wonder that President Benson has warned us against pride. Will we heed the warning or become as the Nephites of old?” (Richard D. Draper, FARMS: Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, vol. 3, no. 2, Fall-1994, p. 32)

Helaman 4:24-26 Thus had they become weak, because of their transgression

“Alas, gross, individual selfishness is finally acculturated. Then societies can eventually become without order, without mercy, without love, perverted and past feeling (See Moroni 9). Society thereby reflects a grim, cumulative tally which signals a major cultural decline. This happened anciently when a people actually became ‘weak because of their transgression’ (Helaman 4:26).  Speaking behaviourally. When what was once the lesser voice of the people becomes more dominant, then the judgements of God and the consequences of foolish selfishness follow (See Mosiah 29:26-27). Cultural decline is accelerated when single-interest segments of society become indifferent…This drift is facilitated by the indifferent or the indulgent as society is carefully led down to hell (See 2 Nephi 28:21).” (Neal A Maxwell, Repent of Our Selfishness).

4. Nephi and Lehi remember their father’s counsel. Miracles attend their ministry.

Helaman 5:2 They who chose evil were more numerous than they who chose good

“If television viewing choices serve as a valid measure of our society, they who choose evil surely are more numerous than they who choose good.” (Joseph B Wirthlin, Finding Peace in Our Lives, p. 218)

Helaman 5:6 When you remember their names, ye may remember them

‘Helaman2 begins his charge to his sons by reminding them of their names’ significance. In the ancient world, names were more than simple labels. They could change a person’s identity and/or represent his essential (or desired) nature. When God changed Abram’s name (“exalted father”) to Abraham (“father of many nations”), it signaled a change in his relationship to Yahweh, a relationship marked by promises so important that it became embodied in the name (Gen. 17:5).

This understanding explains not only why Helaman gave his sons these names but also why he gave them their charge: “When you remember your names ye may remember them… [and]… their works.” The original Lehi and Nephi were faithful to Yahweh, and their works showed this commitment.’ (Brant Gardner, Second Witness)

Helaman 5:12 A strong foundation

“Someone once said you can’t visually tell the difference between a strand of cobweb and a strand of powerful cable—until stress is put on the strand. Our testimonies are that way, and for most of us, the days of stress for our testimonies have already begun. It may not be the death of a loved one. We might not yet have been asked to give up something that is really precious to us, though the time for such a test may well come to us by and by. Our current stress is more likely to come in the form of overpowering temptations, which show us that a shallow acceptance of the gospel does not have the power to cope with the full fury of the powers of darkness. Perhaps there is a mission call to a place of illness and disappointment, when we had planned on a mission to a place of unbounded opportunity. Or perhaps there are too many questions to which our limited knowledge simply has no answer, and those who claim to know more than we do taunt us with what appears to be a persuasive certainty.

“When those times come, our testimonies must be more than the cobweb strands of a fair-weather faith. They need to be like strands of cable, powerful enough to resist the shafts of him who would destroy us. In our days of stress and trouble, we must be built ‘upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, … that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, … and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you, … because of the rock upon which ye are built.’ (Helaman 5:12.)” (Bruce C Hafen, The Believing Heart, 2nd ed. [1990], 21–22).

Helaman 5:47 Peace

“The gospel is the only answer to the problems of the world. We may cry peace. We may hold peace conferences. And I have nothing but commendation for those who work for peace. But it is my conviction that peace must come only by following the teachings and the example of the Prince of Peace.” (Ezra Taft Benson, Title of Liberty, pp. 213-4)

5. The people are righteous and are blessed with peace and prosperity.

Helaman 6:5 Exceedingly great power and authority

‘Mormon emphasizes the ironic juxtaposition of the recalcitrant Nephites who encounter the “exceedingly great power and authority” of the Lamanite missionaries who are not only fully converted but also apparently empowered with the priesthood.

The Nephites who could listen open-hearted to their message were brought down “into the depths of humility.” They would have to be. All of their national pride would have vaunted their religious superiority over the Lamanites. Now they must admit that the righteous Lamanites were calling them to a much-needed repentance. Only the humble could hear such a message.’ (Brant Gardner, Second Witness)

Helaman 6:8 They did have free intercourse one with another to buy and to sell

‘Never in Nephite history had the trade barriers been completely broken down as at this time. As soon as the righteousness of the Lamanites opened up all the Lamanite markets, the Nephite merchants were there to buy and sell. The result was an increase in trade and intercourse with the motive of getting ‘gain, according to their desire’. The laws of economics teach that whenever commerce and trade increase, the economy is strengthened. Whenever the economy is strengthened, the merchants benefit. This is precisely what happened among the Nephites. Their increase in trade had strengthened their economy until ‘they became exceedingly rich, both the Lamanites and the Nephites’ (v. 9).’ (Bryan Richards, GospelDoctrine.com)

6. The Nephites become proud and wicked. Nephi calls them to repentance.

Helaman 6:17 Setting hearts upon riches

“God is forgotten out of vanity. A little prosperity and peace, or even a turn slightly for the better, can bring us feelings of self-sufficiency. We can feel quickly that we are in control of our lives, that the change for the better is our own doing, not that of a God who communicates to us through the still, small voice of the Spirit. Pride creates a noise within us which makes the quiet voice of the Spirit hard to hear. And soon, in our vanity, we no longer even listen for it. We can come quickly to think we don’t need it” (Henry B Eyring, in Conference Report, Oct. 2001, 16; or Ensign, Nov. 2001, 16).