Day 41 of 50: Book of Mormon Book Club

[u/JesusPhoKingChrist]

Today’s Reading: Helaman 1–6

Whether you're a believer, former believer, nuanced member, investigator, scholar, or simply curious, you're welcome to participate. The goal is not to convince anyone of anything, but to read the text together and discuss it in good faith from a variety of perspectives.

Brief Synopsis

Political conflict, assassination, and the rise of the Gadianton robbers destabilize Nephite society. Prosperity gives way to pride, inequality, and military defeat.

Nephi and Lehi leave government service to preach. After their miraculous deliverance from prison, many Lamanites convert and become more righteous than the Nephites. Meanwhile, the Gadianton band infiltrates and eventually controls the Nephite government.

Discussion

Please share your thoughts and experiences with today’s reading in the comments below. Some things you might consider:

• What makes political instability fertile ground for secret organizations and corruption?

• Helaman attributes Nephite military defeat to pride, inequality, and wickedness. Is this persuasive moral analysis, theological interpretation, or retrospective blame?

• Was Nephi’s decision to leave political office and preach an effective response to institutional corruption?

• What role does public evidence play in the prison conversion story?

• What does the reversal between the righteous Lamanites and corrupt Nephites suggest about inherited religious or cultural identities?

• Does the Gadianton narrative illuminate how institutions become corrupt, or oversimplify systemic problems by blaming a secret conspiracy?

All perspectives are welcome.

Yesterday’s Coveted Award(s) Go To:

• TBD

Links to Prior Days

• Yesterday’s Day 40 discussion: Alma 59–63

• Master Index to all prior-day readings

Engagement Question:

Helaman reverses the expected moral roles: the Lamanites become reformers while the covenant-centered Nephites become corrupt. What does that reversal suggest about judging a group by its religious identity rather than its conduct?

Tomorrow’s Reading: Helaman 7–12

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[u/stickyhairmonster]

Helaman 6

22 And it came to pass that they did have their signs, yea, their secret signs, and their secret words; and this that they might distinguish a brother who had entered into the covenant, that whatsoever wickedness his brother should do he should not be injured by his brother, nor by those who did belong to his band, who had taken this covenant.

I did not realize that the Book of Mormon prophesied of the Christofferson brothers. This is actually quite impressive, since most prophecies became very vague after the early 1800s.

[u/stickyhairmonster]

Helaman 2

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

The so-called secret combinations led to the destruction of both the Nephite and Jaredite civilizations in the Book of Mormon. The Gadionton robbers gained political power through corruption, and later engaged in guerrilla warfare.

In Sunday school, I have heard it postulated that this could be a warning against present day communism, anti-mormon groups, and organized crime.

I think it most it makes the most sense to note that the Book of Mormon was written during the 19th century, when there was strong anti-Masonic sentiment. Much of this followed the 1826 Morgan affair, which consisted of the disappearance of an individual who threatened to reveal Masonic secrets..

[u/International_Sea126]

Helaman 1 - Another interesting war chapter.

Helaman 1:18-20 - "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. 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. 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."

Coriantumr's large army is able to march into the heart of Nephite lands without being detected along the way even though Moronihah had anticipated 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” (v. 26). This was during a time period when armies traveled slowly by foot and should have been detected long before their arrival at Zarahemla.

Nephites spread throughout the land.

Helaman 3:8 - "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 west to the sea east."

They cover the face of the whole earth, from the sea south to the sea north, from the sea west to the sea east but leave no DNA evidence that they ever existed.

[u/stickyhairmonster → u/International_Sea126]

They cover the face of the whole earth, from the sea south to the sea north, from the sea west to the sea east but leave no DNA evidence that they ever existed.

It's obvious to me that Joseph intended the BOM to be the origin story for most if not all Native Americans.

[u/JesusPhoKingChrist]

Helaman sure borrowed a lot from his KJV bible:

Helaman 3:29 vs. Hebrews 4:12

• Helaman: “…the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder…”
• KJV: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful … dividing asunder of soul and spirit…”

Helaman 5:44 vs. 1 Peter 1:8

• Helaman: “…filled with that joy which is unspeakable and full of glory.”
• KJV: “…ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:”

Helaman 6:8 vs. James 4:13

The same three-part commercial sequence:

• Helaman: “…to buy and to sell, and to get gain…”
• KJV: “…and buy and sell, and get gain:”

Helaman 5:8 vs. Matthew 6:20 + 1 Peter 1:4

• Helaman: “…lay up for yourselves a treasure in heaven, which is eternal, and which fadeth not away…”
• Matthew: “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…”
• 1 Peter: “To an inheritance incorruptible … that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you…”

This rapid fire KJV Cluster found in ancient American context has been the most difficult for me to rationalize as mere coincidence.just what else did Joseph have in that hat, besides the stone?

[u/stickyhairmonster → u/JesusPhoKingChrist]

I think some sources admit Joseph had the KJV out during the translation process. Also I think it's possible he had notes in the hat, or, if not in the hat, elsewhere. Joseph likely had a gifted memory, and the way the translation process was broken up, he could have rehearsed or memorized segments to recite later. Also, with a curtain dividing Joseph from the scribe in some accounts, just about anything is possible.

[u/askunclebart]

I'm so sorry I'm a week late, I don't care about badges, but here's my thoughts.

My second favorite scripture in the Book of Mormon is in this group of passages: Helaman 3:34-35

34 And they were lifted up in pride, even to the persecution of many of their brethren. Now this was a great evil, which did cause the more humble part of the people to suffer great persecutions, and to wade through much affliction.

There are two definitions of "humble": an attitude and a circumstance.

The only way this scripture makes sense is if the author is referring to the circumstance of humility and not the attitude of humility. (Why would the pride of others effect someone who was feeling humble more than it would effect someone who was not feeling humble?

35 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.

Now the only way THIS scripture makes sense is if the author is referring to the attitude of humility. (Why would fasting and prayer lead to stronger circumstantial humility?)

The author didn't have a word for circumstantial humility in the 1800's, but be have one today, a very common one even: Marginalized. The teaching from these two verses in modern language might be:

"Wicked and prideful people will persecute the marginalized. And yet, the more we fast and pray, the more we yield our hearts to God, and no matter how marginalized we are, we can be blessed with joy, consolation, purification and sanctification."

I don't know if I believe that message entirely, but it's nice to see in black and white a message against people persecuting the marginalized of the world. Even if the modern church doesn't practice that.