Watch the video presentation on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/sVdcb1ruPu8
I’m afraid that I have to say that this week’s block of scripture is a little more discouraging than most, which makes it a bit difficult to teach. There is a rather pessimistic view of human nature offered in these chapters and I personally consider myself more of an optimist. BUT it is realistic, and there are important truths to be gleaned from it. The problems and attitudes portrayed in these chapters are real and evident in our modern world. These chapters show a society at its almost absolute worst. They stand as a warning to all nations and individuals, “Don’t let this happen to you!”
ICEBREAKER
Ask: Can you give me some examples of bad news from the past year in world history?
TRANSITION
Well, in this lesson, we’re going to start with the bad so that we can hopefully end on a more positive note. What we find in Helaman chapters 7-12 is one of the most discouraging and dark times in Nephite history. It would be difficult not to have a pessimistic view of human nature while living at that time. Remember last week we talked about the three headed snake that slithers its way into Nephite society. Well here’s the fallout of those problems and in Helaman chapter 12 you’re going to get Mormon’s commentary on this time period and I’m afraid it’s not very flattering. We have to keep in mind that Mormon himself is living in a very dark and discouraging time. So, our first item of business is going to be to identify the bad news and decide whether we have the same kinds of things happening in our day.
THE BAD NEWS
Helaman 7:4-5
Helaman 7:15-16
Helaman 8:24
Helaman 9-10
Helaman 11:36-37
Helaman 12:1-2
Helaman 12:3
Helaman 12:4-6
So, we begin with
HELAMAN 7:4-5
What Nephi observes is great corruption in the government and their laws. The Gadianton robbers have really taken hold of the leadership of the people and justice is not being served.
4 And seeing the people in a state of such awful wickedness, and those Gadianton robbers filling the judgment-seats—having usurped the power and authority of the land; laying aside the commandments of God, and not in the least aright before him; doing no justice unto the children of men;
5 Condemning the righteous because of their righteousness; letting the guilty and the wicked go unpunished because of their money; and moreover to be held in office at the head of government, to rule and do according to their wills, that they might get gain and glory of the world, and, moreover, that they might the more easily commit adultery, and steal, and kill, and do according to their own wills—
Helaman 5:2 tells us that
2 For as their laws and their governments were established by the voice of the people, and they who chose evil were more numerous than they who chose good, therefore they were ripening for destruction, for the laws had become corrupted.
It reminds me of the truth taught in Mosiah 29:26-27
26 Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right; therefore this shall ye observe and make it your law—to do your business by the voice of the people.
27 And if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land.
The Nephites have entered just such a time, therefore what can you expect to find in the coming chapters? Yep, the judgments of God and great destruction.
NEPHI’S WISH
This widespread wickedness causes Nephi to get on his garden tower and lament the wickedness of his brethren. He says:
7 Oh, that I could have had my days in the days when my father Nephi first came out of the land of Jerusalem, that I could have joyed with him in the promised land; then were his people easy to be entreated, firm to keep the commandments of God, and slow to be led to do iniquity; and they were quick to hearken unto the words of the Lord—
8 Yea, if my days could have been in those days, then would my soul have had joy in the righteousness of my brethren.
9 But behold, I am consigned that these are my days, and that my soul shall be filled with sorrow because of this the wickedness of my brethren.
Maybe you’ve felt that way before. I wish I could have been born in another time. Perhaps during the days of Joseph Smith, or David O. McKay, or some other previous generation where things seemed to be better or easier. Of course, there may be some naïveté in the request since all ages have their difficulties and temptations that we may not understand. We tend to do idealize the past. But it’s not an uncommon wish, that we could live in some other circumstance or time.
HELAMAN 7:15-16
As the crowds begin to gather around Nephi’s tower, he says in Helaman 7:15-16 that the devil had a great hold on their hearts and that he would eventually hurl away their souls to everlasting misery and endless wo. I find the phrase "hurl away" intriguing. That’s what Satan does with those who listen to him. There’s no loyalty or assistance given to those who prop him up. It suggests an uncaring or dismissive attitude towards those who follow him. It reminds me of Alma 30:60 where we are reminded that “the devil will not support his children at the last day, but doth speedily drag them down to hell.
HELAMAN 8:24
24 And now, seeing ye know these things and cannot deny them except ye shall lie, therefore in this ye have sinned, for ye
have rejected all these things, notwithstanding so many evidences which ye have received; yea, even ye have received all things, both things in heaven, and all things which are in the earth, as a witness that they are true.
The bad news here. They have rejected all the evidences of the truthfulness of the gospel. They have closed their hearts and minds to all the testimonies of God’s power that surrounds them. What were those witnesses? It reminds me of Alma before Korihor. He says:
44 But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.
They have had plenty of signs and witnesses from God. And they are about to reject another.
HELAMAN 9-10
Helaman 9 relates the story of Nephi predicting the murder of the chief judge. He does this as a demonstration of the corruption of their society, and in miraculous fashion, he first prophecies the murder, which turns out to be true, then prophecies who the murderer is, how he will be caught and how he’ll confess to his crime, which all comes true exactly as he predicts. I may not take the time in class to go through that entire story, but I would at least summarize it. It’s an incredible miracle and a great demonstration of God’s power. But how do the majority of the people react to this miracle?
Helaman 10:1
1 And it came to pass that there arose a division among the people, insomuch that they divided hither and thither and went their ways, leaving Nephi alone, as he was standing in the midst of them.
And then 10:13
13 Now behold, notwithstanding that great miracle which Nephi had done in telling them concerning the death of the chief judge, they did harden their hearts and did not hearken unto the words of the Lord.
What’s the bad news here: Apathy. They are apathetic even towards clear indications of God’s power. They just leave, and go home, leaving Nephi alone in the midst of them. No change, no desire to repent, just a “huh, that was interesting, oh well, back to life as normal”. It’s a perfect example of the principle that miracles and signs do a very poor job of creating faith. They’re wonderful for faith that already exists, but very ineffective at producing it.
I feel there’s great evidence of this attitude in today’s world. God’s miracles and displays of his power are all around us, and yet, most just shrug it off as coincidence and then go about their day. Or, on a more personal level, do we as members of the church listen to the prophets at general conference, say things like “Well that was a good talk”, but then walk away with no plans or intentions to change or apply their lessons in our lives.
HELAMAN 11:36-37
Now Helaman 11 is a little more hopeful as Nephi calls a mighty famine in the land, which causes the people to eventually humble themselves and repent and they do enjoy a time of righteousness and peace. However, the bad news is in 11:36-37. It doesn’t take long before they have fallen back into pride and wickedness. Their repentance is short-lived and not long after the famine is ended, they have returned to their old wicked ways. Which reminds me of one of the most disgusting scriptures of all time. Proverbs 26:11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. Gross, but true. When we return to our sins after we’ve gone through the repentance process, it’s just as gross. Which leads us to chapter 12.
Helaman 12 is full of bad news. Like I said earlier, it’s Mormon’s commentary on the whole situation. Here are his disheartening conclusions.
HELAMAN 12:1-2
The bad news here. It seems that at the very moment God blesses and prospers a righteous people, they begin to forget Him and trample His commandments under their feet. It’s such a sad truth. I mean, what’s a God to do? Of course, he wants his children to be happy. He wants to reward them for their goodness. In fact, the principles of righteousness naturally lead to good and rewarding outcomes. BUT He realizes there is a great risk involved with prosperity. When people have their hands full of worldly wealth, they don’t seem to leave room for God. Or they begin to become very satisfied with the type of happiness materialism and wealth can provide them. So, the next bit of bad news.
HELAMAN 12:3
Sometimes the only way God can turn around a wicked people is with chastening and challenge and consequence. I’m sure God doesn’t enjoy seeing his children suffer in these ways. It’s not his desire. But how else can he help them to remember his gospel and the source of true happiness?
So:
HELAMAN 12:4-6
Here is Mormon’s very unflattering view of human nature. His conclusions about mankind. They’re foolish, vain, evil devilish, quick to do iniquity, slow to do good, quick to hearken to the evil one, they set their hearts upon the vain things of the world, quick to pride, quick to boast, quick to iniquity, slow to remember God and his counsels and his wisdom. They are rebellious and want to do their own thing rather than listen to their good and merciful Father.
Any evidence that this is true? Yeah. I think he kind of hits the nail on the head there. I can think of many examples of individuals that fit this description in our world today. Even more discouraging, I see myself in that portrayal. Unfortunately, there are times when I fall into these categories. Times when I’ve been foolish and prideful, when I’ve set my heart on the vain things of the world. Times when I was slow to remember God, and rebellious and would rather just do what I want to do, instead of trusting in the wisdom and counsels of a merciful Father in Heaven.
COMPLETED CHART
Helaman 7:4-5 Political corruption.
Helaman 7:15-16 The devil has great hold on their hearts.
Helaman 8:24 Rejection of the many evidences of the truthfulness of the gospel
Helaman 9-10 Apathy towards God’s power
Helaman 11:36-37 Repentance is short-lived
Helaman 12:1-2 As soon as God blesses them, they forget him.
Helaman 12:3 God must often chasten his people in order for them to remember him.
Helaman 12:4-6 Mankind is foolish, vain, evil, devilish, etc.
So, as you look at that list, I ask my class: Have you seen any evidence of these problems nowadays? I’ve shared a few examples of these things already, but I’m sure that you all could come up with many examples of your own.
THE BIG SIN
Well, there is one other piece of bad news that I’ve decided to save for last. It’s what I feel is the biggest problem the Nephites have through all of this. It’s the issue that has basically led to all their other problems. I’m pretty sure that most of you know how the Book of Mormon ends as far as the Nephites are concerned. They’re destroyed, completely. My question, what destroyed the Nephites? If you said Lamanites, I’m afraid you’re only partly correct. Both Mormon and the Lord came up with a different answer. Take a look in either Moroni 8:27 or Doctrine & Covenants 38:39 to tell me what really brought them down. And the answer is PRIDE. Pride destroyed the Nephites. Mormon says that it was the pride of their nation that had proven their destruction. And the Lord warns us in the Doctrine & Covenants to beware of pride, lest we become as the Nephites of old. Pride is one of the biggest and most dangerous sins we can grapple with because it is so easy to fall into and acts as a type of gateway sin to various other spiritual sicknesses.
Remember last week how we identified the problem of pride and how it works. We saw the evolution of it amongst the Nephites as it went from being little pride, to just pride, to exceedingly great pride over a period of "not many years” and that it did grow upon them from day to day.
Hel. 3:1 “little pride”
Hel. 3:33 “pride”
Hel.3:36 “exceedingly great pride”
Hel. 3:36 “it did grow upon them from day to day”
Pride is the type of problem that poisons slowly by degrees. In chapters 7-12, look how many times it’s brought up. Mark these in color as I highlight them.
7:5 The reason there is so much corruption in the government is because they wish to “get gain and glory of the world”. That’s pride.
7:20-21 They’ve forgotten God because they want gain and to be praised of men.
7:26 Yea, wo shall come unto you because of that pride which ye have suffered to enter your hearts, which has lifted you up beyond that which is good because of your exceedingly great riches!
8:25 He says that they aren’t laying up for themselves treasures in heaven. Why do you think that is? Because they are laying up for themselves treasure on earth and heaping up judgments in heaven.
What do you think it was that caused them to reject the miracle of Nephi’s prediction of the chief judge’s murder in 9 and 10? Pride.
Then after their short-lived repentance during the famine of chapter 11, what creeps back in? 11:37 they did wax stronger and stronger in their pride and in their wickedness.
In 12:5 Mormon observes how quick they are to be lifted up in pride.
Pride is the sparkplug sin that starts the engine of wickedness running. We are constantly surrounded by invitations to pride. Here’s one of the reasons why. God made each of us very different. We come from different backgrounds, have different gifts, look differently, experience varying levels of prosperity, and have been blessed in different ways. What God hopes is that we’ll celebrate those differences, admire them and be grateful for what we have been given and rejoice in the strengths and gifts of others. He also provides us with opportunities to bless others who have been given less and power and love is created through that giving. Unfortunately, the downside to all that diversity is that when we see a difference between ourselves and others, we are tempted to decide whose way of being different is better. Or we come to the erroneous conclusion that because we have more, we are therefore better. Whether that’s money, or intelligence, or talent, or good looks. We can’t help but feel superior.
C.S. Lewis wrote some brilliant things about pride and he’s been quoted by a number of Apostles in General Conference. He said:
"The point is that each person’s pride is in competition with everyone else’s pride. It is because I wanted to be the big noise at the party that I am so annoyed at someone else being the big noise. Two of a trade never agree. Now what you want to get clear is that Pride is essentially competitive—is competitive by its very nature—while the other vices are competitive only, so to speak, by accident. Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man. We say that people are proud of being rich, or clever, or good-looking, but they are not. They are proud of being richer, or cleverer, or better-looking than others. If everyone else became equally rich, or clever, or good-looking there would be nothing to be proud about. It is the comparison that makes you proud: the pleasure of being above the rest.”
C.S. Lewis (Mere Christianity)
Well, I believe that Mormon offers us a solution to the problem of pride here in Helaman chapter 12. A realization we must come to. And I’d like to introduce it with a bit of an activity.
We’re going to take a little test. I call this, the Dumber than Dirt Test.
I’m going to ask a few trivia questions from different categories to test your intelligence. Then, we’ll correct it and I’ll give you a ranking based on how well you did. So here we go:
Who painted Starry Night?
Which country has won the most World Cups in Soccer?
Name a U.S. President that was assassinated besides Lincoln or Kennedy?
Put these civilizations in order from earliest to latest. Greeks, Romans, Egyptians.
What is the sixth planet in the solar system?
Are you completely obedient to all of God’s commandments?
Well, let’s go through the answers here.
1. Vincent Van Gogh
2. Brazil
3. James Garfield or William McKinley
4. Egyptians, then the Greeks, then the Romans.
5. Jupiter
6. Only you can know the answer to that one.
Here are the rankings here:
If you only got 1 right. Well, then you are dumber than dirt.
If you got two right. You’re still dumber than dirt
If you got three. You’re dumber than dirt
If you got four, still dumber than dirt,
5, dumber than dirt,
Now even if you got all of the first five questions right, but had to answer number 6 with a no. Then you got it, you’re dumber than dirt.
Now if you answered all 6 correctly. Or if you answered number 6 with a yes. Then you know what, you are a genius. That is the only other possible ranking you can get on this.
Now why is that? Why would we be considered dumber than dirt if don’t obey God’s commandments?
Please read Helaman 12:7-19 to find out.
Now I’m not going to read the entire thing, but do you get the message? He’s saying that at least the dust of the earth obeys God. Anything the Lord commands the earth to do, it does. It obeys. With exactness. Now, this is a rhetorical device of course that Mormon uses to make a point. We should be careful not to make a doctrinal conclusion about the earth itself having agency or a consciousness. Mormon wants us to be humble. And what better way to make us feel humble than to remind us of our nothingness compared to the greatness of God. Since we are so apt to make comparisons, he’s going to give us a comparison of his own. Compared to the dust of the earth, we’re less. And that should make us humble. One of the best solutions to pride is to meet God. To get to know Him and recognize his wisdom and power. Pride is not always directed at just our fellow men, but at God as well. We may be tempted to think that we don’t need God’s counsels, commandments, or blessings. We begin to forget that we're completely dependent on him at every moment and everything we have and are, are because of Him.
C.S. Lewis once again:
"In God you come up against something which is in every respect immeasurably superior to yourself. Unless you know God as that—and, therefore, know yourself as nothing in comparison—you do not know God at all. As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people: and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.”
C.S. Lewis (Mere Christianity)
So, come to know God. Get to know Him through prayer, the scriptures, the prophets, spiritual experiences, and humility is sure to grow in your heart.
There is a bit of a balance to strike here. Of course, as God’s children, we’re not nothing. Each of us has the capacity to become like God and D&C 18:10 tells us that "the worth of souls is great in the sight of God". But at the same time, if I go around thinking I’m all that, or get filled with a sense of my own self-importance, then I begin to forget God.
It reminds me of Moses chapter 1 where Moses, after seeing the enormity of God’s creation, comes to the conclusion that man is nothing. However, by the end of that chapter we get God’s famous statement that his work and his glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man”. In other words, Man is everything. Mankind is his work and his glory. So, which is it? Am I nothing, or everything? It’s a bit of a paradox, but both statements are true.
Sometimes we need more of the “Oh how great is the nothingness of the children of men" message. And at other times, we need the “the worth of souls is great in the sight of God” message. I’ll leave it to you and the Spirit to determine which message you most need to hear. We probably all need a little bit of both at various times in our lives.
LIKEN THE SCRIPTURES
Some questions you might ask:
Do you recognize any part of yourself in the Nephites of this time period?
In what areas do you struggle with feelings of pride?
What has helped you to be humble and to come to know God better?
Do you need more of the “Nothingness of man” message or the “worth of souls is great” message in your life right now?
CONCLUSION
I’d like to end this more discouraging part of the lesson with the Lord’s warning from the Doctrine and Covenants. "Beware of Pride, lest ye become as the Nephites of old". I hope we can take this warning seriously. And if you don’t mind, I’d like to conclude this portion of the lesson with President Ezra Taft Benson’s charge to choose humility: He said
Let us choose to be humble.
We can choose to humble ourselves by conquering enmity toward our brothers and sisters, esteeming them as ourselves, and lifting them as high or higher than we are.
We can choose to humble ourselves by receiving counsel and chastisement.
We can choose to humble ourselves by forgiving those who have offended us.
We can choose to humble ourselves by rendering selfless service.
We can choose to humble ourselves by going on missions and preaching the word that can humble others.
We can choose to humble ourselves by getting to the temple more frequently.
We can choose to humble ourselves by confessing and forsaking our sins and being born of God.
We can choose to humble ourselves by loving God, submitting our will to His, and putting Him first in our lives.
Let us choose to be humble. We can do it. I know we can.
Ezra Taft Benson
(Conference Report, April 1989)
Well, I believe we can too, and hope that we will.
THE GOOD NEWS
ICEBREAKER
Now for a bit of good news. These chapters are not all doom and gloom. And here I’d like to ask the opposite question to begin the lesson. Can you give me some examples of good news from the past year in world history? Now they might struggle with that one a little more but certainly there are positive things happening in our world at this time also. Temples are being built and dedicated, missionaries are spreading the gospel far and wide, service is being rendered to many that are in need, and hopefully in our personal lives we can all recognize great blessings God has given us and our families. Yes, the world has problems, but there is, a lot of good out there as well.
TRANSITION
These chapters in Helaman also have some good news in them. Yes, there is more dark cloud, than silver lining in them, but there is a “silver lining”. So, for our final activity, browse the following verses. Pick the one that is your favorite and be able to explain why you like that particular message so much. Here they are:
Helaman 8:15
Helaman 9:39
Helaman 10:4-5
Helaman 12:23-24
Some of my own thoughts on these verses:
HELAMAN 8:15 LOOK AND LIVE
15 And as many as should look upon that serpent should live, even so as many as should look upon the Son of God with faith, having a contrite spirit, might live, even unto that life which is eternal.
I love the example of the brazen serpent because it shows how easy it can be to be healed. All it took for the Israelites was to look. And if we simply look to Christ with faith, we too will live. Sometimes I’m asked why Jesus is represented by a snake in that story. I mean, just last week we talked about how Satan is like a snake. Why the brazen serpent as a symbol for Christ? Well, the brazen serpent is a symbol for Christ, but perhaps not in the way that you think. The snake actually does represent the adversary and evil in this instance as well. In Old Testament times, when you defeated something, or killed it, you would often lift it up for everyone to see. To show that you had conquered it. I know it’s a little morbid, but sometimes they would do this with the heads of their enemies. To lift something up was to show you had power over it. Well that’s how the brazen serpent is a symbol of Christ. That’s what he’s done with the snake. Christ defeated it, overcame it, and if we just turn and look to Him, he will defeat it in our lives as well. That’s some good news! Isn’t it!
HELAMAN 9:39 "SOME"
39 And there were some of the Nephites who believed on the words of Nephi; and there were some also, who believed because of the testimony of the five, for they had been converted while they were in prison.
It’s nice to know that some of the people repented at Nephi’s words and miracle. We may not be able to change everybody we come in contact with, with our faith, but we can change some. We may not be able convert everybody who we meet as missionaries, but hopefully we can affect some. Not everybody is righteous and believing in our communities, but some are. Maybe, even within your own families, you can’t say that all are active and believing, but perhaps you can say some are. Let’s be grateful for the some. That we don’t stand alone. There are plenty of other believers out there for us to draw strength from. That’s good news!
HELAMAN 10:4-5 RELEASING PRIESTHOOD POWER
4 Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments.
5 And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.
This was God’s response to Nephi after so many of the Nephites rejected him. He gave him power, incredible priesthood power. It’s nice to know that even in a wicked world, priesthood power can be wielded by the righteous. What can we do to more effectively release priesthood power in the world? Declare the word, don’t fear the world, don’t seek your own life (or don’t be selfish), seek God’s will, and keep his commandments. If I do this with “unwearyingness” then my priesthood power and influence can grow. In fact, Nephi’s priesthood power is so great that God gives him the sealing power, or the ability to do basically whatever he wanted. In a sense, he made Nephi a God. He could control the weather, he could control the mountains, he could control what happened to other people. Now that’s power. Righteousness increases the release of priesthood power. That’s good news.
HELAMAN 12:23-24 RESTORED GRACE FOR GRACE
23 Therefore, blessed are they who will repent and hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God; for these are they that shall be saved.
24 And may God grant, in his great fulness, that men might be brought unto repentance and good works, that they might be restored unto grace for grace, according to their works.
The good news. We can repent. We can change. God is merciful and we can be restored unto grace for grace. I’m so grateful that God is merciful, because I know I get prideful, towards God and my fellow man. I know that I need a great deal of God’s mercy to get me through this life. I know that we live in troubling times, and that bad news swirls around us in a seemingly unending cycle. But that’s why we have the gospel, which actually means good news. In my mind that goodness, and light, and truth ultimately triumphs over all the bad, and one day because of Christ and his grace, all bad news will end, all wounds will be healed, all death overcome, all evil vanquished, and all who have put their trust and faith in God, will have all forgiven. Until that day, let’s push forward like Nephi did. It is possible to be good in bad times, to let our light shine in dark circumstance, and to be humble in a prideful world.
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