Helaman 3:4 they did travel to an exceedingly great distance
In following the travels of the
descendants of Lehi since their arrival, the land of their inheritance was not
far from where they landed. Subsequent migrations north to Zarahemla did were
not an extensive distance. In fact, the distance between the lands of Nephi and
Zarahemla could be traveled in only 21 days (Mosiah 23:3; 24:25), or an
approximate distance of 300-400 miles. However, this Nephite excursion is
different because of the great distance traveled. Significantly, the location
of the large bodies of water and many rivers spoken of is not known, but it has
been implicated to be in Central America (see Reynolds and Sjodahl, Commentary
on the Book of Mormon, vol. 5, p. 207).
Hugh Nibley
“…the
great northern migration [was] a massive drift of population, Nephite and
Lamanite alike (Helaman 6:6), to lands far to the north. In the same year in
which Hagoth sent off his first great ship to the north (Alma 63:5-6), a
company 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 northward’ (Alma 63:4). This was but the beginning of a
continuing trend of large-scale migration into the north countries. Because of
troubles and dissension a really great movement took place a few years later
when ’an exceedingly great many . . . went forth
unto the land northward to inherit the land. And they did travel to an
exceedingly great distance, insomuch that they came to large bodies of water
and many rivers’ (Helaman 3:3-4). This is obviously not to be confused
with the northern land of lakes from which Moroni barred access to the people
of Morianton in a relatively small-scale military action (Alma 50:25-35). When
distance is described as ‘exceedingly great’
by a people to whom long marches and strenuous campaigns in the wilderness were
the established rule, we can be sure that it was at least the equivalent of the
migrations of some of our Indian tribes in modern times, which sometimes ran to
thousands of miles. Once the Book of Mormon people break out of the land of
Zarahemla, there is no telling how far they go: since they have all the time in
the world we have no right to limit their wanderings and settlements by our own
standards of foot-travel.” (An Approach To The Book of Mormon, p. 409)
Helaman 3:6 because…of the destruction of the people who had before
inhabited the land it was called desolate
The Jaredite nation was a
huge society with a population which likely outnumbered the Nephites and
Lamanites combined. In the absence of environmental rights activists, they had
apparently used up all the timber in the land northward. The problem created an
ecological crisis so severe that the animals were forced into the land
southward for food (Alma 22:31). The Jaredites left the land desolate and so it
was called Desolation. By definition, Desolation was the land
north of the small neck of land spoken of in
Alma 22:29-32. This confirms the often misunderstood fact that Zarahemla,
Bountiful, and most of the Nephite cities were located south of this small neck of land. See also Alma 63:4-5.
Helaman 3:7 became exceedingly expert in the working of cement
One might assume that the
cement spoken of refers to the working of adobe. However, professor John Welch
describes how accurately the term cement describes the building material
of the time.
“The
Book of Mormon dates this significant technological advance to the year 46 B.C.
“Recent
research shows that cement was in fact extensively used in Mesoamerica
beginning largely at this time. One of the most notable uses of cement is in
the temple complex at Teotihuacan, north of present-day Mexico City. According
to David S. Hyman, the structural use of cement appears suddenly in the
archaeological record. Its earliest sample ‘is a fully developed product.’ The
cement floor slabs at this site ‘were remarkably high in structural quality.’
Although exposed to the elements for nearly two thousand years, they still
‘exceed many present-day building code requirements.’
“After
its discovery, cement was used at many sites in the Valley of Mexico and in the
Maya regions of southern Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras. It was used in the construction
of buildings at such sites as Cerro de Texcotzingo, Tula, Palenque, Tikal,
Copan, Uxmal, and Chichen Itza…Mesoamerican cement was almost exclusively lime
cement. The limestone was purified on a ‘cylindrical pile of timber, which
requires a vast amount of labor to cut and considerable skill to construct in
such a way that combustion of the stone and wood is complete and a minimum of
impurities remains in the product.’ The
fact that very little carbon is found in this cement ‘attests to the ability of
these ancient peoples.’
“John
Sorenson further noted the expert sophistication in the use of cement at El
Tajin, east of Mexico City, after Book of Mormon times. Cement roofs covered
areas of seventy-five square meters! ‘Sometimes the builders filled a room with
stones and mud, smoothed the surface on top to receive the concrete, then
removed the interior fill when the [slab] on top had dried.’
“The
presence of expert cement technology in pre-Hispanic Mesoamerica is a
remarkable archaeological fact, inviting much further research. Cement seems to
take on significant roles in Mesoamerican architecture close to the time when
the Book of Mormon says this development occurred.” (John W. Welch, Reexploring
The Book of Mormon, p. 213)
Helaman 3:8 they began to cover the face of the whole earth
B. H. Roberts
“Here
it will be proper to dispel what I regard as a misapprehension of the extent of
Nephite occupancy of the north continent, at this period of Nephite history.
From the fact that in the foregoing quotation it is said that the Nephites
removing from Zarahemla traveled ‘to an exceeding
great distance, insomuch that they came to large bodies of water, and many
rivers,’ some have supposed that the Nephites at this time extended
their colonization movements as far north as the great lakes in the eastern
part of North American and from the fact that it is also said 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,’ it has
been supposed that these expressions meant to convey the idea that the Nephites
at this time had extended their settlements over both continents; and that ‘from the sea south to the sea north’ meant from
the sea at the southern extremity of South America (south of Cape Horn), to the
Arctic Ocean, north of North America.o There is no evidence, however, in the
Book of Mormon that warrants such a conclusion as to the extent of Nephite
occupancy of the western hemisphere in 46 B.C. Allowance for hyperbole must be
made in the expression, ‘They began to cover the
face of the whole earth,’ since the facts set forth in the whole history
of the Nephites in the Book of Mormon are against the reasonableness of such an
expression if taken literally.” (New Witnesses for God, p. 229)
Helaman 3:13-15 there are many records kept of the proceedings of this
people
Certainly, the Book of
Mormon is an abbreviated history, designed to bring us to Christ not to inform
us of all the doings of the Nephites and Lamanites. The above scripture makes
it clear that other records were also kept. Some of these other records were
seen by the prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery while in a cave in the hill
Cumorah. Brigham Young tells the story:
“Oliver
Cowdery went with the Prophet Joseph when he deposited these plates… When
Joseph got the plates, the angel instructed him to carry them back to the hill
Cumorah, which he did. Oliver says that when Joseph and Oliver went there, the
hill opened, and they walked into a cave, in which there was a large and
spacious room. He says he did not think, at the time, whether they had the
light of the sun or artificial light; but that it was just as light as day.
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 high, and there
were altogether in this room more plates than probably many wagon loads; they
were piled up in the corners and along the walls. The first time they went
there the sword of Laban hung upon the wall; but when they went again it had
been taken down and laid upon the table across the gold plates; it was
unsheathed, and on it was written these words: ‘This sword will never be
sheathed again until the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our God
and his Christ.’” (Journal of Discourses, vol. 19, p. 40)
Helaman 3:16 the Nephites…mixed with the Lamanites until they are no
more called Nephites
The Nephite race was never
extinguished completely. As a people, the Nephites were destroyed but there
were many individuals in the days of Mormon who were willing to deny their
religion and the Christ in order to save their own necks. In the words of
Moroni, ‘there are none save it be the Lamanites and
[Gadianton] robbers that do exist upon the face of the land. And there are none
that do know the true God…they put to death every Nephite that will not deny
the Christ (Mormon 8:9-10; Moroni 1:2).’ That the Nephite blood was
preserved amongst the Lamanites is significant because of the promises which were
given to Nephi, ‘the Lord God will not suffer that
the Gentiles will utterly destroy the mixture of thy seed, which are
among thy brethren’ (1 Ne 13:30, italics added).
Helaman 3:21 Helaman’s
sons: Nephi and Lehi
Jeffrey R. Holland
“Soon
two marvelous brothers—great-grandsons of Alma the Younger—introduced an era of
tremendous growth in faith prior to Christ's birth, a period when ‘tens of thousands’ joined the church. Reading as he
did of Nephi and Lehi's success, Mormon editorialized regarding the resolute ‘man [or woman] of
Christ,’ they who grasp the iron rod and safely walk the way of life,
triumphing over Lucifer's deception and efforts to destroy, claiming in the end
the principalities and powers promised to the heirs of the covenant.” (Christ
and the New Covenant, p. 128)
Helaman 3:25 even the high priests and the teachers were themselves
astonished beyond measure
Hugh Nibley
“’even the high priests and the teachers were themselves
astonished beyond measure’ at this great progress. We're astonished at
the progress of the church today. There's no real reason for it that you can
explain, except that it's the work of the Lord. It's happening in the strangest
places where you'd never expect it, very strange places.” (Teachings From
The Book of Mormon, Lecture 74, p. 212)
Helaman 3:28 the gate of heaven is open unto all
Everyone would like a
personal invitation from God. But the invitation has been given, the
opportunity availed, and the gate already opened. The responsibility is ours to
respond to the invitation—‘Learn of me, and listen
to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me.
I am Jesus Christ’ (DC 19:23-4). And, ‘he
inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth
none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and
he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile’
(2 Ne 26:33).
Neal A. Maxwell
“’The man of Christ’ knows that a loving, living,
and revealing God did not, as some imply, suddenly lose interest in mankind
about A.D. 100, grow
bored, and wander off into space. The disciple worships an unchanging God, and
proclaims that the good tidings are brought anew; for the gospel is not merely
a gospel for one age, for one people, or for one place—it is a gospel for the
galaxies!” (Ensign, May 1975, p. 101)
Helaman 3:29 the word of God [will] lead
the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of
misery
Neal A. Maxwell
“For
‘the man of Christ,’ the words of scriptures
are like parachute flares above the trenches of life, illuminating the
landscape only briefly, but long enough for him to see the enemy clearly and to
make his way along the path he must take-and to help others so to do.” (Deposition
of a Disciple, p. 95)
Neal A. Maxwell
“Those
already in the household of faith may be pardoned a tremble or two as they read
the graphic description of the challenging journey facing the serious
disciple—whom Helaman called, ‘the man of Christ.’
(Hel. 3:29.)
“This
is a brief attempt to describe just a few of the things the men and women of
Christ will feel and see in the course of that adventurous journey.
“Regarding
events in the world, ‘the man of Christ’ sees
trends around him ‘about which it is difficult to speak, but impossible to
remain silent.’ Because he sees with ‘an eye of
faith,’ he knows more than he can tell; but he need not always be fully
articulate, for real Christianity is contagious.
“He
believes deeply in the Beatitudes, but also in those doctrines which tell him
‘who’ Jesus is. He does not divorce the Sermon on the Mount from the sermon at
Capernaum with its hard teachings which caused many to walk ‘no more with’ Jesus. (John
6:66.) These latter doctrines are likewise a part of
the bracing breeze of the scriptures which must be played upon the fevered brow
of mankind.
“He
knows that ‘the gate of heaven is open unto all,’
but that the Man of Galilee will finally judge each of us on the basis of a
rigorous celestial theology, instead of the popular ‘no-fault
theology’ of this telestial world—for Jesus is the gatekeeper ‘and he employeth no servant there.’ (2 Ne. 9:41.)
“…May
each of us, brothers and sisters, navigate that straight and narrow way,
landing our immortal souls ‘at the right hand of God
in the kingdom of heaven.’ (Hel. 3:30.)
Only then, when we are really home, will our mortal homesickness disappear—our
highest human yearnings for what could be are but muffled memories of what once
was—and will again be—for we have indeed ‘wandered from a more exalted sphere.’
(Hymns, no. 138.) May we make that journey I so pray in the name of Him who has
completed this same journey and who beckons us onward, Jesus Christ. Amen.” (Conference
Report, Ensign, May 1975, p. 101)
Franklin D. Richards
”The
sum of the whole matter is, that having found the straight and narrow path that
leads to the tree of eternal life, our only safety is in seizing hold of the
rod of iron, which is the word of God, and clinging to it through all the dark,
misty and troublesome experiences we may be called to pass through; and that if
we do this we shall find ourselves eventually partaking of those fruits which
will bring to us eternal life, with joys supernal.” (Collected Discourses 1886-1898, vol. 1., edited by Brian H. Stuy,
April 8, 1888)
Helaman 3:33 pride began to enter into…the hearts of the people who
professed to belong to the church
This verse indicates that
there are members of the Church who, in God’s view, don’t really belong to his
church. In the scriptures, the Lord does not define membership in his church
based upon whether one’s name is on the roles. Rather, he defines membership
based upon whether one’s heart is contrite, ‘Behold,
this is my doctrine—whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my
church. Whosoever declareth more or less than this, the same is not of me, but
is against me; therefore he is not of my church’ (DC 10:67-8).
Unfortunately, because pride
is so prevalent, there are those today who are professing to belong rather than
truly belonging to the Lord. They are like the prideful at the last day, who
will cry, ’Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy
name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful
works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye
that work iniquity’ (Matt 7:22-3). To these the Lord has given strict
warnings. They are the first to suffer the wrath of God when the Lord decides
to “clean house”, ‘Behold vengeance cometh speedily
upon the inhabitants of the earth, a day of wrath, a day of burning, a day of
desolation…And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go
forth, saith the Lord; First among those among you, saith the Lord, who have
professed to know my name and have not known me’ (DC 112:24-26).
Hugh Nibley
“…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.” (Teachings
From The Book of Mormon, Lecture 75, p. 215)
Helaman 3:35 they did fast and pray oft
Robert L. Simpson
“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.”
(Conference Report, Oct. 1967, p. 18 as taken from Latter-day
Commentary on the Book of Mormon compiled by K. Douglas Bassett, p. 228)
Helaman 3:35 sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts
unto God
One sister described the
process of personal sanctification as follows:
“As
I travel along the road of this earthly life, I am constantly faced with many
obstacles as well as many joys. Over and over again, I find myself pleading with
Heavenly Father to help soften my heart. Whether it is to be more patience
toward my children, or more tolerant towards others, my pleas for help have
always seemed to be the same.
“One
morning as I knelt in my personal prayers, I found myself again petitioning
Heavenly Father for this familiar request when I felt prompted to pick up the
scriptures. What I came across was, to me, astounding.
“I
realized that what I had been longing for was this very purification and
sanctification of heart of which this beautiful scripture speaks so plainly. I
also realized that the way to obtain this wonderful purification (or softening)
was to fast and pray often and to yield my heart unto God. I understood that
there was more expected of me than just asking for Heavenly Father’s help. I
needed to do my part and submit my every action and thought to His will. Now I
ask myself, is my behavior consistent with yielding my heart to God’s will?”
(Carla Edington, Church News, 09/13/97)
Henry B. Eyring
“Yield
your heart unto God. Ask him what it is he would have you do. Know that he will
have prepared a way for you to do it, even under great difficulties. Ask him
how he would have you share what you have with others, and you will feel his
love. He lives and he loves you. He wants you to come home again.” (To Draw
Closer To God, p. 89)
Ezra Taft Benson
“[those] who turn their lives over to God will find out that
he can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their
joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift
their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort
their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace” (see “Jesus Christ—Gifts and
Expectations,” New Era, May 1975, 20).
Neal A. Maxwell
“Giving place in our souls and in our schedules, making room for
God's words and work (Alma 32:27; see also 1 Nephi 21:20), requires
intellectual submissiveness. It requires us to be responsive to all entreaties
from the Lord, rather than being dependent upon thunderbolts to move us, or
upon being commanded in all things (D&C 58:26-28). Submission requires
sufficient dedication and perspiration to ‘try the experiment’ of His gospel's goodness (Alma 34:4), to begin to follow Him in
earnest.” (Not My Will, But Thine, p. 13)