Helaman 15:2 wo unto them which are with child
The Book of Mormon helps us
to understand Bible passages. In the Bible, the same warning is given to the
pregnant, woe unto them that are with child, and to
them that give suck in those days! (Matt 24:19, see also Lu 23:29). From
the Bible alone, the reader is left to wonder why the Lord specifically
mentioned these women. Was some special curse to come upon them? The answer is
simple and simply stated in the Book of Mormon. The destructions spoken of will
be so violent, that confusion and fear will take hold of everyone. The only
recourse will be to flee and to do so as quickly as possible. The Book of
Mormon makes clear that the Lord proclaims a special wo upon the nursing and
pregnant women because their flight will be slowed down, for they shall be heavy and cannot flee; therefore, they
shall be trodden down and shall be left to perish. This prophecy applies
to three different times of destruction: those among the Nephites &
Lamanites prior to the coming of Christ (3 Ne 8), the destruction of the Jews
at the hands of the Romans in AD 70 (JS-Matt 1:16), and the destructions which
are to attend the Second Coming (see JS-Matt 1:16,32).
Helaman 15:3 the people of Nephi hath he loved, and also hath he
chastened them
Paul spoke on this subject,
saying, My son, despise not thou the chastening of
the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he
chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth (Heb 12:5-6).
Brigham Young
“There
are several here who will address you, and suppose that they should chastise us
a little, do we not deserve it? Still, perhaps some will complain of the
speaker for chastising them, when perhaps the first sentences which meet their
eyes upon opening the Bible, will convey the idea that every son and daughter
whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth, but those who are not chastened are
bastards and not sons. (Heb 12:8)
“Says
one, ‘I am willing to be chastened, but I am not willing to have that brother
who has just come from England, or some other country, chasten me, but if some
one high in authority should do it, I would kiss the rod and reverence the hand
that gave it;’ but the man who will only receive chastening from the Lord
Himself is not in a proper state of mind before Him.
“The
Latter-day Saints have been chastened much and often. Many in this congregation
have had their corn and wheat stacks burned in consequence of their religion,
and have often been called to part with their fathers and mothers, their wives
and children, in consequence of their religion. They have been chastened here
and there, and perhaps some may think we are being chastened now by the drought
and insects. I am willing to take it as a chastisement, and to learn that wisdom
and knowledge which I had not before it happened; and if every man could
realize and understand it, they would receive it as a prize and as [a] lesson
that would qualify them for future duties. Though our chastisements are often
hard to be borne, those who bear them patiently, willingly, and submissively,
will find that they yield the Gospel fruits of righteousness insomuch that they
will know how to be Saints indeed.” (Journal of Discourses, vol. 3, p.
54)
Ezra Taft Benson
“We
should learn to accept counsel. All of us need counsel. Sometimes there is need
for reprimanding. I do not suppose that any of us who served for any length of
time have not been on the receiving end of some pointed counsel that was for
our benefit. ‘Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth’
(Hebrews 12:6).” (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p. 332)
Helaman 15:4 the Lamanites hath he hated
“This
is strong language. One would assume
that Samuel did not mean to convey the thought that God actually hated the
Lamanites, at least not in the sense that mortal men hate one another. Rather, because of their rebellion, because
they rejected the light and spurned the association with God through the Spirit
that they might have enjoyed, they alienated themselves from the love of the
Father. It is not that God does not
love them, but that he simply is unable to bless them as he would those who
choose the right. ‘If you keep not my commandments,’ a modern
revelation attests, ‘the love of the Father shall
not continue with you, therefore you shall walk in darkness’ (D&C
95:12).” (McConkie
and Millet, Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 3, p.418)
Helaman 15:5 observe to keep his commandments and his statutes and his
judgments according to the law of Moses
When Samuel the Lamanite
speaks of commandments, statutes, and judgments, he is not just being verbose.
There were specific statutes and judgments in addition to the Ten Commandments.
There were also many more commandments than the original ten. Representative
examples of each are given.
|
COMMANDMENTS |
STATUTES |
JUDGMENTS |
|
1. Ten Commandments (Ex 20) 11. Ye shall be holy 12. Offer sacrifice
willingly 13. Leave some of the
harvest in the field for the poor and strangers 14. Ye shall not…deal falsely 15. Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour 16. Thou shalt not rob thy
neighbour 17. Thou shalt not abuse
the deaf and blind 18. In righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour 19. Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer 20. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart 21. Thou shalt not…bear any grudge 22. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself (Commandments 11-22 are
taken from Lev 19) |
1. Thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed 2. Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood 3. Ye shall not…use enchantment 4. Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh…nor print any marks upon
you 5. Do not prostitute thy daughter 6. Ye shall…reverence my sanctuary 7. Regard not them that have familiar spirits 8. Thou shalt honor the
elderly 9. If a stranger sojourn with thee…ye shall not vex him 10. Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment…in weight, or
in measure (8 other statutes are not
listed; statutes are taken from Lev 19:19-37,) |
1. Punishments given for:
c.
striking or cursing
at parents d.
stealing a servant e.
killing a servant f.
injuring a pregnant
woman g.
bestiality h.
negligence of various
types i.
damages resulting
from assault j.
damages caused by
one’s ox k.
death of an animal
temporarily under a neighbor’s care 2.
Judges are to judge according to the rule, thou shalt
give life for life, Eye for eye, tooth for tooth (Ex 21:23-24) (See
Ex 21-23; many more judgments and statutes are given) |
Under the New Law given in
this dispensation, we still have commandments, statutes, and judgments. The commandments
are well known. They include the Ten Commandments, the Sermon on the Mount, the
commandments given in DC 42, and others found in a hundred other scriptures.
The statutes of the new law
are the rules of our religion. They are not always specifically stated in
scripture, and some are influenced by modern culture (much as the Law of Moses
statutes were heavily influenced by the culture of the time). Some are
concerned with personal behavior, and others are concerned with procedural
matters. An example of a modern day statute would be that the Church does not
encourage cremation.
Finally, judgments are just
as prevalent and necessary today. Most of the modern day statutes and judgments
are found in the Church Handbook of Instructions which guides Bishops in
managing the affairs of the ward and passing judgment as a judge in Israel.
Anyone familiar with that handbook knows that the spirit of revelation
permeates its pages just like the scriptures. Without it, the church-wide
uniformity, which is so remarkable, would quickly crumble and contentions about
procedural matters would become commonplace.
Helaman 15:6 they are striving with unwearied diligence that they may
bring the remainder…to the knowledge of the truth
Neal A. Maxwell
“Another
vital source of renewal is expending some of our energy by striving with the
less active. Serving in this way keeps the giver from becoming weary or from
fainting in his mind, making possible ‘striving with
unwearied diligence that they may bring the remainder of their brethren to the
knowledge of the truth; therefore there are many who do add to their numbers
daily’ (Helaman 15:6). Assisting in such reclamation actually gives us
added energy. We are energized and empowered, like the father of the prodigal,
who ran to greet him ‘when he was yet a great way
off’ (Luke 15:20). Such real love keeps us from becoming too tired to
reach out.” (If Thou Endure It Well, p. 116-7)
Helaman 15:8 as many as have come to this…are firm and steadfast in the
faith
Spencer W. Kimball
“Basically
the [descendant of the Lamanites] is intelligent, affectionate, responsive,
honest, stable, and is of believing blood. There is every reason to be assured
that the red man will remain loyal and true to the gospel and the Church, once
he is brought into the fold. We have heard of his traditions and superstitions,
of his ferocity and wildness, of his degradation and uncleanness, but let us
consider his potential, as revealed by a review of his ancestors.
“The
Lamanites have believing blood, as evidenced by these words from the sixth
chapter of Helaman:
‘And thus we see that
the Lord began to pour out his Spirit upon the Lamanites, because of their
easiness and willingness to believe in his words.’ (Helaman 6:36.)
‘…Therefore, as many as
have come to this, ye know of yourselves are firm and steadfast in the faith.’ (Helaman 15:5-6, 8.)
“As
many as were converted of the Lamanites by Ammon and his brethren ‘never did fall away.’ (See Alma 23:6.)
“It
should be noted that the Lamanites were often absorbed by, and were called,
Nephites, when they were righteous, and it is true also that the Nephites when
they rebelled and became wicked, were oft-times called Lamanites, and there was
undoubtedly a considerable mixture among them.” (Conference Report, Apr.
1949, p. 106-7)
Helaman 15:9 they have buried their weapons of war
The people of Ammon were
legendary among both the Nephites and Lamanites. It had been over 70 years
since they had buried their weapons of war with an oath never to take them
again. More importantly, they were legendary because of their steadfastness
after having converted to the truth, for they were
perfectly honest and upright in all things; and they were firm in the faith of
Christ, even unto the end. (Alma 27:27)
Helaman 15:12 in the latter times the promises of the Lord have been
extended to our brethren, the Lamanites
“Contrary
to the opinion of those who may have read the Book of Mormon only superficially
or who have not read it at all and formed opinions based on hearsay, it does
not portray a consistently negative image of the Lamanites. It does suggest a glorious future for this
choice people. Samuel the Lamanite
testified: ‘The promises of the Lord have been
extended to our brethren, the Lamanites; and notwithstanding the many
afflictions which they shall have, and notwithstanding they shall be driven to
and fro upon the face of the earth, . . . they shall again be brought to the
true knowledge, which is the knowledge of their Redeemer, and their great and
true shepherd, and be numbered among his sheep’ (Helaman 15:12-13; see
also 3 Nephi 5:21-23).
“Significantly
Latter-day Saints shall have a role in assisting the Lamanites to achieve their
destiny. Nephi spoke of the time when
the Gentiles would take the Book of Mormon to the remnant of his people:
‘The gospel of Jesus
Christ shall be declared among them; wherefore, they shall be restored unto the
knowledge of their fathers, and also to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, which
was had among their fathers.
And then shall they
rejoice; for they shall know that it is a blessing unto them from the hand of
God; and their scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes; and many
generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a pure and a
delightsome people.’ (2 Nephi 30:5-6)
“…In
1947, Elder Spencer W. Kimball envisioned the Lamanites' glorious
future. He saw them as leaders in
business, law, government, the arts, literature, and in the Church. ‘I saw the Church growing in rapid strides
and I saw wards and stakes organized. I
saw stakes by the hundreds [and] a temple.’ The first truly ‘Lamanite’ stake
was organized in Mexico City in 1961, and by 1989, there were 100 stakes in
Mexico alone. In 1983 a temple was
dedicated there, and within a few years one half dozen temples were opened in
predominantly Lamanite areas of Latin America and Polynesia. In 1990, 58% of the Church's 330,877
converts were baptized in Latin America.
“The
Lamanites truly are a people of destiny.
When Church members more accurately appreciate the image and more fully
understand the teachings of the Book of Mormon concerning the Lamanites, they
should not feel the least hesitancy or embarrassment about sharing this book
and its message with the descendants of these people. On the contrary, they should be eager to fulfill their
responsibility to do so.” (Richard O. Cowan, Book of Mormon Symposium Series, Helaman
3 – 3 Nephi 8, edited by PR Cheesman, MS Nyman, and CD Tate, Jr., p. 262-4)
Helaman 15:15 had the mighty works been shown unto them which have been
shown unto you
Those who were once
enlightened and then rebelled from the truth are the hardest to reclaim. They will
not believe in the most impressive of miracles. Can you imagine seeing the
ministry of the Savior, as he healed the blind, cleansed lepers, opened the
ears of the deaf, and even brought individuals back to life—can you imagine
being a witness to all these wonderful miracles? Would you then conclude that
the performer of these miracles was of the devil? What else could Jesus of
Nazareth have done to convince them? Hence, he was disgusted at their unbelief,
remarking, much as did Samuel, Woe unto thee, Chorazin!
woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had
been done in Tyre and Sidon (Gentile cities),
they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you,
It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for
you (Matt 11:21-2). Like the people of Chorazin and Bethsaida, the
Nephites had also received powerful witnesses, and they had been just as
stubborn as their Israelite brethren in the Old World.
Helaman 15:16 in the day of my wisdom they shall return again unto me
Spencer W. Kimball
“The
brighter day has dawned. The scattering has been accomplished—the gathering is
in process. May the Lord bless us all as we become nursing parents unto our
Lamanite brethren and hasten the fulfillment of the great promises made to
them.” (Faith Precedes the Miracle, p. 358)