Book of Helaman: Difference between revisions
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==Structure and content== |
==Structure and content== |
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The book is set in 50-1 BC. Helaman is named for Alma's grandson, Helaman, who is the author of the first three chapters. Helaman's son Nephi authors the rest of the record. Events are related episodically. The miraculous incidents in Helaman 5 describe a significant conversion of many Lamanites to Book of Mormon Christianity.<!--what to call the religion of the people in the BoM? Hardy says "the gospel"--><ref name="Hardy 503">{{Cite Q|Q122259222|pages=503-505}}</ref> In the 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith originally gave his scribes an arrangement of five chapters that were larger than the chapters in modern editions of the Book of Mormon. Chapter I consisted of Helaman 1-2, Chapter II Helaman 3-6, Chapter III Helaman 7-10, Chapter IV Helaman 11-12, and Chapter V Helaman 13-16. Kim Matheson at the Maxwell Institute divides her ''Brief Theological Introduction'' on Helaman according to these chapters. Chapter I contains the formation of secret combinations and political unrest, chapter II increasing Nephite prosperity and Lamanite conversion, chapter III the prophecy of Nephi, IV Mormon's brief poetic interlude, and V Samuel's prophecy. |
The book is set in 50-1 BC. Helaman is named for Alma's grandson, Helaman, who is the author of the first three chapters. Helaman's son Nephi authors the rest of the record. Events are related episodically. The miraculous incidents in Helaman 5 describe a significant conversion of many Lamanites to Book of Mormon Christianity.<!--what to call the religion of the people in the BoM? Hardy says "the gospel"--><ref name="Hardy 503">{{Cite Q|Q122259222|pages=503-505}}</ref> In the 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith originally gave his scribes an arrangement of five chapters that were larger than the chapters in modern editions of the Book of Mormon. Chapter I consisted of Helaman 1-2, Chapter II Helaman 3-6, Chapter III Helaman 7-10, Chapter IV Helaman 11-12, and Chapter V Helaman 13-16. Kim Matheson at the Maxwell Institute divides her ''Brief Theological Introduction'' on Helaman according to these chapters. Chapter I contains the formation of secret combinations and political unrest, chapter II increasing Nephite prosperity and Lamanite conversion, chapter III the prophecy of Nephi, IV Mormon's brief poetic interlude, and V Samuel's prophecy.{{sfn|Matheson|2020|pp=6-7}} |
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== Summary == |
== Summary == |
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Chapter 5: After stepping down as chief judge, Nephi goes with his brother Lehi to preach to the Nephites and the Lamanites. Lamanites in Nephites lands imprison them. Angels and a pillar of fire manifest and their presence sparks the conversion of onlookers, who in turn convert the Lamanites, who peaceably leave the Nephite lands they were occupying.<ref name="Hardy 503"/> |
Chapter 5: After stepping down as chief judge, Nephi goes with his brother Lehi to preach to the Nephites and the Lamanites. Lamanites in Nephites lands imprison them. Angels and a pillar of fire manifest and their presence sparks the conversion of onlookers, who in turn convert the Lamanites, who peaceably leave the Nephite lands they were occupying.<ref name="Hardy 503"/> |
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Chapter 6: The Gadianton robbers return and murder Cezoram, who filled in for Nephi in the judgement seat. Meanwhile, the Lamanites' righteousness increases.<ref |
Chapter 6: The Gadianton robbers return and murder Cezoram, who filled in for Nephi in the judgement seat. Meanwhile, the Lamanites' righteousness increases.<ref name="Hardy 503"/><ref>{{lds|Helaman|hel|6|15-19}}</ref>{{sfn|Matheson|2020|p=50}} |
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Chapter 7: Nephi comes home after his six-year mission to find that the Nephites have become wicked in his absence. He says that the Nephites' destruction is nigh.{{sfn|Matheson|2020|pp=58-59}} |
Chapter 7: Nephi comes home after his six-year mission to find that the Nephites have become wicked in his absence. He says that the Nephites' destruction is nigh.{{sfn|Matheson|2020|pp=58-59}} |
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Revision as of 21:45, 18 October 2023
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| Books of the Book of Mormon |
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| Small Plates of Nephi |
| Contribution of Mormon |
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| Additions by Moroni |
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The Book of Helaman (/ˈhiːləmən/ HEE-lə-mən) is one of the books that make up the Book of Mormon. The book continues the history of the Nephites and the Lamanites "according to the records of Helaman, who was the son of Helaman, and also according to the records of his sons, even down to the coming of Christ" (The Book of Helaman, preface). According to footnotes, the book covers the time period between c. 52 BC and 1 BC. Helaman consists of sixteen chapters.[1]
Structure and content
The book is set in 50-1 BC. Helaman is named for Alma's grandson, Helaman, who is the author of the first three chapters. Helaman's son Nephi authors the rest of the record. Events are related episodically. The miraculous incidents in Helaman 5 describe a significant conversion of many Lamanites to Book of Mormon Christianity.[2] In the 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith originally gave his scribes an arrangement of five chapters that were larger than the chapters in modern editions of the Book of Mormon. Chapter I consisted of Helaman 1-2, Chapter II Helaman 3-6, Chapter III Helaman 7-10, Chapter IV Helaman 11-12, and Chapter V Helaman 13-16. Kim Matheson at the Maxwell Institute divides her Brief Theological Introduction on Helaman according to these chapters. Chapter I contains the formation of secret combinations and political unrest, chapter II increasing Nephite prosperity and Lamanite conversion, chapter III the prophecy of Nephi, IV Mormon's brief poetic interlude, and V Samuel's prophecy.[3]
Summary
Chapter 1: Pahoran is preparing to appoint one of his three sons as his successor. Pahoran's son, also named Pahoran, wins the election, but Paanchi and his followers threaten to overthrow the new king Pahoran. As punishment, they are sentenced to death, but before this sentence is enacted, Pannchi and his followers make an oath of secrecy and murder son Pahoran. A few months later, a Lamanite army captures the Nephite capital until the Nephites reclaim it.[4]
Chapter 2: Helaman, son of Helaman is elected as the new chief judge. The same group who murdered Pahoran tries to murder him, but a spy kills the assassin before he succeeds. The group retreats to the wilderness and they are referred to as a "band of robbers".[5][6]
Chapter 3: Helaman reigns over the Nephites, who develop shipping, expand northward, and become wealthy and prideful.[2][7]
Chapter 4: Disagreements in the land of the Nephites lead to war with the Lamanites, where Moronihah conquers half of their land.[8]
Chapter 5: After stepping down as chief judge, Nephi goes with his brother Lehi to preach to the Nephites and the Lamanites. Lamanites in Nephites lands imprison them. Angels and a pillar of fire manifest and their presence sparks the conversion of onlookers, who in turn convert the Lamanites, who peaceably leave the Nephite lands they were occupying.[2]
Chapter 6: The Gadianton robbers return and murder Cezoram, who filled in for Nephi in the judgement seat. Meanwhile, the Lamanites' righteousness increases.[2][9][10]
Chapter 7: Nephi comes home after his six-year mission to find that the Nephites have become wicked in his absence. He says that the Nephites' destruction is nigh.[11]
Chapter 8: Nephi prophesies that the chief judge has been murdered by his brother, and this prophecy is confirmed.[12]
Chapter 9: Nephi again prophesies that the brother will deny murdering the chief judge, but that the blood on the skirts of his cloak will give him away.[13]
Chapter 10: The Nephites are divided. God grants Nephi the power to do "all things" "according to [his] word". [14][15]
Chapter 11: Nephi sends a famine into the land for three years, when many people return to their faith and Nephi prays the rain back. The Gadianton robbers become more powerful.[2]
Chapter 12: Mormon, the editor of the book of Helaman, comments on the earth and God's power.[16][2]
Chapters 13-16: The people reject the Samuel the Lamanite's message of the signs and wonders foretelling Jesus' birth and death.[2]
Themes
War and contention
The short preface to the Book of Helaman is written by Mormon, the editor of the books following Omni according to the Book of Mormon narrative. Mormon describes the book of Helaman as being about "wars and contentions". According to Brant Gardner, author of a six-volume commentary that grew out of his work for the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, the goal of Mormon's compilation is theological, not historical. "Contentions" refers to internal conflicts, while "wars" refers to external ones. Mormon may have chosen to focus on contentions to fulfill Nephi's vision when Nephi sees "wars, and rumors of wars" as well as "wars and contentions in the land". For Gardner, Mormon isn't just trying to fulfill Nephi's vision, but also to show that Christ's coming is a type, and that it was and will be preceded by war and contention.[17]
In Helaman, the Gadianton robbers are mentioned for the first time in the text of the Book of Mormon, a recurring instance of Nephite secret combinations important to the rest of the Book of Mormon narrative.[18] According to Maxwell Institute scholar Kim Matheson, Helaman's contrasts show how the Nephites are constantly noticing the wrong things. Instead of noticing their own spiritual decay, they increase their wealth and military power. Important aspects of the plot are covert, like the secret combinations, assassins, and spiritual alignment with God.[19]
Nephite racism
Helaman ends with Samuel prophesying of Christ and the Nephites rejecting Samuel's prophecy. Samuel does not mention Christ's resurrection, but focuses on the signs of his birth and death. Since Samuel is a Lamanite, it is possible that Nephite racism contributed to their rejection of him.[2] For Matheson, Nephite racism causes them to reject Samuel, and their interest in comparing themselves to the Lamanites prevents them from honestly repenting of their misdeeds.[19]
Pride cycle
Grant Hardy, in his The Annotated Book of Mormon, describes what Latter-day Saints call the "pride cycle" as one of the main features of Helaman. Nephites become prideful and forget God, which leads to their downfall. Humbled, they return to worshipping God and become prosperous again. Hardy draws a parallel to a similar cycle in the Biblical Book of Judges, noting that in Helaman, communal repentance plays a larger role. In the larger narrative of the Book of Mormon, this cycle is broken for 200 years after Jesus visits the land.[2]
Nephi's parallels to Elijah
Hardy notes that the Nephi in Helaman has several things in common with the Biblical figure of Elijah. Both traveling prophets perform miracles and call on God to bring famine to the land (as well as other parallels).[2]
See also
- Aminadab in the Book of Helaman
Notes
- ^ "Title Page".
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Hardy, Grant, ed. (2023). The Annotated Book of Mormon. Oxford University Press. pp. 503–505. ISBN 978-0-19-008220-8. OL 46783409M. Wikidata Q122259222.
- ^ Matheson 2020, pp. 6–7.
- ^ Matheson 2020, p. 14-15.
- ^ Matheson 2020, p. 16.
- ^ Helaman 2:10
- ^ Matheson 2020, pp. 32–33.
- ^ Matheson 2020, pp. 32–36.
- ^ Helaman 6:15-19
- ^ Matheson 2020, p. 50.
- ^ Matheson 2020, pp. 58–59.
- ^ Matheson 2020, p. 59.
- ^ Matheson 2020, pp. 61–62.
- ^ Matheson 2020, pp. 64–64.
- ^ Helaman 10:5
- ^ Matheson 2020, p. 82.
- ^ Gardner, Brant (2007). Second Witness. Volume 5 Helaman—Third Nephi. Vol. 5. Greg Kofford Books. pp. 7–10. ISBN 978-1-58958-045-9. Wikidata Q123118002.Amy Easton-Flake; Joseph M. Spencer; Daniel Becerra; Nicholas J. Frederick (2007). Book of Mormon Studies: An Introduction and Guide. Deseret Book Company. p. 39. ISBN 978-1-9503-0429-5. Wikidata Q123118485.
- ^ Gardner, Brant (2007). Second Witness. Volume 5 Helaman—Third Nephi. Vol. 5. Greg Kofford Books. p. 6. ISBN 978-1-58958-045-9. Wikidata Q123118002.
- ^ a b Matheson 2020, pp. 10–11.
Sources
- Kimberly Matheson (2020), Helaman: A Brief Theological Introduction, Maxwell Institute, Wikidata Q122308242
- Nyman, Monte (1992), The Book of Mormon: Helaman Through 3 Nephi 8, According to Thy Word, BYU, ISBN 0-8849-4864-1
- Cheesman, Paul R. (1992), "Book of Mormon: Book of Helaman", in Ludlow, Daniel H (ed.), Encyclopedia of Mormonism, New York: Macmillan Publishing, pp. 152–153, ISBN 0-02-879602-0, OCLC 24502140
External links
