Helaman 1-5 Foundations of Govenment and Society - A Sure foundation - Righteousness!
A sure foundation
This year is an election year - one in which we get the oportunity to select the president of the united states.
Presently there are two main parties the Republican, and the Democratic parties each of which has selected a representative for president.
Our responsibility toward Govenment - Ezra Taft Benson
Attention Activity:
This year is an election year - one in which we get the oportunity to select the president of the united states.
Presently there are two main parties the Republican, and the Democratic parties each of which has selected a representative for president.
What is our responsibility toward govenment and the electing of individuals?
Our responsibility toward Govenment - Ezra Taft Benson
Accountable to God in our actions toward govenments
Seek honest, wise men, and good men, wise men we should uphold
Qualities - Good, Wise, Honest
Accurately informed - then inform others how we feel - it is our duty to influence society for good
Seek honest, wise men, and good men, wise men we should uphold
Qualities - Good, Wise, Honest
Accurately informed - then inform others how we feel - it is our duty to influence society for good
In the Book of Mormon we have a similar occurance documented for us in the book of Helaman.
Hel 1:1-4 There was a serious difficulty among the people of Nephi - who should be the chief judge?
Point of Note:
This difficulty was a contention among the people - an argument/fight of ideas/words on who should be chosen.What does the Lord say about contention? Is it a good thing... ever?
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (1917–2008) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained that contention is purposely fostered by Satan to serve his own evil purposes: “The sins of corruption, dishonesty, strife, contention, and other evils in this world are not here by chance. They are evidences of the relentless campaign of Satan and those who follow him. He uses every tool and device available to him to deceive, confuse, and mislead” (Conference Report, Oct. 1994)
Why is contention concening political parties/individuals bad? or is it?
How can contention divide a nation, society, community, or even a family?
How do we react when individuals have a different opinion than we do concening politics/religion, etc.?
There were three possible candidates for the office of chief judge:
Pahoran, Pacumeni, Paanchi - Pahoran was elected
Pahoran was elected to be the chief judge.
Was that the end of the story?
Hel 1:5-8Paanchi was exceedingly wroth - and rebelled against the govenment!
He was taken and tried - and sentanced to death.
He was taken and tried - and sentanced to death.
Why was Paanchi so angry... the people voted and he wasn't chosen?
Notice what happens next... it is a central concept of the Book of Mormon:
Hel 1:9-12 - the formation of a secret combination
Kishkumen murders Pahoran - on the very judgment seat
He flees, and makes a covenant with those that sent him - to not tell anyone
He flees, and makes a covenant with those that sent him - to not tell anyone
Notice that they swear by God...
What is a secret combination - do we have them among us in our govenment today?
A Secret Combination is: Guide to the Scriptures
A group of individuals who support each other in comitting evil and not getting caught
They have initiations, covenants, ceremonies, signs, and rites to recognize each other
They use sorcery, witchcraft and the evil arts to gain information in order to do evil
They have their own laws, and enforce them on their members
They use covenants, fear, intimidation, and extortion to keep members/nonmembers in line.
They hide in plain sight - among the people that they are preying upon...
They have initiations, covenants, ceremonies, signs, and rites to recognize each other
They use sorcery, witchcraft and the evil arts to gain information in order to do evil
They have their own laws, and enforce them on their members
They use covenants, fear, intimidation, and extortion to keep members/nonmembers in line.
They hide in plain sight - among the people that they are preying upon...
Video Secret Combinations a Waning - Russell Ballard
Hel 1:13 Pacumeni becomes the next judge after the muder of one brother and the execution of another!
What do you think the people thought about their political system?
Hel 1:18-23
How strong can a secret combination be? Why?
Pacumeni becomes the chief judge:
Hel 1:13 Pacumeni becomes the next judge after the muder of one brother and the execution of another!
What do you think the people thought about their political system?
What do we think of ours? Remember Moroni saw our day....
Is our situation similar to theirs... yes/no in what way?
What happens next...
Hel 1:18-23
Because of contention and difficulty in the govenment they did not keep sufficient guards
Lamanites led by Coriantumr invade and take the capital city of Zarahemla
Pacumeni is slain - and the army goes about the more capital parts killing lots of people
Lamanites led by Coriantumr invade and take the capital city of Zarahemla
Pacumeni is slain - and the army goes about the more capital parts killing lots of people
We need to make sure that we don't follow the same patten in our day.
We should not be so concened about intenal affairs that we ignore the issues extenal to our country!
Hel 1:26-27
Moronihah had not supposed that the Lamanites would come into the center of their land
But they did and were marching around killing tons of people and taking many cities
But they did and were marching around killing tons of people and taking many cities
In history have we ever been so concened about our intenal affairs that we forgot to protect ourselves from enemies abroad?
Surely... no coutry could invade America could it! Surely Jerusalem, Ammonihah, or Denver could never be destroyed in one day?
Sometimes I think that we have the same issues/attitudes that they had... and may be surprised at what occurs if the wickedness of the people is bad enough.
Once again a new chief judge is needed:
Hel 2:1-2
Helaman the son of Helaman selected to be the chief judge
The secret combination of Gadianton is introduced: Deep undercover - we don't know his name even now!
Hel 2:3-9
3 Kishkumen lay in wait to kill Pahoran
4 Gadianton - became leader of the combination
5 Promised them power and authority among people
6 Met Servant of Helaman - undercover spy - knew signs, covenants etc.
7 Met Kishkumen - gave him sign - desired knowledge of what he was doing
Expected help from servant of helaman to get to Helaman and kill him
8 Servant of Helaman lies to him and stabs him to the heart!
4 Gadianton - became leader of the combination
5 Promised them power and authority among people
6 Met Servant of Helaman - undercover spy - knew signs, covenants etc.
7 Met Kishkumen - gave him sign - desired knowledge of what he was doing
Expected help from servant of helaman to get to Helaman and kill him
8 Servant of Helaman lies to him and stabs him to the heart!
This is a disturbing story... The servant of Helaman was in the combination.
Sometimes it is required for good men to do bad things to protect the nation/society from evil.
What do you think about this?
How bad is a secret combination anyway?
Hel 2:13-14
these secret combinations were the means by which the Nephite civilization was completely destroyed.
Hel 2:11 Gadianton and his group flee out of the land into the wildeness and cannot be found
20-21 Helaman's sons Nephi and Lehi grow up unto the Lord
22-23 peace in all the land save Gadianton's band in the more populated parts of land
24-26 Prosperity - and success in the church
27-30 Thus we see...
22-23 peace in all the land save Gadianton's band in the more populated parts of land
24-26 Prosperity - and success in the church
27-30 Thus we see...
the Lord is merciful unto all who repent
The gates of heaven are open unto all who will believe
whosoever will may lay hold on the word of god and be saved
The gates of heaven are open unto all who will believe
whosoever will may lay hold on the word of god and be saved
Elder Richard G. Scott said: “I testify that you will remove barriers to happiness and find greater peace as you make your first allegiance your membership in the Church of Jesus Christ, and His teachings the foundation of your life. Where family or national traditions or customs conflict with the teachings of God, set them aside. Where traditions and customs are in harmony with His teachings, they should be cherished and followed to preserve your culture and heritage. There is one heritage that you need never change. It is that heritage that comes from your being a daughter or son of Father in Heaven” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1998, 114; or Ensign, May 1998, 87).
The Mission of Nephi and Lehi
Helaman's sons Nephi and Lehi go among the Nephites and then the Lamanites preaching the gospel.
Helman 5:6-12 The words of Helaman to his sons - concening Jesus Christ and repentance!
12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.
They go through all the land of the Nephites and then the Lamanites preaching with power and authority.
Hel 5:18-19 they had much success among the Lamanites
Hel 5:21-50 Their experiences in the Jail - the more part of the Lamanites believe
Hel 6:1-2 Lamanites more rightous than the Nephites - there is really no Lamanites and Nephites...