1:6-7; 2:4-5
Sometimes a person’s behavior mirrors Satan’s strategy since the council in heaven. Paanchi is a good example. “But behold, Paanchi, and that part of the people that were desirous that he should be their governor, was exceedingly wroth; therefore, he was about to flatter away those people to rise up in rebellion against their brethren. And it came to pass as he was about to do this, behold, he was taken, and was tried according to the voice of the people, and condemned unto death; for he had raised up in rebellion and sought to destroy the liberty of the people.” Doesn’t this sound familiar?
In the premortal world, Satan rebelled against God. He rejected God’s plan and wanted to institute his own. Satan wanted the glory of being on the top. Paanchi also wanted the glory of being the governor. I’m very certain that Satan used flattery to influence people to follow him. His arguments were possibly something like this:
“We are God’s children. Why should any of us suffer in mortality. What have any of us done to deserve that!? It obviously isn’t fair.”
“My plan will give the reward of exaltation to EVERY one of you. You deserve that because of how wonderful you are.”
“Why do the consequences of a very short time in mortality have ANY bearing on infinity? Why should there be any lasting consequences of bad choices in mortality? We won’t even be able to remember all of the wisdom we’ve been developing for millenia.”
“God’s plan to have differing kingdoms is his way of controlling us and ruling us. He just wants power. I care about you more than he does. I want you to have it all. He doesn’t.”
There were likely a hundred other compelling argument that Satan used to entice people to join his rebellion. It was effective. He literally convinced 1/3 of God’s children to rebel and reject Him. Satan was a convincing, wicked, prideful man. He was a very good speaker I think.
Gadianton was the same way. “For there was one Gadianton, who was exceedingly expert in many words, and also in his craft, to carry on the secret work of murder and of robbery; therefore he became the leader of the band of Kishkumen. Therefore he did flatter them, and also Kishkumen, that if they would place him in the judgment-seat he would grant unto those who belonged to his band that they should be placed in power and authority among the people; therefore Kishkumen sought to destroy Helaman.”
We must not be vulnerable to clever, compelling arguments. I am very familiar with the arguments against the church’s “truth claims.” They sound completely logical and rational on the surface. But, as I’ve really researched and pondered what they’re arguing, it is very clear that they are “leaning onto their own understanding.” As we read in Proverbs, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Of course we are meant to use our brains but let us worship God rather than our own ability to conceive and understand the things of God.
1:12
Kishkumen was clever. He didn’t fight the authorities outright. He was much more subtle. He and his followers “did mingle themselves among the people, in a manner that they all could not be found.” We often think our enemies will attack us head on. In our regular, non-war-torn lives, our enemies are amongst us. They might even look like our friends. If someone is attempting to tempt you with sin or rebellion, they are your enemy.
1:22
“And now when Coriantumr saw that he was in possession of the city of Zarahemla, and saw that the Nephites had fled before them, and were slain, and were taken, and were cast into prison, and that he had obtained the possession of the strongest hold in all the land, his heart took courage insomuch that he was about to go forth against all the land.” Often, when we have success, we breathe it in. We take credit. We hold ourselves in higher esteem. It is in our nature to do this.
It happened to Coriantumr. He experienced success and it convinced him that he could overtake the entire Nephite nation. He was wrong. This can relate to each of us in how we handle success. If we have worldly success, we could get carried away with giving credit to ourselves. It appears obvious that we are the source of success. This can lead to a boldness that can push us in the wrong direction. We can become reckless and then lose it all.
This can happen in a spiritual sense too. Imagine that you’re at the top of your game spiritually. You’re studying the scriptures every day. You’re serving valiantly in your calling. You’re looking for opportunities to support and strengthen others. You’re attending the temple every week and keeping up with your family history. You may even be Christlike to every one you meet. The problem with this is if we start to think that we were the source of this spiritual goodness. I think it happens often! It appears to in this very story. It sounds strange that righteousness can lead to pride - but it can. If we are not mindful and work hard to remain humble and give credit to God rather than to ourselves, it can happen over time.
3:21
“And it came to pass that he had two sons. He gave unto the eldest the name of Nephi, and unto the youngest, the name of Lehi. And they began to grow up unto the Lord.” What does it mean to “grow up unto the Lord?” I think this phrase describes some very involved parents who were good examples and diligently taught their children. I also think that this describes valiant children who leaned into their spiritual growth. If a child has the opportunity to learn about Christ and then has the strength to apply those principles and the faith to continue their journey along the path, They will “grow up unto the Lord.”
3:28
This verse is a good reminder of what is the primary requirement for salvation and even exaltation. “Yea, thus we see that the gate of heaven is open unto all, even to those who will believe on the name of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God.” Heaven is open to all who have faith and repent.
3:29
“Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked.” There are a lot of clever arguments against God and Christ and his church. Someone who is intimately familiar with the scriptures is much less likely to fall for the various, compelling, manipulative conversations. The word of God is very clear and powerful and can easily slice through any deception that Satan and his helpers may use.
This world is FILLED with “snares and the wiles of the devil.” It is constant pressure. It is a current of water that is attempting to pull all of us. The word of God is the only stable path through it. If we stray away from the word of God, it is amazingly easy to slip into the current.
3:35
Humility is required for continuing spiritual progression. “Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.” This recipe of progression is clear:
If we grow more and more strong in humility and increase the firmness of our faith in Christ, it will lead to some very good consequences:
Fill our souls with joy and consolation.
Purify and sanctify our hearts.
Yield our hearts to God.
Who doesn’t want that?? I like the phrase of being stronger and stronger in humility. Strength and humility aren’t often spoken in the same sentence. Having humility isn’t natural in this fallen world. It could be thought of as a strength that must be exercised. I need to practice being humble. I need to work at it. For many, including me, it doesn’t come easy.
Having humility goes hand in hand with our faith in Christ. If our faith is continually in Christ, rather than ourselves, it helps us to be humble. Our faith in Christ can fill us with “joy and consolation” regardless of what happens to us in our lives. Whether things are good or bad, we can always have hope and look forward to the brightest of futures.
Focusing on our faith in Christ has the natural effect of purifying our hearts. It’s very hard to think wicked thoughts and do wicked actions when your heart is full of faith and humility.
It is very natural to finally yield our hearts to God if we are determined to be humble and rely fully on the merits of Christ who is mighty to save. We will see God’s will as desirable and comfortable and preferred to our own. We will seek his will. We will give up those things that aren’t in alignment with his will. It’s a beautiful cycle.
3:36; 4:11-13
Unfortunately for the Nephites, it didn’t last. The problem was and always seems to be pride. “And it came to pass that the fifty and second year ended in peace also, save it were the exceedingly great pride which had gotten into the hearts of the people; and it was because of their exceedingly great riches and their prosperity in the land; and it did grow upon them from day to day.” That’s the thing about pride…it sneaks up on you. Day by day, our pride can grow in the smallest degree - almost unnoticeable. We have to diligently work to be “stronger and stronger in our humility and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ.”
If we don’t, what happened to the Nephites is what, precisely, will happen to us. “Now this great loss of the Nephites, and the great slaughter which was among them, would not have happened had it not been for their wickedness and their abomination which was among them; yea, and it was among those also who professed to belong to the church of God. And it was because of the pride of their hearts, because of their exceeding riches, yea, it was because of their oppression to the poor, withholding their food from the hungry, withholding their clothing from the naked, and smiting their humble brethren upon the cheek, making a mock of that which was sacred, denying the spirit of prophecy and of revelation, murdering, plundering, lying, stealing, committing adultery, rising up in great contentions, and deserting away into the land of Nephi, among the Lamanites— And because of this their great wickedness, and their boastings in their own strength, they were left in their own strength; therefore they did not prosper, but were afflicted and smitten, and driven before the Lamanites, until they had lost possession of almost all their lands.”
4:24
“And they saw that they had become weak, like unto their brethren, the Lamanites, and that the Spirit of the Lord did no more preserve them; yea, it had withdrawn from them because the Spirit of the Lord doth not dwell in unholy temples.” We are asked to “receive the Holy Ghost” when we are confirmed a member of the church. We call it the gift of the Holy Ghost and are often told he is always with us as members of the church. But, the scriptures are clear. There are times when the Holy Ghost is not with us because we are not receiving it’s promptings. We are rejecting those promptings when we sin. If we do this the Spirit will leave us because we haven’t received it.
The scriptures speak about how the Spirit leaves over and over. The Spirit can be withdrawn, withheld, grieved and taken. The “Spirit shall not always strive with man.” The Spirit may depart and not tarry with us.
Of course, we can harden our hearts and “quench” the Spirit. We can separate ourselves from the Spirit. We can deny the Holy Ghost. In fact, when there is a separation from us and the Spirit, it is us that is doing the separating. The Spirit will not voluntarily leave a righteous man or woman. He will always be there for those who listen to his promptings.
4:25; 5:12
“Therefore the Lord did cease to preserve them by his miraculous and matchless power, for they had fallen into a state of unbelief and awful wickedness; and they saw that the Lamanites were exceedingly more numerous than they, and except they should cleave unto the Lord their God they must unavoidably perish.” The verb “fall” is used a lot when speaking about apostasy or sin. I think it’s a good word to use because, as I’ve written before, this world is applying constant pressure to pull us down - just like gravity. We must hold on to Christ and his gospel to resist the world. It doesn’t take any effort to succumb to the world. We simply have to let go. The gravity of this world will then take effect whether we want it to or not.
A similarly great metaphor is comparing Christ to a foundation. We can build a solid foundation that will resist the pull of gravity. “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.” The perils of this fallen world are all around us -whether physical danger or spiritual temptation - we are surrounded and are constantly under attack. The stronger our faith and diligence in our efforts to be true disciples of Christ, the less likely we are to fall or be dragged down.
I remember when a tornado happened in SLC. I remember a crane fell over onto the Conference Center which was under construction. The wind was so strong that the tall, slender crane was no match for it. But, did that tornado move that Conference Center one millimeter? No it did not. Why? Because the Center was built on a very large and sure foundation. Our spiritual lives can be built on such a foundation. But, it takes effort and faith and humility - constantly applied to construct something that can withstand any wind, hail or mighty storm.
5:17
“And it came to pass that they did preach with great power, insomuch that they did confound many of those dissenters who had gone over from the Nephites.” I have no doubt that Helaman’s sons, Nephi and Lehi, were excellent preachers. This very verse states that they “did preach with great power.” Was it their skills of oration that made them powerful? No. It is the influence of the Spirit that made their preaching powerful. Every teacher or speaker in this church should think of this principle when preparing to preach.
5:30
“And it came to pass when they heard this voice, and beheld that it was not a voice of thunder, neither was it a voice of a great tumultuous noise, but behold, it was a still voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it did pierce even to the very soul.” God usually doesn’t want the spectacle of a stunning event to do the converting. He wants us to turn to him through the quiet promptings of the Spirit. Our strength should be from our effort - not an angel beating it into us. (However, we’re about to see that God sent a spectacle after this still, small voice).
5:41
“And Aminadab said unto them: You must repent, and cry unto the voice, even until ye shall have faith in Christ, who was taught unto you by Alma, and Amulek, and Zeezrom; and when ye shall do this, the cloud of darkness shall be removed from overshadowing you.” We may not have a literal cloud of darkness overshadowing us but many of us have a spiritual dark cloud surrounding us.
Whether it’s their physical cloud or our spiritual one, the solution is the same. We must repent and have faith in Christ. That’s the gospel. That’s the whole strategy. It’s deceptively simple but that is all that God asks of us. As we repent and have faith in Christ, our could WILL ALWAYS disperse.
5:46-47
“And it came to pass that there came a voice unto them, yea, a pleasant voice, as if it were a whisper, saying: Peace, peace be unto you, because of your faith in my Well Beloved, who was from the foundation of the world.” I’ve often thought about the familiarity of God’s voice. Certainly, we are all intimately familiar with his voice. It may even be the most familiar voice we know. His voice may give us comfort unlike any other voice could provide. He is our Heavenly Father. Of course we love the sound of his voice. I’m very much looking forward to actually hearing his voice and experiencing that sweet moment of recognition.
6:26-28
In these verses, we learn a few of the common strategies that Satan employs in his work against us. Three phrases jump out:
“Entice our first parents.” Satan entices us. He is very convincing. He’s been doing this for a very, very long time. He knows what little message he can use that will get a reaction from us. He is truly enticing.
“Plot with Cain.” Satan has a plan. Part of his plan can be to give us a wicked plan of our own. He can inspire people to do wicked things - even inspire us to enact multi-step plans.
“Put it into the hearts of the people.” I don’t think that Satan can read our minds. He is experienced enough that he doesn’t need to. He understands human nature more than any of us humans. He can whisper to our ears and put things into our hearts. We must have a vigilant guard up against that.
6:31
Our natural-man desires is to follow our own will. In talking about Satan, “And now behold, he had got great hold upon the hearts of the Nephites; yea, insomuch that they had become exceedingly wicked; yea, the more part of them had turned out of the way of righteousness, and did trample under their feet the commandments of God, and did turn unto their own ways, and did build up unto themselves idols of their gold and their silver.” We love turning to our own ways. Just last night, we were watching a show where a dad was telling his son to “be true to yourself…that’s the best thing you can do in your life.” Nope. It’s not. The best thing we can do is love God and be true to Him. It’s not about figuring out what is right for us. It is always about figuring out what is right and then submitting our will to his. :)
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