Helaman 3:1-20

3:1-18 - We just ended the 42nd year of the reign of the judges and the GR have run away when Kishkumen didn't return from his mission to kill Helaman. And after the GR fled out of the land, the people had great peace for 3 years, until the 46th year when "there was much contention and many dissensions; in the which there were an exceedingly great many who departed out of the land of Zarahemla, and went forth unto the land northward to inherit the land." Interestingly, it's never specified if the people who left were the ones who dissented, or if the people who left were the ones who were sick and tired of their crazy neighbors. The people who left had implemented a pretty hefty trade with the remaining Nephites because there was a shortage of timber in many areas of the land "and it came to pass as timber was exceedingly scarce in the land northward, they did send forth much by the way of shipping. And thus they did enable the people in the land northward that they might build many cities, both of wood and of cement." This idea that the Nephites used a lot of cement to make their buildings is interesting to me because how did they even know how to make that? In an April 1957 general conference talk entitled "Ancient Records and the Book of Mormon", Elder Mark E. Petersen told of a man who had disputed the validity of the Book of Mormon with him because this man said that there was never any cement structures built in the Americas anciently. Elder Petersen replied "That does not affect my faith one particle. I read the Book of Mormon prayerfully and supplicated God for a testimony in my heart and soul of the divinity of it, and I have accepted it and believe it with all my heart... If my children do not find cement houses, I except that my grandchildren will.' Now, since that time, houses made of cement and massive structures of the same material have been uncovered." I had never considered that a concept as simple as building materials mentioned in the records could be a deal breaker for many people. I would think that it's pretty much common knowledge that we as human beings don't know everything, in fact we don't know very much at all, so to start disputing the authenticity of anything is not only closed minded but pretty arrogant as well. Interestingly enough, Elder Petersen continues to demonstrate the skill that the Nephite had by teaching that the "wonderfully built cement houses, with drain pipes of cement, showing skill and ability, superior almost to anything we have today so far as the use of cement is concerned." Cement drain pipes, very interesting, sounds like some considerable skill to me. We see that the many of the people of Ammon "who were Lamanites by birth, did also go forth into this land." So taking this statement, we might deduce that it wasn't necessarily the wicked who left, but those who just needed a fresh start, which I could totally understand. We are also told of the extensive nature of the records that were kept by all these groups of people. In a May 1986 Ensign article entitled "The Things of My Soul" Elder Boyd K. Packer taught "When they grew to be a numerous people, this account was kept by the kings. No doubt this record contained a great resourse of historical information. Generations later, as Mormon abridged this record, he repeated six times that he could not include 'a hundredth part' of what was in that record." The sheer volume of records there must have been and Mormon must have read them all, many probably several times before deciding which ones to include in the official record. He also gives a little bit of his foresight when he says that these records "have been handed down from one generation to another by the Nephites, even until they have fallen into transgression and have been murdered, plundered, and hunted, and drive forth, and slain, and scattered upon the face of the earth, and mixed with the Lamanites until they are no more called the Nephites, becoming wicked, and wild, and ferocious, yea, even becoming Lamanites." This has happened to a small degree, but not to the extent where there are no Nephites left, this is just another one of those insights that tell us that this record was made by someone who had knowledge of the future, beyond that which he was commenting on, for instance, if he was commenting on the 46th year of the reign of the judges, he had knowledge of what happened many years later.

3:19-20 - Through the 46th, 47th, and 48th year of the reign of the judges "there was still great contention in the land." Maybe I missed it, but it doesn't seem to say why there were contentions in the land. Usually Mormon will tell us that it is pride in the church or political unrest, but it seems that here we just have "contention." Fortunately for the Nephites, Helaman who was the chief judge "did fill the judgment seat with justice and equity; yea, he did observe to keep the statutes, and the judgments, and the commandments of God; and he did do that which was right in the sight on God continually; and he did walk after the ways of his father, insomuch that he did prosper in the land." The IM teaches that "although times were difficult and society was threatened by evil forces, Helaman's example of steadfastness in doing the Lord's will is a model for us to follow in the challenging latter days. Like Helaman, we can continually strive to 'do what is right; let the consequence follow.' The key word if continually. Elder Spencer J. Condie of the Seventy emphasized the importance of keeping our covenants as a way of developing consistence in doing good: 'Perhaps of all the evidence of true conversion and a remission of sins, this is the most significant; the disposition to do evil no more, but to do good continually... We can strengthen our disposition to do good each time we make and keep covenants. Each time we participate in priesthood ordinances, the powers from on high reach downward and draw us nearer to the heavens. Those who partake of the sacrament and temple ordinances with pure hearts and who faithfully keep their covenants require no lengthy instructions regarding modest dress, the payment of generous fast offerings and tithing, observance of the Word of Wisdom, or keeping the Sabbath day holy. They need no stern reminders to share the gospel with others, to attend the temple frequently, to conduct family history research, or to do their home or visiting teaching. Not do they need nudges to visit the sick and to serve those in need. These are the faithful Saints of the Most High who keep the sacred covenants they have made in the house of the Lord, 'having a determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their works that they have received the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins.' Covenant keepers... live the law of consecration. Their time, talents, and financial resources all belong to the Lord.  Keeping their covenants has caused them to develop a disposition to do good continually." This is really interesting because I've been trying to grow spiritually, to grow closer to the Lord to be a better servant of Him, and especially this week because I've been on vacation I've had the opportunity to sleep more and to spend more time with my kids I've tried to focus more on my actions and more on my reactions. I have to say that I've been doing well, slacking a little bit, but for the most part doing pretty good. I was talking to a friend the other day about the idea of what doubts or doctrinal contention in the church really come down to and this paragraph really speaks to that. I know that there is the issue at hand of women holding the priesthood, and I know that some of the people that I know are really struggling with this, so much so that they are leaving the church in droves over it, and it really breaks my heart. But this teaching here seems to speak to that, we could do a little bit of word substitution maybe saying something to the effect of "those who are truly converted don't need to question the distribution of priesthood authority, they simply do their best to do good continually." If we are truly converted, if we truly deep down believe that Jesus is the Christ, that he saved us from death and hell and from ourselves, it we truly believe that this is His church established on the earth, if we truly believe that he loves us and wants the best for us, then we will accept the doctrine that we've been given and will have our hearts and minds focused only and how we can better serve the Lord. This is a super content heavy chapter, so we're going to call it quits for tonight