For My Profit and Learning

The Book of Helaman opens with the ominous introduction that  "there began to be a serious difficulty among the people of the Nephites; ...  there began to be a serious contention concerning who should have the judgment-seat" (Helaman 1:1-2).  Only a few short years after Moroni had put down an insurrection in the capital of the Nephite nation, the Nephites faced new internal challenges. A summary of the brutal struggle for the judgment seat highlights the turmoil within Nephite society: Three brothers,--Pahoran, Pacumeni, and Paanchi--vie for the judgement seat (Helaman 1:2-4) Pahoran is elected chief judge (Helaman 1:5) Pacumeni concedes to Pahoran (Helman 1:6) Paanchi incites sedition, and is tried and sentenced to death (Helaman 1:7-8) The followers of Paanchi send an assassin, Kishkumen, to murder Pahoran (Helaman 1:9) Pahoran is murdered by Kishkumen (Helaman 1:9) Pacumeni is elected chief judge (Helaman 1:13) Pacumeni is killed by the Lamanite g...

The closing chapter of the book of Alma alludes to a figure and a group of people that we know almost nothing about. We are briefly introduced to Helaman's son, Shiblom, only verses before his death is recorded. One of the most fascinating things about the scriptures is what they do NOT record. The scriptures offer a narrow glance into the experiences of a small subset of God's children, yet are still deemed sufficient for our learning and salvation. The vast majority of God's children, and God's dealings with them, are not preserved in any kind of record. In Shiblom's case all we get is a few sentences, and this for a man who was a rule, prophet, and keeper of the records that would become the Book of Mormon. All we know is that "he was a just man, and he did walk uprightly before God; and he did observe to do good continually, to keep the commandments of the Lord his God" (Alma 63:2).  Perhaps this is all we need to know. This phrase perfectly summa...

Moroni took a small group of soldiers to put down an insurrection in the capital. As we went, others saw his flag and followed. Moroni's example of courage inspired others to aid in the cause. " And [Moroni] did raise the  standard  of  liberty  in whatsoever place he did enter, and gained whatsoever force he could... ; and uniting his forces with those of Pahoran they became exceedingly strong" (Alma 62:4-5). Symbolically, we often raise our "standards," or values, for others to see. Through the words we say, the ways we act, and the views we support, we signal to others the things that are important to us. I am often tempted to be discrete instead of bold, and worry I might be misunderstood. But because Moroni was willing to wave his banner "in whatsoever place he did enter," many people joined him. When we act in a way that is congruent with our values and stand for what we believe to be true, we give others permission to do the same and may be su...

After receiving Moroni's excoriating letter Pahoran could have easily found cause for offense. Moroni had levied harsh and unfounded criticism against Pahoran at a time when Pahoran was facing turmoil of his own, and risking his life to put down an insurrection in the capital. Instead, he chose to forego pride and ego and focused on the challenge at hand. His first words to Moroni were not an attempt at self-defense or retaliation, but an expression of reassurance and empathy. " Behold, I say unto you, Moroni, that I do not joy in your great  afflictions , yea, it grieves my soul" (Alma 61:2). Pahoran chose to interpret Moroni's criticism as a symbol of his fervor and commitment to the nation instead of a personal attack. Pahoran knew that Moroni's words said more about Moroni than they did about him, and took the opportunity to clarify his position.  " And now, in your epistle you have  censured  me, but it mattereth not; I am not angry, but do rejo...

Frustrated with the lack of provisions and reinforcements from the central government, Moroni wrote a heated letter to the governor Pahoran. While this letter seems like a scathing indictment, it actually mirrors communication principles you'd expect to read about in contemporary management book. Moroni was undermanned in the throws of battle facing death and starvation. His requests for supplies and troops had seemingly fallen on deaf ears. given the circumstances, Moroni would have been justified in lashing out. But while Moroni's letter to Pahoran was firm, it was also restrained, and focused. Instead of indulging in blame, Moroni shared his experience, sought to understand Pahoran, gave Pahoran the benefit of the doubt, explained consequences of inaction, and focused on solutions. In summary, Moroni: Reminded Pahoran of his responsibilities (Alma 60:2) Explained how he and his soldiers were affected (Alma 60:3, 5, 9, 17) Asked Pahoran for his side of the story (Alma...

In rapid succession, Moroni experienced the joy of victory and the sorrow of defeat. This brief chapter provides insights into the emotional life of a prophet of God and can show us what to do with the feelings we feel. In 13 short verses, Moroni experienced joy, sorrow, doubt, and anger. Not only that, his emotions were influenced by his circumstances and the people around him. He chose to be affected by the wants, needs, welfare, and disappointments of others.  His joy came from Helaman's success on the battlefield in reclaiming previously lost territory. "After Moroni had received and had read Helaman’s epistle, he was exceedingly rejoiced because of the welfare, yea, the exceeding success which Helaman had had, in obtaining those lands which were lost.  Yea, and he did make it known unto all his people, in all the land round about in that part where he was, that they might rejoice also" (Alma 59:1-2). Moroni declared the victories of Helaman to all ...

After petitioning the capital Zarahemla for provisions and reinforcements, Helaman and his army waited for months without word or assistance. We "did wait in these difficult circumstances for the space of many months, even until we were about to perish for the want of food" (Alma 58:7). Even when they did receive some meager rations, they they did not know "the cause of these our embarrassments, or the cause why they did not send more strength unto us, we knew not; therefore we were grieved and also filled with fear" (Alma 58:9). In such anxious times it would have been easy for Helaman and his soldiers to lose faith and slacken their efforts in defending their lands. Instead, Helaman and his soldiers prayed for strength in response to their disconcerting and challenging circumstances. "Yea, and it came to pass that the Lord our God did visit us with assurances that he would deliver us; yea, insomuch that he did speak peace to our souls, and did g...

One of the most well-known accounts in the Book of Mormon, Alma 57 records the miraculous victory of Helaman and his 2,000 young warriors. After taking the city of Antiparah, and conducting a successful siege of the city Cumeni, Helaman turned his attention to the large population of Lamanite prisoners in his custody. The captured soldiers had become too numerous to guard, and revolted regularly. Helaman sent a portion of his army to transfer the prisoners to Zarahelma, but his army returned the next day without the prisoners, who presumably had either escaped or been slain by Helaman's soldiers. The soldiers returned just in time to help Helaman deflect a counterattack by the Lamanites. Helaman recounts that in the heat of the battle " the remainder of our army were about to give way before the Lamanites, behold, those two thousand and sixty were firm and undaunted. Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even accor...

Helaman wrote a letter to Moroni in which he described him as his dearly beloved brother " as well in the Lord as in the tribulations of our warfare" (Alma 56:2). They were joined not only in a campaign to defend themselves against the Lamanites, but also in their shared belief in Jesus Christ. Another reading could highlight that they  were brothers in bad times as well as good--the peace and transcendence of the gospel as well as their shared plight in war. I love the idea of being united as sibling not only in the tranquility of faith in Christ, but in the trenches of our darkest and most rigorous challenges. Taken metaphorically, the "tribulations of war" represent the buffetings, sorrow, and effort of mortal life. Like Helaman, I hope to remain a "dearly beloved brother" to the people I love as they cope with mental illness, deal with addiction, suffer disease, face disappointment, mourn loses, and endure rejection. While to this point Helaman and ...