Helaman 16
People in this chapter
Samuel's sermon is over, and Helaman 16 shows what people did with it. As many as believed on his word went forth and sought for Nephi, confessed their sins, and asked to be baptized (v. 1). Those who did not believe threw stones and shot arrows at Samuel on the wall, and could not hit him (v. 2). Seeing that, more believed (v. 3).
Tap any highlighted phrase to jump to the commentary that unpacks it.
Helaman 16:1-8They Could Not Hit Him
1And now, it came to pass that there were many who heard the words of Samuel, the Lamanite, which he spake upon the walls of the city. And as many as believed on his word went forth and sought for Nephi; and when they had come forth and found him they confessed unto him their sins and denied not, desiring that they might be baptized unto the Lord. 2But as many as there were who did not believe in the words of Samuel were angry with him; and they cast stones at him upon the wall, and also many shot arrows at him as he stood upon the wall; but the Spirit of the Lord was with him, insomuch that they could not hit him with their stones neither with their arrows. 3Now when they saw that they could not hit him, there were many more who did believe on his words, insomuch that they went away unto Nephi to be baptized.
The people who believed Samuel went looking for Nephi, confessed their sins honestly, and asked to be baptized.
The people who did not believe threw stones and shot arrows at Samuel, but the Spirit of the Lord protected him and they could not hit him. Seeing this, more people believed.
4For behold, Nephi was baptizing, and prophesying, and preaching, crying repentance unto the people, showing signs and wonders, working miracles among the people, that they might know that the Christ must shortly come— 5Telling them of things which must shortly come, that they might know and remember at the time of their coming that they had been made known unto them beforehand, to the intent that they might believe; therefore as many as believed on the words of Samuel went forth unto him to be baptized, for they came repenting and confessing their sins.
Nephi was baptizing, preaching, and working miracles so the people would know Christ was coming soon. Prophecies are given ahead of time so that people will recognize them when they are fulfilled.
6But the more part of them did not believe in the words of Samuel; therefore when they saw that they could not hit him with their stones and their arrows, they cried unto their captains, saying: Take this fellow and bind him, for behold he hath a devil; and because of the power of the devil which is in him we cannot hit him with our stones and our arrows; therefore take him and bind him, and away with him. 7And as they went forth to lay their hands on him, behold, he did cast himself down from the wall, and did flee out of their lands, yea, even unto his own country, and began to preach and to prophesy among his own people. 8And behold, he was never heard of more among the Nephites; and thus were the affairs of the people.
The unbelievers decided Samuel had a devil and tried to arrest him. He jumped from the wall, escaped home, and kept preaching among his own people. The Nephites never heard from him again.
Helaman 16:9-14The Scriptures Began to Be Fulfilled
9And thus ended the eighty and sixth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi. 10And thus ended also the eighty and seventh year of the reign of the judges, the more part of the people remaining in their pride and wickedness, and the lesser part walking more circumspectly before God. 11And these were the conditions also, in the eighty and eighth year of the reign of the judges. 12And there was but little alteration in the affairs of the people, save it were the people began to be more hardened in iniquity, and do more and more of that which was contrary to the commandments of God, in the eighty and ninth year of the reign of the judges.
For several years after Samuel left, most people stayed proud and wicked, and they grew more hardened. A smaller group walked carefully before God.
13But it came to pass in the ninetieth year of the reign of the judges, there were great signs given unto the people, and wonders; and the words of the prophets began to be fulfilled. 14And angels did appear unto men, wise men, and did declare unto them glad tidings of great joy; thus in this year the scriptures began to be fulfilled.
In the ninetieth year, signs and wonders began, and angels appeared to wise men with glad tidings of great joy. The prophecies were starting to come true.
Helaman 16:15-25Not Reasonable That Such a Being as a Christ Shall Come
15Nevertheless, the people began to harden their hearts, all save it were the most believing part of them, both of the Nephites and also of the Lamanites, and began to depend upon their own strength and upon their own wisdom, saying: 16Some things they may have guessed right, among so many; but behold, we know that all these great and marvelous works cannot come to pass, of which has been spoken.
Even as the signs began, most people hardened their hearts. Their first argument: the prophets made so many predictions that a few were bound to come true by chance.
17And they began to reason and to contend among themselves, saying: 18That it is not reasonable that such a being as a Christ shall come; if so, and he be the Son of God, the Father of heaven and of earth, as it has been spoken, why will he not show himself unto us as well as unto them who shall be at Jerusalem? 19Yea, why will he not show himself in this land as well as in the land of Jerusalem?
The unbelievers' second argument: it is not reasonable that a Christ would come. And if He is the Son of God and Creator of all, why would He show Himself only in Jerusalem and not to them?
20But behold, we know that this is a wicked tradition, which has been handed down unto us by our fathers, to cause us that we should believe in some great and marvelous thing which should come to pass, but not among us, but in a land which is far distant, a land which we know not; therefore they can keep us in ignorance, for we cannot witness with our own eyes that they are true. 21And they will, by the cunning and the mysterious arts of the evil one, work some great mystery which we cannot understand, which will keep us down to be servants to their words, and also servants unto them, for we depend upon them to teach us the word; and thus will they keep us in ignorance if we will yield ourselves unto them, all the days of our lives.
The unbelievers' last arguments: belief in Christ is an old tradition about things in a far-off land that no one can check, and religious teachers use it to keep people dependent on them.
22And many more things did the people imagine up in their hearts, which were foolish and vain; and they were much disturbed, for Satan did stir them up to do iniquity continually; yea, he did go about spreading rumors and contentions upon all the face of the land, that he might harden the hearts of the people against that which was good and against that which should come. 23And notwithstanding the signs and the wonders which were wrought among the people of the Lord, and the many miracles which they did, Satan did get great hold upon the hearts of the people upon all the face of the land. 24And thus ended the ninetieth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi. 25And thus ended the book of Helaman, according to the record of Helaman and his sons.
Mormon says Satan stirred up rumors and arguments everywhere to harden people's hearts against what was good and what was coming.
The book of Helaman ends here. Its next pages, in 3 Nephi, record the night that did not get dark.
Research trail
Sources & further study
These references support the historical, linguistic, manuscript, and contextual notes in this chapter. Scripture remains the primary text; external sources are provided so readers can inspect the research directly.
- Nephi, Son of HelamanThe scripture references for the prophet who baptized those who believed Samuel.
- Samuel the LamaniteThe scripture references for Samuel's preaching, prophecies, and their fulfillment.
- BaptismThe Church's overview of baptism, the ordinance the believers sought from Nephi.
- Signs of the TimesSigns that precede the Lord's coming, then and now.
Where this echoes in Scripture
They Could Not Hit Him
- Mosiah 13:2-3Touch me not, for God shall smite you if ye lay your hands upon me, for I have not delivered the message.Abinadi also preserved until his message was delivered.
- John 14:29I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.The same purpose of prophecy as verse 5.
- John 10:20He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?The same accusation made against Jesus.
- 3 Nephi 23:9-11I commanded my servant Samuel, the Lamanite, that he should testify unto this people.The Savior speaks of Samuel by name.
The Scriptures Began to Be Fulfilled
- Helaman 14:6There shall be many signs and wonders in heaven.Samuel's prophecy, beginning to be fulfilled.
- Luke 2:10I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.The same message at Bethlehem.
- D&C 38:39Beware of pride, lest ye become as the Nephites of old.The Lord's latter-day warning drawn from these very years.
Not Reasonable That Such a Being as a Christ Shall Come
- 3 Nephi 11:8-10They saw a Man descending out of heaven... Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.The answer to verse 18.
- 2 Nephi 29:7-8Know ye not that there are more nations than one?... I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another.The Lord on why He speaks to more than one people.
- Alma 30:13-15Ye cannot know of things which ye do not see; therefore ye cannot know that there shall be a Christ.Korihor's similar argument.
- 3 Nephi 1:5-9Behold the time is past, and the words of Samuel are not fulfilled.The unbelievers' last stand before the sign.
- 3 Nephi 2:1-2Imagining up some vain thing in their hearts, that it was wrought by men and by the power of the devil.The same reasoning returns after the sign.