Helaman 7
People in this chapter
Nephi has just come home. He had gone to preach in the land northward, and the people there did reject all his words (v. 3). He returns to Zarahemla to find Gadianton robbers in the judgment-seats, freeing the guilty for money and condemning the righteous. It had all happened in the space of not many years (v. 6).
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Helaman 7:1-9These Are My Days
1Behold, now it came to pass in the sixty and ninth year of the reign of the judges over the people of the Nephites, that Nephi, the son of Helaman, returned to the land of Zarahemla from the land northward. 2For he had been forth among the people who were in the land northward, and did preach the word of God unto them, and did prophesy many things unto them; 3And they did reject all his words, insomuch that he could not stay among them, but returned again unto the land of his nativity.
Nephi had preached in the land northward, but the people rejected everything he said, so he came home.
4And seeing the people in a state of such awful wickedness, and those Gadianton robbers filling the judgment-seats—having usurped the power and authority of the land; laying aside the commandments of God, and not in the least aright before him; doing no justice unto the children of men; 5Condemning the righteous because of their righteousness; letting the guilty and the wicked go unpunished because of their money; and moreover to be held in office at the head of government, to rule and do according to their wills, that they might get gain and glory of the world, and, moreover, that they might the more easily commit adultery, and steal, and kill, and do according to their own wills— 6Now this great iniquity had come upon the Nephites, in the space of not many years; and when Nephi saw it, his heart was swollen with sorrow within his breast; and he did exclaim in the agony of his soul:
The robbers now sit as judges. They condemn the righteous and let the guilty go free for money. Nephi's heart is full of sorrow.
7Oh, that I could have had my days in the days when my father Nephi first came out of the land of Jerusalem, that I could have joyed with him in the promised land; then were his people easy to be entreated, firm to keep the commandments of God, and slow to be led to do iniquity; and they were quick to hearken unto the words of the Lord— 8Yea, if my days could have been in those days, then would my soul have had joy in the righteousness of my brethren. 9But behold, I am consigned that these are my days, and that my soul shall be filled with sorrow because of this the wickedness of my brethren.
Nephi wishes he had lived in the days of the first Nephi, when people were easy to teach and quick to obey.
Nephi accepts that these are his days. He does not get to choose his time, but he can choose how he serves in it.
Helaman 7:10-16Upon the Tower in His Garden
10And behold, now it came to pass that it was upon a tower, which was in the garden of Nephi, which was by the highway which led to the chief market, which was in the city of Zarahemla; therefore, Nephi had bowed himself upon the tower which was in his garden, which tower was also near unto the garden gate by which led the highway. 11And it came to pass that there were certain men passing by and saw Nephi as he was pouring out his soul unto God upon the tower; and they ran and told the people what they had seen, and the people came together in multitudes that they might know the cause of so great mourning for the wickedness of the people. 12And now, when Nephi arose he beheld the multitudes of people who had gathered together.
Nephi prays on a tower in his garden, near a busy road. People passing by see him pouring out his soul and bring a crowd.
13And it came to pass that he opened his mouth and said unto them: Behold, why have ye gathered yourselves together? That I may tell you of your iniquities? 14Yea, because I have got upon my tower that I might pour out my soul unto my God, because of the exceeding sorrow of my heart, which is because of your iniquities! 15And because of my mourning and lamentation ye have gathered yourselves together, and do marvel; yea, and ye have great need to marvel; yea, ye ought to marvel because ye are given away that the devil has got so great hold upon your hearts. 16Yea, how could you have given way to the enticing of him who is seeking to hurl away your souls down to everlasting misery and endless wo?
Nephi tells the crowd they should not marvel at his mourning. They should marvel at how much power the devil has over them.
Helaman 7:17-22Turn Ye unto the Lord Your God
17O repent ye, repent ye! Why will ye die? Turn ye, turn ye unto the Lord your God. Why has he forsaken you?
Nephi's plea echoes the Lord's words through Ezekiel: turn, turn, why will ye die? The call to repent comes from a God who wants His people to live.
18It is because you have hardened your hearts; yea, ye will not hearken unto the voice of the good shepherd; yea, ye have provoked him to anger against you. 19And behold, instead of gathering you, except ye will repent, behold, he shall scatter you forth that ye shall become meat for dogs and wild beasts.
20O, how could you have forgotten your God in the very day that he has delivered you? 21But behold, it is to get gain, to be praised of men, yea, and that ye might get gold and silver. And ye have set your hearts upon the riches and the vain things of this world, for the which ye do murder, and plunder, and steal, and bear false witness against your neighbor, and do all manner of iniquity. 22And for this cause wo shall come unto you except ye shall repent. For if ye will not repent, behold, this great city, and also all those great cities which are round about, which are in the land of our possession, shall be taken away that ye shall have no place in them; for behold, the Lord will not grant unto you strength, as he has hitherto done, to withstand against your enemies.
Nephi asks how they could forget God right after He delivered them. Their reason is money and praise.
Helaman 7:23-29Not of Myself
23For behold, thus saith the Lord: I will not show unto the wicked of my strength, to one more than the other, save it be unto those who repent of their sins, and hearken unto my words. Now therefore, I would that ye should behold, my brethren, that it shall be better for the Lamanites than for you except ye shall repent. 24For behold, they are more righteous than you, for they have not sinned against that great knowledge which ye have received; therefore the Lord will be merciful unto them; yea, he will lengthen out their days and increase their seed, even when thou shalt be utterly destroyed except thou shalt repent.
Nephi says it will be better for the Lamanites than for the Nephites, because the Nephites have sinned against greater knowledge.
25Yea, wo be unto you because of that great abomination which has come among you; and ye have united yourselves unto it, yea, to that secret band which was established by Gadianton! 26Yea, wo shall come unto you because of that pride which ye have suffered to enter your hearts, which has lifted you up beyond that which is good because of your exceedingly great riches! 27Yea, wo be unto you because of your wickedness and abominations! 28And except ye repent ye shall perish; yea, even your lands shall be taken from you, and ye shall be destroyed from off the face of the earth.
Nephi pronounces woes on the people for joining Gadianton's band, for their pride, and for their wickedness.
29Behold now, I do not say that these things shall be, of myself, because it is not of myself that I know these things; but behold, I know that these things are true because the Lord God has made them known unto me, therefore I testify that they shall be.
Nephi says he does not know these things by his own wisdom. The Lord God made them known to him, so he testifies they will happen.
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 HelamanAn overview of Nephi's ministry, including his prayer on the tower and the sermon that followed.
- PrideScripture references on pride, which Nephi names as one cause of the Nephites' woe (v. 26).
- ProphetWhat a prophet is and how a prophet knows what he declares, as Nephi explains in verse 29.
Where this echoes in Scripture
These Are My Days
- Isaiah 5:23Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
- Esther 4:14Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
- Helaman 3:37He did fill the judgment-seat with justice and equity.Nephi's own time as chief judge.
- D&C 64:33Be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work.
Upon the Tower in His Garden
- Helaman 6:31He had got great hold upon the hearts of the Nephites.
- Helaman 5:12It shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo.What Nephi's father had taught him.
- Luke 19:41And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it.
- Jeremiah 9:1Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!
Turn Ye unto the Lord Your God
- Ezekiel 33:11Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
- John 10:11, 27I am the good shepherd... My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
- Alma 5:38The good shepherd doth call you; yea, and in his own name he doth call you, which is the name of Christ.
- 3 Nephi 10:6How oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if ye will repent and return unto me.
- Deuteronomy 8:13-14Thy silver and thy gold is multiplied... then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God.
Not of Myself
- Luke 12:48Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.
- Alma 5:46They are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God.
- Amos 3:7Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
- D&C 1:38Whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.