Helaman 8

 (All of my own thoughts are in red type 7/20 green6/21 9/22  Brown 11/23) 

 CHAPTER 8 

Corrupt judges seek to incite the people against Nephi—Abraham, Moses, Zenos, Zenock, Ezias, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lehi, and Nephi all testified of Christ—By inspiration Nephi announces the murder of the chief judge. About 23–21 B.C.

  1 And now it came to pass that when Nephi had said these words, behold, there were men who were judges, who also belonged to the secret band of Gadianton, and they were angry, We definitely have those kind of men in government today! and they cried out against him, saying unto the people: Why do ye not seize upon this man and bring him forth, that he may be condemned according to the crime which he has done? Why do they want the people to seize him? They are "citizens" too...why couldn't they take him? Seems like they need the people to unite against them in order to to stay "popular" and rule unrighteously.
  2 Why seest thou this man, and hearest him revile against this people and against our law? Ever heard of free speech?
  3 For behold, Nephi had spoken unto them concerning the corruptness of their law; yea, many things did Nephi speak which cannot be written; and nothing did he speak which was contrary to the commandments of God. ok here we have a “prophet” (don’t know if he was the prophet, but he is speaking about “politics”. And clearly God not only told him to, but commanded him to. He called out their corrupt laws. It’s time to do that in our day! (If God wills it...) If they did, they would probably be subject to the same reaction.
  4 And those judges were angry with him because he ^aspake plainly unto them concerning their secret works of darkness; yes! YES! let’s have our spiritual leaders “speak plainly” about the secret works of darkness! This is why Mormon is even telling us these stories! It’s supposed to give us direction in our day. But all we are getting is “obey, honor and sustain the law”....even if it’s corrupt! I don’t think for a minute that Joseph Smith was saying it was a tenant of our faith to obey corrupt laws and rulers. I think he meant we are only subject to them as they lead in obeying, honoring and sustaining the law. Which is the constitution and other laws that sustain God given laws.  Here's are a few quotes from recent prophets on secret combinations:

"As bearers of the priesthood, we have been placed on earth in troubled times. We live in a complex world with currents of conflict everywhere to be found. Political machinations ruin the stability of nations, despots grasp for power, and segments of society seem forever downtrodden, deprived of opportunity and left with a feeling of failure." (Monson Apr 1988)

"I testify that wickedness is rapidly expanding in every segment of our society. (See D&C 1:14–16; D&C 84:49–53.) It is more highly organized, more cleverly disguised, and more powerfully promoted than ever before. Secret combinations lusting for power, gain, and glory are flourishing. A secret combination that seeks to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries is increasing its evil influence and control over America and the entire world. (See Ether 8:18–25.)" (Benson Oct 1988)

"We of this Church know something of such groups. The Book of Mormon speaks of the Gadianton robbers, a vicious, oath-bound, and secret organization bent on evil and destruction. In their day they did all in their power, by whatever means available, to bring down the Church, to woo the people with sophistry, and to take control of the society. We see the same thing in the present situation.

We are people of peace. We are followers of the Christ who was and is the Prince of Peace. But there are times when we must stand up for right and decency, for freedom and civilization, just as Moroni rallied his people in his day to the defense of their wives, their children, and the cause of liberty (see Alma 48:10). (Hinckley, Oct 2001)

nevertheless, they durst not lay their own hands upon him, for they feared the people lest they should cry out against them. Ah.....here’s a clue...these corrupt men “fear” the power of the people. So it is today. But they have the people duped into fearing them....so backwards! 
  5 Therefore they did cry unto the people, saying: Why do you suffer this man to revile against us? For behold he doth condemn all this people, even unto destruction; yea, and also that these our ^agreat cities shall be taken from us, that we shall have no place in them.
  6 And now we know that this is impossible, for behold, we are ^apowerful, and our cities great, therefore our enemies can have no power over us. So...if you know that what Nephi is saying can't happen, why are you so bothered by his words? Just call him, "crazy" and keep walking...?
  7 And it came to pass that thus they did ^astir up the people to anger against Nephi, and raised contentions among them; for there were some who did cry out: ^bLet this man alone, for he is a good man, and those things which he saith will surely come to pass except we repent;
  8 Yea, behold, all the judgments will come upon us which he has testified unto us; for we know that he has testified aright unto us concerning our iniquities. And behold they are many, and he ^aknoweth as well all things which shall befall us as he knoweth of our iniquities;
  9 Yea, and behold, if he had not been a prophet he could not have testified concerning those things. Hmmm...we are told “contention is of the devil and not of God” but these people who are standing for truth are part of a “contention”. By definition, contention simply means there are two opposing points of view. By that, wasn’t there a great “contention” in heaven? Were we not exposed to opposing opinions and asked to choose? God did not do something to stop this contention and He was not sinning in allowing it. In fact, under His presiding authority there was a great “war in heaven” - certainly the greatest degree of contention there is would be called “war”. So it can’t be true that to avoid contention we are to stay silent in the face of it. I think in God’s eye’s there is contention whenever the devil stirs people up in opposition to God’s will and laws. That is why “contention is of the devil”. And we are to avoid contention by not letting Satan stir us up in opposition to God’s will and ways. But we are to always stand for truth and that will be in the midst of contention because the very fact that we have to take a vocal stand is because Satan has already captured the minds and hearts of the people. The seed of contention exists even before you open your mouth. But you are not the source of contention when you do. Satan is and those that allow him to capture their attention. This is very tricky and Satan is using it to keep us silent. Actually, if the voice of the people were always heard speaking truth and promoting good, the only contention we’d have is by those speaking against it and they would be the ones accused of causing the contention. But Satan has flipped it...and the vocal ones are promoting evil and making it look like those who speak for truth and good are the ones causing contention and then trapping them in the dilemma of keeping the commandment to stand for truth at all times, in all things, and in all places and the commandment to not be the source of contention. We really have to understand this correctly. Really...
 10 And it came to pass that those people who sought to destroy Nephi were compelled because of their fear, that they did not lay their hands on him; therefore he began again to speak unto them, seeing that he had gained favor in the eyes of some, insomuch that the remainder of them did fear. It made a positive difference that many spoke up in favor of Nephi in opposition to the words of the judges. We must not be afraid to speak in defense of truth.
 11 Therefore he was constrained to speak more unto them saying: Behold, my brethren, have ye not read that God gave power unto one man, even Moses, to smite upon the waters of the ^aRed Sea, and they parted hither and thither, insomuch that the Israelites, who were our fathers, came through upon dry ground, and the waters closed upon the armies of the Egyptians and swallowed them up? This confirms again that these people are Israelites.
 12 And now behold, if God gave unto this man such power, then why should ye dispute among yourselves, and say that he hath given unto me no power whereby I may ^aknow concerning the judgments that shall come upon you except ye repent? Surely, we will hear these kinds of words in our day at some point.
 13 But, behold, ye not only deny my words, but ye also deny all the words which have been spoken by our fathers, and also the words which were spoken by this man, Moses, who had such great power given unto him, yea, the words which he hath spoken concerning the coming of the Messiah.
 14 Yea, did he not bear record that the Son of God should come? And as he lifted up the brazen serpent in the wilderness, even so shall he be lifted up who should come. Just had a thought...maybe the reason Moses was told to make a brass serpent to raise on the staff is because the people so easily put their trust in things they could see (like the golden calf), so God met them where they were in their faith and made something they could see that would be a type of His Son?  
 15 And as many as should look upon that serpent should ^alive, even so as many as should look upon the Son of God with faith, having a contrite spirit, might ^blive, even unto that life which is eternal. Any attempts to ever use this type for anything other than looking upon Jesus Christ with faith is a false type. Those who have compared the shot to this type are completely off base. There is nothing in this shot except faith in man. Those who take it, knowing it’s bad, but having faith that because the prophet took it and urges us to take it and is shipping it to millions in other countries, that somehow the Lord will protect them from it’s effects are not exercising true faith in Christ for healing. Jesus doesn’t need any help from man to heal us or keep us healthy. He’s already given us amazing bodies and the word of wisdom. How about exercising faith in the body God created and God’s law of health before exercising faith in organizations who’s only goals is control and profit? Don't get me wrong, Jesus can protect you from its effects for he promises that one of of the signs that follow those who believe is that the poison of a serpent shall not hurt them. It is actually been shown that the shot literally comes from the poison of a serpent. So, you can be protected from its effects, but only if you sufficiently believe and have true faith in Christ. Does that mean all "good" people who are harmed by it don't have sufficient belief/faith in God? Hard to know for sure...but the scriptures testify "ALL things are possible to them that believe". Surely this is not exempt.
 16 And now behold, Moses did not only testify of these things, but also ^aall the holy prophets, from his days even to the days of Abraham.
 17 Yea, and behold, ^aAbraham saw of his coming, and was filled with gladness and did rejoice.
 18 Yea, and behold I say unto you, that Abraham not only knew of these things, but there were ^amany before the days of Abraham who were called by the ^border of God; yea, even after the order of his Son; and this that it should be shown unto the people, a great many thousand years before his coming, that even redemption should come unto them.
 19 And now I would that ye should know, that even since the days of Abraham there have been many prophets that have testified these things; yea, behold, the prophet ^aZenos did testify boldly; for the which he was slain.
 20 And behold, also ^aZenock, and also ^bEzias, and also ^cIsaiah, and ^dJeremiah, (Jeremiah being that same prophet who testified of the destruction of ^eJerusalem) and now we know that Jerusalem was destroyed according to the words of Jeremiah. O then why not the Son of God come, according to his prophecy? So these people didn’t believe Christ would come? Nephi is establishing the teaching that the words of past prophets are important and that they stand forever and they will all be fulfilled. We should never discount or ignore past prophets just because we have a living one.
 21 And now will you dispute that ^aJerusalem was destroyed? Will ye say that the ^bsons of Zedekiah were not slain, all except it were ^cMulek? Yea, and do ye not behold that the seed of Zedekiah are with us, and they were driven out of the land of Jerusalem? But behold, this is not all—The Mulekites brought personal knowledge with them that Jerusalem had been destroyed.
 22 Our father Lehi was driven out of Jerusalem because he ^atestified of these things. Nephi also testified of these things, and also almost all of our fathers, even down to this time; yea, they have testified of the ^bcoming of Christ, and have looked forward, and have rejoiced in his day which is to come.
 23 And behold, he is God, and he is ^awith them, and he did manifest himself unto them, that they were redeemed by him; and they gave unto him glory, because of that which is to come.
 24 And now, seeing ye know these things and cannot deny them except ye shall lie, therefore in this ye have sinned, for ye have rejected all these things,  notwithstanding so many ^aevidences which ye have received; yea, even ye have received ^ball things, both things in heaven, and all things which are in the earth, as a witness that they are true.
 25 But behold, ye have rejected the truth, and ^arebelled against your holy God; and even at this time, instead of laying up for yourselves ^btreasures in heaven, where nothing doth corrupt, and where nothing can come which is unclean, ye are heaping up for yourselves wrath against the day of ^cjudgment. Mormon, seeing our day, knows that the Gentiles also reject the fullness of the gospel as these people did. You can’t reject something unless you have received it. This isn’t just about missionaries knocking on doors and being rejected. They are only people rejecting the invitation to receive of the fullness through covenants. Only those who’ve made covenants can reject the fullness. This is in the Book of Mormon to warn us that we (members of the church) will do the same thing. One possible meaning of "rejecting the fullness" is rejecting the opportunity/invitation to come into God's presence as the children of Israel did with Moses. The didn't "have" the fullness and reject it, they rejected the invitation to receive the fullness. Have we had that invitation extended to us as Moses did to his people? They were at the very foot of the mountain when it was extended to them. When we say the "fullness" of the gospel was restored, it may only mean that the scriptures reveal the pattern/path to receiving the "fullness" (God's presence) through covenants and ordinances. When we refuse to follow that path we are in essence, rejecting the fullness of the Gospel. Hmmm...
 26 Yea, even at this time ye are ripening, because of your murders (abortion) and your ^afornication (pornography) and wickedness, for everlasting destruction; yea, and except ye repent it will come unto you soon.
 27 Yea, behold it is now even at your doors; yea, go ye in unto the judgment-seat, and search; and behold, your judge is murdered, and he ^alieth in his blood; and he hath been murdered ^bby his brother, who seeketh to sit in the judgment-seat. Hmm...is our VP going to be the one to take out our P? 
 28 And behold, they both belong to your secret band, whose ^aauthor is Gadianton and the evil one who seeketh to destroy the souls of men. The secret combinations pretend to take an oath of loyalty to each other, but they have none. These two men were both "members" but one sought to kill his own brother for power.