Helaman 13

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

The prophecy of Samuel, the Lamanite, to the Nephites.
Comprising chapters 13 through 15.

CHAPTER 13

Samuel the Lamanite prophesies the destruction of the Nephites unless they repent—They and their riches are cursed—They reject and stone the prophets, are encircled about by demons, and seek for happiness in doing iniquity. About 6 B.C.

  1 And now it came to pass in the eighty and sixth year, the Nephites did still remain in wickedness, yea, in great wickedness, while the ^aLamanites did observe strictly to keep the commandments of God, according to the law of Moses. The word, "strictly" is a word link to the verse "and they did obey with exactness...and according to their faith it was done." It takes faith to obey strictly or exactly. Faith is honored by God. Yesterday in primary I asked the kids if they would be able to behave reverently and respectfully for 20 min if I gave them $100. They ALL could obey "exactly". There is much more we could do to obey strictly if we had more faith.
  2 And it came to pass that in this year there was one ^aSamuel, a ^bLamanite, came into the land of Zarahemla, and began to preach unto the people. it doesn't say he was a "prophet" but later, he is referred to as a "prophet" in 3 Nephi 1:9 and Jesus refers to him as Samuel my servant when he asked if his words were recorded. They hadn't been. Was that because he wasn't "the" prophet and they didn't give them credibility? And it came to pass that he did preach, many days, repentance unto the people, and they did ^ccast him out, and he was about to ^dreturn to his own land. Here we have a complete reversal of circumstances... The Nephites are completely wicked and the Lamanites are strictly obedient. A Lamanite goes to preach to the Nephites and is rejected instead of a Nephite preaching to the Lamanites and being rejected. If this is a type (which Isaiah says it is, and Mormon too for including it in his record...) then, perhaps the end-time servant will come from the Lamanite ancestry. I think he is supposed to convert the Lamanites by the thousands while the Gentiles reject him. 
  3 But behold, the ^avoice of the Lord came unto him, that he should return again, and prophesy unto the people whatsoever things should come into his ^bheart. This wording tells us that Samuel was called by the Lord to preach and prophesy. I love he could trust whatever came into his heart as being correct and from the Lord. We will see in verse 5 that this doesn't mean "say whatever YOU want", but that the Lord will PUT words in his heart in the moment. Notice also the words don't come into his "head", but his heart. I forget that Samuel's famous "on the wall" preaching wasn't his first attempt. It would add to his miraculous preservation that they had been successful in "casting him out" before, but now could not harm him.

  4 And it came to pass that they would not suffer that he should enter into the city; therefore he went and got upon the ^awall thereof, he had complete faith that if the Lord told him to return and preach, that he would find a way, even as he met with opposition. Satan tries to get us to doubt our revelation when it is met with opposition... but here we are taught that opposition is not a sign that you are on the wrong path. and stretched forth his hand and cried with a loud voice, and ^bprophesied unto the people whatsoever things the Lord put into his heart. 
  5 And he said unto them: Behold, I, Samuel, a Lamanite, do speak the words of the Lord which he doth put into my heart; here we see Samuel's faith that his words were from the Lord and not his own. He makes sure to start out with this preface that his words are from the Lord. We need more of this...and behold he hath put it into my heart to say unto this people that the ^asword of justice hangeth over this people; and four hundred years pass not away save the sword of justice falleth upon this people. I think in our day, that a warning about destruction in 400 years would not change what people do today. They would "kick the can" down the road and let those living in 400 years worry about it... we still have people, who after being told by our prophet we live in the last of the last days and are preparing the world for the Second Coming, still believe it's not in their lifetime and refuse to prepare for the prophesied events preceding His coming. sigh. 
  6 Yea, heavy ^adestruction awaiteth this people, and it surely cometh unto this people, and nothing can save this people save it be repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ, who surely shall come into the world, and shall suffer many things and shall be slain for his people.
  7 And behold, an ^aangel of the Lord hath declared it unto me, and he did bring ^bglad tidings to my soul. And behold, I was sent unto you to declare it unto you also, that ye might have glad tidings; but behold ye would ^cnot receive me. Here we are told that Samuel received his first "charge" to preach from an angel. He also sees his message as "glad tidings". We are quick to see the message of "repent or be destroyed" and fail to see the glad tidings of "repent and be NOT destroyed". Maybe the "glad tidings" were that through faith on Jesus who would come and atone for their sins, they could be forgiven. It's not just "repent or be destroyed" but "you have sinned and destruction is coming; but the good news is because of Jesus Christ, you can repent and be spared now and in the eternities"! GOOD NEWS!
  8 Therefore, thus saith the Lord: Because of the hardness of the hearts of the people of the Nephites, except they repent I will take away my word from them, and I will ^awithdraw my Spirit from them, and I will suffer them no longer, and I will turn the hearts of their brethren against them. Can you see the type for our day here? We know that the "day of the Gentiles" ends when they (us in the Church) reject the fulness of the gospel. It is taken from us and given to the Jews and the Ten Tribes and the Lamanites. Wo unto us when his Spirit is withdrawn from us! Wo unto us when the Lord turns the hearts of our own (apostates) against us. 
  9 And ^afour hundred years shall not pass away before I will cause that they shall be smitten; yea, I will visit them with the sword and with famine and with pestilence. Hear and hearken! These are the prophesied things of our day!!! 
 10 Yea, I will visit them in my fierce anger, and there shall be those of the fourth generation who shall live, of your enemies, to behold your utter destruction; and this shall surely come except ye repent, saith the Lord; and those of the fourth generation shall visit your destruction.
 11 But if ye will repent and ^areturn unto the Lord your God I will turn away mine anger, saith the Lord; yea, thus saith the Lord, blessed are they who will repent and turn unto me, but wo unto him that repenteth not. There is always time to repent as long as the Lord says there is time...until it is too late.  We know some in the Church repent because the scriptures prophesy it. I think the worst of our persecution will come from within. We'll be "wounded in the house of our friends" as Christ was. I also think we are being taught that their repentance (or lack of it) would have generational consequences....even up to 400 years later!
 12 Yea, ^awo unto this great city of Zarahemla; for behold, it is because of those who are righteous that it is saved; yea, wo unto this great city, for I perceive, saith the Lord, that there are many, yea, even the more part of this great city, that will harden their hearts against me, saith the Lord. How long will we be spared because of the righteous among us? 
 13 But blessed are they who will repent, for them will I spare. But behold, if it were not for the righteous who are in this great city, behold, I would cause that ^afire should come down out of heaven and ^bdestroy it. Sounds like this warning is not 400 years in the future, but current. This statement that they would be destroyed except for the righteous lends validation to the idea that when the destruction comes, the Lord has to remove the righteous first, for they are the reason that total destruction hasn't come upon the city.
 14 But behold, it is for the righteous’ sake that it is spared. But behold, the time cometh, saith the Lord, that when ye shall cast out the righteous from among you, another way the righteous are removed...then shall ye be ^aripe for destruction; yea, wo be unto this great city, because of the wickedness and abominations which are in her.
 15 Yea, and wo be unto the city of Gideon, for the wickedness and abominations which are in her.
 16 Yea, and wo be unto all the cities which are in the land round about, which are possessed by the Nephites, because of the wickedness and abominations which are in them.
 17 And behold, a ^acurse shall come upon the land, saith the Lord of Hosts, because of the people’s sake  Is it for their sake like noxious weeds were for Adam's sake? To keep us stirred up in remembrance of God? who are upon the land, yea, because of their wickedness and their abominations.
 18 And it shall come to pass, saith the Lord of Hosts, yea, our great and true God, that whoso shall ^ahide up treasures in the earth shall find them again no more, because of the great curse of the land, save he be a righteous man and shall hide it up unto the Lord. Is this consecration? I wonder if this has anything to do with investments? Could God prosper the investments of the righteous and cause the wicked to lose theirs? How do you hide it up unto the Lord? 
 19 For I will, saith the Lord, that they shall hide up their ^atreasures unto me; and cursed be they who hide not up their treasures unto me; for none hideth up their treasures unto me save it be the righteous; and he that hideth not up his treasures unto me, cursed is he, and also the treasure, and none shall redeem it because of the curse of the land.
 20 And the day shall come that they shall hide up their treasures, because they have set their hearts upon riches; and because they have set their hearts upon their riches, and will hide up their treasures when they shall flee before their enemies; because they will not hide them up unto me, cursed be they and also their treasures; and in that day shall they be smitten, saith the Lord.
 21 Behold ye, the people of this great city, and hearken unto my words; yea, hearken unto the words which the Lord saith; for behold, he saith that ye are ^acursed because of your riches, and also are your riches cursed because ye have set your hearts upon them, and have not ^bhearkened unto the words of him who gave them unto you. Where did you get your riches??? The LORD!!!
 22 Ye do not remember the Lord your God in the things with which he hath blessed you, but ye do always remember your ^ariches, not to thank the Lord your God for them; yea, your hearts are not drawn out unto the Lord, but they do swell with great pride, unto ^bboasting, and unto great ^cswelling, ^denvyings, strifes, malice, persecutions, and murders, and all manner of iniquities.
 23 For this cause hath the Lord God caused that a curse should come upon the land, and also upon your riches, and this because of your iniquities.
 24 Yea, wo unto this people, because of this time which has arrived, that ye do ^acast out the prophets, and do mock them, and cast stones at them, and do slay them, and do all manner of iniquity unto them, even as they did of old time.
 25 And now when ye talk, ye say: If our days had been in the days of our fathers of old, we would not have ^bslain the prophets; we would not have stoned them, and cast them out.
 26 Behold ye are worse than they; for as the Lord liveth, if a ^aprophet come among you and declareth unto you the word of the Lord, which testifieth of your ^bsins and iniquities, ye are ^cangry with him, and cast him out and seek all manner of ways to destroy him; yea, you will say that he is a ^dfalse ^eprophet, and that he is a sinner, and of the devil, because he ^ftestifieth that your deeds are evil.
 27 But behold, if a man shall come among you and shall say: Do this, and there is no iniquity; do that and ye shall not suffer; yea, he will say: ^aWalk after the pride of your own hearts; yea, walk after the pride of your eyes, and do whatsoever your heart desireth—and if a man shall come among you and say this, ye will receive him, and say that he is a ^bprophet.
 28 Yea, ye will lift him up, and ye will give unto him of your substance; ye will give unto him of your gold, and of your silver, and ye will clothe him with costly apparel; and because he speaketh ^aflattering words unto you, and he saith that all is well, then ye will not find fault with him.
 29 O ye wicked and ye perverse generation; ye hardened and ye stiffnecked people, how long will ye suppose that the Lord will suffer you? Yea, how long will ye suffer yourselves to be led by ^bfoolish and ^cblind guides? Yea, how long will ye ^dchoose darkness rather than ^elight?
 30 Yea, behold, the anger of the Lord is already kindled against you; behold, he hath cursed the land because of your iniquity.
 31 And behold, the time cometh that he curseth your riches, that they become ^aslippery, that ye cannot hold them; and in the days of your poverty ye cannot retain them.
 32 And in the days of your poverty ye shall cry unto the Lord; and in vain shall ye cry, for your desolation is already come upon you, and your destruction is made sure; and then shall ye weep and howl in that day, saith the Lord of Hosts. And then shall ye lament, and say:
 33 O ^athat I had repented, and had not killed the prophets, and ^bstoned them, and cast them out. Yea, in that day ye shall say: O that we had remembered the Lord our God in the day that he gave us our riches, and then they would not have become slippery that we should lose them; for behold, our riches are gone from us.
 34 Behold, we lay a tool here and on the morrow it is gone; and behold, our swords are taken from us in the day we have sought them for battle.
 35 Yea, we have hid up our ^atreasures and they have slipped away from us, because of the curse of the land.
 36 O that we had repented in the day that the word of the Lord came unto us; for behold the land is cursed, and all things are become slippery, and we cannot hold them.
 37 Behold, we are surrounded by ^ademons, yea, we are encircled about by the angels of him who hath sought to destroy our souls. Behold, our iniquities are great. O Lord, canst thou not turn away thine anger from us? And this shall be your language in those days.
 38 But behold, your ^adays of probation are past; ye have ^bprocrastinated the day of your salvation until it is everlastingly too late, and your destruction is made sure; yea, for ye have sought all the days of your lives for that which ye could not obtain; and ye have sought for ^chappiness in doing iniquity, which thing is ^dcontrary to the nature of that righteousness which is in our great and Eternal Head. Perhaps the thing that makes it too late, and destruction sure, is that the repentance is not about a change of heart, but just sorry for what they have lost, which isn't really repentance at all. 
 39 O ye people of the land, that ye would hear my words! And I pray that the anger of the Lord be turned away from you, and that ye would repent and be saved. His message is one of love. He's trying to save them!