Helaman 1 Look to God and Live

I remember a little story from when I was a boy:  Once there was a father and a young son who were both very hungry.  They came upon an apple orchard that was surrounded by a high fence.  The signs on the fence warned people to “stay out.”  The father looked all around and finding no one guarding the fence said to his son, “Boy, come near and I will boost you up so that you can make it over the fence and get us some apples to eat.”  The obedient son placed is foot in his father’s hands and being lifted up was able to see a fine orchard of trees full of apples.  The father continued to look nervously around.  He looked to the right; he looked to the left.  Relieved, he told his son to jump down into the orchard.  However, the son, who saw his father looking to the right and to the left, was pricked in his conscience and said to his father, “But father, you forgot to look up.”

From this story, I learned that no matter if the coast seems clear, that I can’t hide my sins from the Lord.  He is always there.  He sees me.  He is not waiting there trying to catch me doing wrong. No, he wants me to do what is right.  He rejoices in my good choices and sorrows when I try to hide my sins.  “Wickedness never was happiness.”  When we try to hide from the Lord, the Spirit is grieved and we lose that vital contact that is so necessary as we navigate through our days.  Repentance is so necessary every day of our lives. We must have the Spirit to guide us.

As we start our journey through the book of Helaman we begin with a tragedy.  There is an election held and Pahoran is voted in as chief judge.  His brother Paanchi and his followers won’t accept the results and try to mount an insurrection.  Yet, the law prevails and Paanchi is brought to justice for trying to destroy the liberty of the people.  Tragically, his followers can’t abide the judgment of their candidate and create a secret plot to kill Pahoran.  “Secret combinations” are entered into.  The chief judge is murdered by Kishkumen and the Gadianton Robbers are born.  The object of secret combinations is to get gain, power, and control of the government through any means, including murder. 

Because of the attention being paid to these problems in the government, the Lamanites, led by Coriantumr, a Nephite dissenter came to battle against the Nephites and took control of the city of Zarahemla, the Nephite capital.  However, he was overzealous in his attempt to conquer the Nephites and was defeated by Moronihah, son of Moroni.  An interesting point is that the defeated Lamanite army is allowed to return to their homeland.  The Nephite leaders have no desire for power over the Lamanites; they don’t want to profit from war; they only seek for the peace and freedom of their loved ones.