Helaman 13

Jesus Christ

Jesus — Jehovah saves; Christ — the Anointed One

Yea, heavy destruction 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. Helaman 13:6

Samuel names Jesus Christ about five years before His birth and says faith in Him plus repentance is the only thing that can save the people. He also foretells that Christ will suffer and be slain for His people.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

• the same title in Helaman 14:2 — Samuel continues: the Son of God comes in five years to redeem believers.
• fulfilled by 3 Nephi 11:14 — The risen Christ shows the Nephites He was slain for the sins of the world.
• alludes to Mosiah 3:7 — The angel's earlier prophecy that He would suffer more than man can suffer.

Glad tidings of His coming

And behold, an angel of the Lord hath declared it unto me, and he did bring glad 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 not receive me. Helaman 13:7

The 'glad tidings' an angel gave Samuel are the news of Christ's coming just described. It echoes the angelic 'glad tidings of great joy' about the Savior elsewhere.

• alludes to Mosiah 3:3 — An angel brings King Benjamin 'glad tidings of great joy' about Christ.
• fulfilled by Helaman 16:14 — Angels declare glad tidings of great joy to wise men when the signs begin.

Jehovah

Jehovah — the covenant God of Israel, the premortal Christ

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 withdraw my Spirit from them, and I will suffer them no longer, and I will turn the hearts of their brethren against them. Helaman 13:8–10

Samuel speaks the Lord's words in the first person. In the Book of Mormon 'the Lord' who speaks through prophets is Jehovah, the premortal Jesus Christ, warning His covenant people.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

Jehovah

Jehovah — the covenant God of Israel, the premortal Christ

But if ye will repent and return 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. Helaman 13:11–14

The Lord invites the Nephites to 'turn unto me' and promises to spare the repentant. It is the same Lord who later invites them in person to return and be healed.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

• alludes to 3 Nephi 9:13 — The voice of Christ in the darkness: 'will ye not now return unto me, and repent'.

Lord of Hosts

Lord of Hosts — Jehovah, commander of heaven's armies

And behold, a curse shall come upon the land, saith the Lord of Hosts, because of the people's sake who are upon the land, yea, because of their wickedness and their abominations. Helaman 13:17–20

'Lord of Hosts' is a title of Jehovah, the premortal Christ. He speaks in the first person about the curse on hoarded treasures.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

Light of the World

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 foolish and blind guides? Yea, how long will ye choose darkness rather than light? Helaman 13:29

Choosing darkness over light echoes how scripture describes people rejecting Christ, the Light who comes into the world.

• the same title in John 3:19 — Men 'loved darkness rather than light' when the Light came into the world.

Lord of Hosts

Lord of Hosts — Jehovah, commander of heaven's armies

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: Helaman 13:32

Samuel again closes a warning with the voice of the Lord of Hosts, Jehovah.

How we know: the verse itself names Him

Eternal Head

Eternal Head — the one who presides over all

But behold, your days of probation are past; ye have procrastinated 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 happiness in doing iniquity, which thing is contrary to the nature of that righteousness which is in our great and Eternal Head. Helaman 13:38

Samuel calls God 'our great and Eternal Head', the source of true righteousness. The title could mean the Father or Christ, whom scripture calls the head of His people.