Helaman 5

Echo of the Savior's teaching on treasure in heaven

And now my sons, behold I have somewhat more to desire of you, which desire is, that ye may not do these things that ye may boast, but that ye may do these things to lay up for yourselves a treasure in heaven, yea, which is eternal, and which fadeth not away; yea, that ye may have that precious gift of eternal life, which we have reason to suppose hath been given to our fathers. Helaman 5:8

Helaman's words echo the Savior's own Sermon on the Mount teaching to lay up treasure in heaven. He tells his sons to do good not to boast but to gain the eternal life Christ offers.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Matthew 6:19-21 — Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.
• alludes to 3 Nephi 13:19-21 — The risen Christ repeats the same teaching to the Nephites.
• alludes to 1 Peter 1:4 — An inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven.

The atoning blood of Jesus Christ

Jesus — Jehovah saves; Christ — the Anointed One

O remember, remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world. Helaman 5:9

Helaman reminds his sons of King Benjamin's testimony: the only way anyone can be saved is through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. Writing about 30 years before His birth, he testifies that Christ will come to redeem the whole world.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to Mosiah 3:17-18 — Benjamin: no other name, way, nor means whereby salvation can come, but through the atoning blood of Christ.
• alludes to Mosiah 4:8 — Benjamin: there is none other salvation save this.
• the same title in Acts 4:12 — None other name under heaven whereby we must be saved.

Redeemed from sins, not in them

And remember also the words which Amulek spake unto Zeezrom, in the city of Ammonihah; for he said unto him that the Lord surely should come to redeem his people, but that he should not come to redeem them in their sins, but to redeem them from their sins. Helaman 5:10

Recalling Amulek's answer to Zeezrom, Helaman testifies that the Lord Himself would come to earth to redeem His people. He does not save people while they stay in their sins; He saves them out of their sins as they repent.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Alma 11:34-37 — Amulek to Zeezrom: he shall not save his people in their sins.
• alludes to Alma 11:40 — He shall come into the world to redeem his people.
• fulfilled by Matthew 1:21 — Jesus named because he shall save his people from their sins.

Redeemer

Redeemer — one who buys back and frees

And he hath power given unto him from the Father to redeem them from their sins because of repentance; therefore he hath sent his angels to declare the tidings of the conditions of repentance, which bringeth unto the power of the Redeemer, unto the salvation of their souls. Helaman 5:11

The Son received power from the Father to redeem people from their sins on condition of repentance. He sends angels to declare those conditions so people can come under the saving power of the Redeemer.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to Alma 13:22-24 — The voice of the Lord, by the mouth of angels, declares glad tidings of His coming.
• alludes to Moroni 7:22 — God sent angels to minister and make manifest concerning the coming of Christ.

Rock of our Redeemer

Christ, the Son of God — the Anointed One; the Rock — the unmovable foundation

And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall. Helaman 5:12

Helaman names the Rock plainly: our Redeemer, Christ, the Son of God. When the devil's winds, hail, and storms beat on a life built on Him, they have no power to drag it down, because He is a sure foundation.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him

• alludes to Matthew 7:24-27 — The wise man built his house upon a rock; the rain, floods, and winds beat upon it and it fell not.
• alludes to 3 Nephi 14:24-27 — The risen Christ gives the same parable to the Nephites.
• alludes to Isaiah 28:16 — A tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation laid in Zion.
• the same title in 1 Corinthians 3:11 — Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
• the same title in 1 Corinthians 10:4 — That Rock was Christ.

The still voice from above the cloud

And it came to pass that there came a voice as if it were above the cloud of darkness, saying: Repent ye, repent ye, and seek no more to destroy my servants whom I have sent unto you to declare good tidings. Helaman 5:29–33

A still voice of perfect mildness speaks three times from heaven, calling the prison mob to repent and claiming Nephi and Lehi as 'my servants whom I have sent.' The text does not name the speaker; the call 'the kingdom of heaven is at hand' matches the message of Christ's ministry, and the later voice in v. 47 is plainly the Father speaking of His Son.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to 3 Nephi 11:3 — A small voice that pierced to the very soul — the Father introducing His Beloved Son.
• alludes to Matthew 4:17 — Jesus began to preach: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
• alludes to 1 Kings 19:12 — After the earthquake and fire, a still small voice.

Faith in Christ

Christ — the Anointed One

And Aminadab said unto them: You must repent, and cry unto the voice, even until ye shall have faith in Christ, who was taught unto you by Alma, and Amulek, and Zeezrom; and when ye shall do this, the cloud of darkness shall be removed from overshadowing you. Helaman 5:41–42

Aminadab, a former member, tells the terrified Lamanites that the darkness will lift only when they repent and cry out until they have faith in Christ, the same Christ that Alma, Amulek, and the converted Zeezrom had preached. When they did, the darkness left.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Alma 34:15-17 — Amulek: faith unto repentance; begin to call upon his holy name.
• alludes to Alma 15:6-10 — Zeezrom healed according to his faith which is in Christ.

Baptism with fire and the Holy Ghost

And it came to pass that when they cast their eyes about, and saw that the cloud of darkness was dispersed from overshadowing them, behold, they saw that they were encircled about, yea every soul, by a pillar of fire. Helaman 5:43–45

Encircled by a pillar of fire and filled with the Holy Spirit, these Lamanites received what the risen Savior later identifies as baptism with fire and the Holy Ghost, given because of their faith in Him. The 'joy unspeakable and full of glory' is the joy Peter says comes from believing in Christ.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• interpreted by 3 Nephi 9:20 — Christ: the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.
• fulfils Matthew 3:11 — He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.
• alludes to 1 Peter 1:8 — Believing in him, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

My Well Beloved

Well Beloved — the Father's dearly beloved Son

And it came to pass that there came a voice unto them, yea, a pleasant voice, as if it were a whisper, saying: Helaman 5:46–47

The Father's own pleasant, whispering voice speaks peace to the converts because of their faith in His Well Beloved Son. It is one of the few places in scripture where the Father's voice is heard testifying of Jesus Christ.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• the same title in 3 Nephi 11:7 — Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
• the same title in Matthew 3:17 — This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
• the same title in Joseph Smith—History 1:17 — This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!

Christ from the foundation of the world

Peace, peace be unto you, because of your faith in my Well Beloved, who was from the foundation of the world. Helaman 5:47

The Father testifies that His Son existed and was chosen as Redeemer from the foundation of the world, long before His birth in Bethlehem. Faith in Him was saving these Lamanites before He had even come in the flesh.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• the same title in Moses 4:2 — My Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning.
• alludes to Revelation 13:8 — The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
• alludes to Mosiah 4:6-7 — The atonement which has been prepared from the foundation of the world.