Helaman 8

Messiah

Messiah: the Anointed One (Hebrew mashiach; Greek Christos)

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. Helaman 8:13

Nephi reminds his accusers that Moses himself prophesied of the coming Messiah. Rejecting Nephi means rejecting Moses too, because both testify of the same Christ.

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

• alludes to Deuteronomy 18:15 — Moses: 'The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet... like unto me.'
• interprets 1 Nephi 22:20-21 — Nephi quotes Moses' prophecy and says the Prophet is the Holy One of Israel.
• the same title in Mosiah 13:33 — Abinadi: Moses and all the prophets prophesied of the coming of the Messiah.

Son of God

Son of God: Jesus as the literal Son of the Father

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. Helaman 8:14

Nephi says Moses bore record that the Son of God would come. The Old Testament law and prophets were a long testimony pointing forward to Jesus.

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

• the same event in John 5:46 — Jesus: 'had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.'

Brazen Serpent

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. Helaman 8:14–15

Nephi says outright that the brass serpent Moses raised on a pole was a type of Christ. Jesus would be lifted up on the cross, and whoever looks to Him with faith and a humble heart lives forever, just as the bitten Israelites who looked at the serpent were healed.

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

• a type of what is in Numbers 21:8-9 — The original event: whoever looked on the serpent of brass lived.
• interpreted by John 3:14-15 — Jesus: 'as Moses lifted up the serpent... even so must the Son of man be lifted up.'
• interprets Alma 33:19-22 — Alma: a type was raised in the wilderness; look and live by believing in the Son of God.
• the same event in 1 Nephi 17:41 — Nephi: the Lord prepared a way that the bitten Israelites might be healed by looking.
• the same event in 2 Nephi 25:20 — Nephi recalls the brazen serpent in testifying that Jesus Christ is the only name that saves.

Faith in Christ

And as many as should look upon that serpent should live, even so as many as should look upon the Son of God with faith, having a contrite spirit, might live, even unto that life which is eternal. Helaman 8:15

The meaning of the type: eternal life comes by looking to the Son of God with faith and a contrite spirit. It is as simple as the Israelites' look, and just as easy to refuse.

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

• alludes to Alma 37:46-47 — Alma to Helaman: 'look to God and live,' applying the same lesson.
• the same title in 2 Nephi 2:7 — The Messiah's sacrifice answers the ends of the law for those with a broken heart and contrite spirit.

All Prophets Testify of Christ

And now behold, Moses did not only testify of these things, but also all the holy prophets, from his days even to the days of Abraham. Helaman 8:16

'These things' are the coming of the Son of God and His being lifted up. Nephi teaches that every holy prophet has testified of Christ, which is the whole reason this map exists.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• the same title in Jacob 7:11 — Jacob: none of the prophets have written or prophesied save they have spoken concerning this Christ.
• the same title in Jacob 4:4 — The Nephites knew of Christ, and the holy prophets before them had a hope of His glory.
• the same title in Acts 10:43 — Peter: 'To him give all the prophets witness.'

Messiah

Yea, and behold, Abraham saw of his coming, and was filled with gladness and did rejoice. Helaman 8:17

'His coming' is the coming of the Son of God. Abraham was shown the Savior's day ahead of time and rejoiced. Jesus Himself said the same thing in Jerusalem.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• the same event in John 8:56 — Jesus: 'Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.'
• alludes to Genesis 22:8 — Abraham: 'God will provide himself a lamb,' the type Abraham lived through.

Priesthood after the Order of the Son of God

Yea, and behold I say unto you, that Abraham not only knew of these things, but there were many before the days of Abraham who were called by the order 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. Helaman 8:18

Prophets before Abraham held the priesthood 'after the order of his Son,' the Holy Priesthood named for Christ. That priesthood and its ordinances existed so people thousands of years before His birth could know redemption would come through Him.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• interprets D&C 107:2-4 — The Melchizedek Priesthood was first called the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God.
• the same title in Alma 13:1-2 — Priests ordained after the order of His Son, in a manner that showed people how to look forward to His Son for redemption.
• the same title in Alma 13:16 — The ordinances were given so the people might look forward on the Son of God, being a type of His order.

Son of God

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 Zenos did testify boldly; for the which he was slain. Helaman 8:19–20

Nephi lists prophets who testified of the Son of God, including Zenos, Zenock and Ezias, whose writings we do not have. Jeremiah's words about Jerusalem's destruction came true, so why doubt his prophecy that the Son of God would come?

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

• the same title in Alma 33:15-17 — Zenock spoke of the Son of God and was stoned for it.
• the same title in 1 Nephi 19:10 — Zenos, Zenock and Neum prophesied of the God of Israel's crucifixion, burial and three days of darkness.
• alludes to Jeremiah 23:5-6 — Jeremiah's prophecy of the righteous Branch, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, a likely referent of 'his prophecy'.

Christ

Christ: the Anointed One (Greek Christos, equivalent of Messiah)

Our father Lehi was driven out of Jerusalem because he testified 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 coming of Christ, and have looked forward, and have rejoiced in his day which is to come. Helaman 8:22

Lehi was driven out of Jerusalem for testifying of the Messiah, and nearly every Nephite prophet since has testified of Christ and rejoiced in His coming day. Believers before His birth looked forward to Him with joy.

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

• the same event in 1 Nephi 1:19-20 — Lehi testified plainly of the coming of a Messiah, and the Jews sought his life.
• the same title in 2 Nephi 25:26 — 'We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ.'
• the same title in Jarom 1:11 — The prophets persuaded the people to look forward unto the Messiah, and believe in him to come as though he already was.

Premortal Christ

And behold, he is God, and he is with 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. Helaman 8:23

Nephi says the coming Christ 'is God.' Even before His birth He showed Himself to the ancient prophets and redeemed them. His Atonement reached backward to save those who believed in it before it happened.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• the same title in 2 Nephi 11:2-3 — Nephi, Jacob and Isaiah saw the Redeemer before His birth.
• the same title in Mosiah 3:13 — Those who believed Christ should come received remission of sins as though He had already come.
• the same title in Ether 3:14 — The premortal Jesus Christ shows Himself to the brother of Jared.

All Things Testify of Christ

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 evidences which ye have received; yea, even ye have received all things, both things in heaven, and all things which are in the earth, as a witness that they are true. Helaman 8:24

The truths Nephi has named, that Christ is coming and redeems, are witnessed by everything in heaven and earth. Creation itself testifies of the Savior, so rejecting Him is willful.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• the same title in Alma 30:44 — Alma to Korihor: all things denote there is a God, even the earth and all things upon it.
• the same title in Moses 6:63 — 'All things are created and made to bear record of me.'

Jehovah

But behold, ye have rejected the truth, and rebelled against your holy God; and even at this time, instead of laying up for yourselves treasures 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 judgment. Helaman 8:25

Two verses earlier Nephi said of Christ, 'he is God.' Rebelling against 'your holy God' means rebelling against the Holy One who redeems Israel.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him