Day 28 - Helaman 5-10; D&C 109-112

[Seanette]

Read this on 7/31.
Helaman 4 – Nephite dissenters join forces with the Lamanites and stir up war. They succeed in taking Zarahemla and all the Nephite territory in the land southward. The Nephites were defeated because of their wickedness, mostly pride and lack of charity. Moronihah, Nephi, and Lehi preach. The repentant prosper. The Nephites regain half of their territory. The Church dwindles and the Nephites are weakened.
Helaman 5 – Nephi passes the judgment seat to Cezoram and devotes himself to preaching along with Lehi. Nephi and Lehi were told by their father that their names were chosen to invite them to emulate their namesakes, and he urged them to remember Christ as the foundation and bedrock. The brothers remember the words of their father, and bring many to repentance. They are captured by Lamanites and placed in the same prison Ammon and his brothers were put in by the servants of Limhi. They are starved. Their captors come to slay them, but they are encircled by fire and protected. The prison walls shake and there is a cloud of darkness. A still voice of perfect mildness from above commands repentance. The walls shake again, and the voice repeats its message. The walls shake for the third time and the voice again repeats its message. The walls shake yet again. Aminadab, a Nephite dissenter, sees the faces of Nephi and Lehi shining through the darkness and calls everyone’s attention to this (about 300 people are involved in this event). Aminadab tells the Lamanites they must repent and pray. The darkness disperses and all are encircled by fire. The Holy Ghost enters their hearts, and they go forth and minister.
Helaman 6 – The Lamanites are more righteous than the Nephites and minister to them. The Nephites repent. There is an era of peace and plenty for both groups. The land south is called Lehi, the land north is called Mulek. Cezoram is murdered while on the judgment seat, and his son who succeeds him is also murdered. The people grow wicked again (yet again, the problem stems from pride and material greed), and begin to murder, rob, and plunder to get gain. The Lamanites seek to destroy the Gadiantons, while many Nephites have joined with the Gadiantons, have taken their secret oath, and have made the covenants that Alma prohibited his son from revealing. These oaths and covenants were put into Gadianton’s heart by Satan (I wonder if these are the same that Cain and later Lamech were involved in?). The Spirit of the Lord begins to withdraw from the Nephites and pour out on the Lamanites. The Gadiantons take over the Nephite government.
Helaman 7 – Nephi is rejected in the land northward and returns home. He grieves over the evil that has taken over his people. He prays on his garden tower, and a crowd gathers. He calls on the people to repent or perish.
Helaman 8 – Corrupt judges, who are Gadiantons, are angered by Nephi’s preaching and stir up anger against him. Some people speak in his favor, while those opposed to him fear to attack him. He reviews the history of prophets testifying of Christ. By inspiration, he declares that chief judge Seezoram has been murdered by his brother and that both are Gadiantons.
Helaman 9 – Messengers find Seezoram dead. They are initially blamed for the killing, but are exonerated. Nephi is accused of conspiracy to commit the murder. By inspiration, he identifies Seantum as the killer, and Seantum confesses. Nephi is freed, and some accept him as a prophet.
Section 109 – The dedicatory prayer for the Kirtland Temple.
Section 110 – Jehovah appears in glory and accepts the Kirtland Temple as His house. Moses, Elias, and Elijah appear in turn and commit the keys of their dispensations.
Section 111 – The Lord looks to the temporal needs of His servants. He will deal mercifully with Zion and arrange all things for the good of His servants.
Section 112 – The Twelve are to send the Gospel and raise a warning voice to all nations and people. The Twelve are to take up their cross, follow Jesus, and feed His sheep. Those who receive the First Presidency receive the Lord. Darkness (apparently speaking of the spiritual) covers the earth, and only believers who are baptized shall be saved. The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve hold the keys of the dispensation of the fulness of times.