Helaman

Chapter 2

14 verses

1

In the forty-second year of the reign of the judges, after Moronihah had restored peace between the Nephites and the Lamanites, there was no one to fill the judgment-seat. Because of this, the people began to argue again about who should take that position.

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And it came to pass in the forty and second year of the reign of the judges, after Moronihah had established again peace between the Nephites and the Lamanites, behold there was no one to fill the judgment-seat; therefore there began to be a contention again among the people concerning who should fill the judgment-seat.

2

Helaman, the son of Helaman, was chosen by the people to fill the judgment-seat.

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And it came to pass that Helaman, who was the son of Helaman, was appointed to fill the judgment-seat, by the voice of the people.

3

Kishkumen, who had murdered Pahoran, waited in secret to kill Helaman as well; and he was supported by his group, who had made a covenant that no one would discover his wickedness.

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But behold, Kishkumen, who had murdered Pahoran, did lay wait to destroy Helaman also; and he was upheld by his band, who had entered into a covenant that no one should know his wickedness.

4

There was a man named Gadianton who was very skilled with words and also in his craft, using them to carry out secret acts of murder and robbery. Because of this, he became the leader of Kishkumen’s group.

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For there was one Gadianton, who was exceedingly expert in many words, and also in his craft, to carry on the secret work of murder and of robbery; therefore he became the leader of the band of Kishkumen.

5

He flattered them, including Kishkumen, promising that if they made him the judge, he would give power and authority to those in his group; so Kishkumen tried to kill Helaman.

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Therefore he did flatter them, and also Kishkumen, that if they would place him in the judgment-seat he would grant unto those who belonged to his band that they should be placed in power and authority among the people; therefore Kishkumen sought to destroy Helaman.

6

As he went toward the judgment seat to kill Helaman, one of Helaman’s servants, who had been out at night and had learned about the plans this group had made to kill Helaman by using a disguise,

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And it came to pass as he went forth towards the judgment-seat to destroy Helaman, behold one of the servants of Helaman, having been out by night, and having obtained, through disguise, a knowledge of those plans which had been laid by this band to destroy Helaman—

7

He met Kishkumen and gave him a sign. Kishkumen then told him what he wanted, asking him to lead him to the judgment seat so he could kill Helaman.

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And it came to pass that he met Kishkumen, and he gave unto him a sign; therefore Kishkumen made known unto him the object of his desire, desiring that he would conduct him to the judgment-seat that he might murder Helaman.

8

When Helaman’s servant understood everything Kishkumen intended in his heart—that his goal was to murder, and that everyone in his group wanted to murder, rob, and gain power as part of their secret plan—the servant said to Kishkumen, “Let’s go to the judgment-seat. ”

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And when the servant of Helaman had known all the heart of Kishkumen, and how that it was his object to murder, and also that it was the object of all those who belonged to his band to murder, and to rob, and to gain power, (and this was their secret plan, and their combination) the servant of Helaman said unto Kishkumen: Let us go forth unto the judgment-seat.

9

This made Kishkumen very happy, because he thought he would succeed in his plan. But as they were on their way to the judgment seat, Helaman’s servant stabbed Kishkumen in the heart, and he died instantly without making a sound. The servant then ran and told Helaman everything he had seen, heard, and done.

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Now this did please Kishkumen exceedingly, for he did suppose that he should accomplish his design; but behold, the servant of Helaman, as they were going forth unto the judgment-seat, did stab Kishkumen even to the heart, that he fell dead without a groan. And he ran and told Helaman all the things which he had seen, and heard, and done.

10

Helaman sent out orders to capture this group of robbers and secret murderers, so they could be executed according to the law.

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And it came to pass that Helaman did send forth to take this band of robbers and secret murderers, that they might be executed according to the law.

11

When Gadianton realized that Kishkumen didn’t return, he was afraid he would be destroyed. So he had his group follow him, and they escaped from the land by a secret route into the wilderness. When Helaman sent people to capture them, they couldn’t be found anywhere.

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But behold, when Gadianton had found that Kishkumen did not return he feared lest that he should be destroyed; therefore he caused that his band should follow him. And they took their flight out of the land, by a secret way, into the wilderness; and thus when Helaman sent forth to take them they could nowhere be found.

12

More will be said about this Gadianton later. This is how the forty-second year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi ended.

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And more of this Gadianton shall be spoken hereafter. And thus ended the forty and second year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.

13

At the end of this book, you will see that this Gadianton was responsible for the overthrow and almost the complete destruction of the people of Nephi.

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And behold, in the end of this book ye shall see that this Gadianton did prove the overthrow, yea, almost the entire destruction of the people of Nephi.

14

I don’t mean the end of the book of Helaman, but the end of the book of Nephi, from which I have taken all the account I have written.

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Behold I do not mean the end of the book of Helaman, but I mean the end of the book of Nephi, from which I have taken all the account which I have written.

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