Helaman
41 verses
When Nephi finished speaking, some of the men there ran to the judgment seat; five of them went, and as they went, they talked among themselves:
Behold, now it came to pass that when Nephi had spoken these words, certain men who were among them ran to the judgment-seat; yea, even there were five who went, and they said among themselves, as they went:
Now we will know for sure whether this man is a prophet and if God has commanded him to prophesy such marvelous things to us. We do not believe that he has; we do not believe that he is a prophet. However, if what he said about the chief judge is true—that he is dead—then we will believe that the other things he has spoken are true.
Behold, now we will know of a surety whether this man be a prophet and God hath commanded him to prophesy such marvelous things unto us. Behold, we do not believe that he hath; yea, we do not believe that he is a prophet; nevertheless, if this thing which he has said concerning the chief judge be true, that he be dead, then will we believe that the other words which he has spoken are true.
They ran with all their strength and entered the judgment seat, and saw that the chief judge had fallen to the ground and was lying in his own blood.
And it came to pass that they ran in their might, and came in unto the judgment-seat; and behold, the chief judge had fallen to the earth, and did lie in his blood.
When they saw this, they were extremely astonished and fell to the ground, because they had not believed what Nephi had said about the chief judge.
And now behold, when they saw this they were astonished exceedingly, insomuch that they fell to the earth; for they had not believed the words which Nephi had spoken concerning the chief judge.
When they saw, they believed, and fear came over them that all the judgments Nephi had spoken might come upon the people. They trembled and fell to the ground.
But now, when they saw they believed, and fear came upon them lest all the judgments which Nephi had spoken should come upon the people; therefore they did quake, and had fallen to the earth.
As soon as the judge was murdered—stabbed by his brother in secret—his brother fled, and the servants ran to tell the people, raising the alarm of murder among them.
Now, immediately when the judge had been murdered—he being stabbed by his brother by a garb of secrecy, and he fled, and the servants ran and told the people, raising the cry of murder among them;
The people gathered together at the place of the judgment seat, and to their astonishment, they saw the five men who had fallen to the ground.
And behold the people did gather themselves together unto the place of the judgment-seat—and behold, to their astonishment they saw those five men who had fallen to the earth.
The people didn’t know anything about the crowd that had gathered at the garden of Nephi, so they said to each other, “These men are the ones who have murdered the judge, and God has struck them so they couldn’t escape from us. ”
And now behold, the people knew nothing concerning the multitude who had gathered together at the garden of Nephi; therefore they said among themselves: These men are they who have murdered the judge, and God has smitten them that they could not flee from us.
They seized them, tied them up, and threw them into prison. A proclamation was sent out that the judge had been killed, and that the murderers had been caught and put in prison.
And it came to pass that they laid hold on them, and bound them and cast them into prison. And there was a proclamation sent abroad that the judge was slain, and that the murderers had been taken and were cast into prison.
The next day, the people gathered together to mourn and fast at the burial of the great chief judge who had been killed.
And it came to pass that on the morrow the people did assemble themselves together to mourn and to fast, at the burial of the great chief judge who had been slain.
In the same way, the judges who were at the garden of Nephi and heard his words were also gathered together at the burial.
And thus also those judges who were at the garden of Nephi, and heard his words, were also gathered together at the burial.
They asked the people, “Where are the five who were sent to find out if the chief judge was dead? ” The people answered, “About these five you say you sent, we don’t know; but there are five who are the murderers, and we have put them in prison. ”
And it came to pass that they inquired among the people, saying: Where are the five who were sent to inquire concerning the chief judge whether he was dead? And they answered and said: Concerning this five whom ye say ye have sent, we know not; but there are five who are the murderers, whom we have cast into prison.
The judges wanted them to be brought in, and they were brought in—it was the five who had been sent. The judges questioned them about the situation, and they told the judges everything they had done, saying:
And it came to pass that the judges desired that they should be brought; and they were brought, and behold they were the five who were sent; and behold the judges inquired of them to know, concerning the matter, and they told them all that they had done, saying:
We ran to the judgment seat, and when we saw everything just as Nephi had said, we were so astonished that we fell to the ground. When we recovered from our shock, they threw us into prison.
We ran and came to the place of the judgment-seat, and when we saw all things even as Nephi had testified, we were astonished insomuch that we fell to the earth; and when we were recovered from our astonishment, behold they cast us into prison.
As for the murder of this man, we don’t know who did it; all we know is that we ran and came just as you asked, and he was dead, just as Nephi said.
Now, as for the murder of this man, we know not who has done it; and only this much we know, we ran and came according as ye desired, and behold he was dead, according to the words of Nephi.
The judges explained the situation to the people and accused Nephi, saying, “We know that Nephi must have conspired with someone to kill the judge, so that he could reveal it to us, convert us to his beliefs, and make himself out to be a great man, chosen by God and a prophet. ”
And now it came to pass that the judges did expound the matter unto the people, and did cry out against Nephi, saying: Behold, we know that this Nephi must have agreed with some one to slay the judge, and then he might declare it unto us, that he might convert us unto his faith, that he might raise himself to be a great man, chosen of God, and a prophet.
Now we will catch this man, and he will admit his guilt and reveal to us who the real murderer of this judge is.
And now behold, we will detect this man, and he shall confess his fault and make known unto us the true murderer of this judge.
The five were released on the day of the burial. However, they rebuked the judges for what they had said against Nephi and argued with them one by one, until the judges were left confused.
And it came to pass that the five were liberated on the day of the burial. Nevertheless, they did rebuke the judges in the words which they had spoken against Nephi, and did contend with them one by one, insomuch that they did confound them.
However, they had Nephi taken, tied up, and brought before the crowd, and they started questioning him in different ways, trying to trap him so they could accuse him and have him put to death.
Nevertheless, they caused that Nephi should be taken and bound and brought before the multitude, and they began to question him in divers ways that they might cross him, that they might accuse him to death—
They said to him, “You’re an accomplice; who is the man that committed this murder? Now tell us and admit your guilt. Here is money, and we’ll also spare your life if you’ll tell us and admit the agreement you made with him. ”
Saying unto him: Thou art confederate; who is this man that hath done this murder? Now tell us, and acknowledge thy fault; saying, Behold here is money; and also we will grant unto thee thy life if thou wilt tell us, and acknowledge the agreement which thou hast made with him.
But Nephi said to them, "You fools, you who are stubborn in your hearts, blind, and stubborn people, do you know how long the Lord your God will allow you to continue in this sinful way?
But Nephi said unto them: O ye fools, ye uncircumcised of heart, ye blind, and ye stiffnecked people, do ye know how long the Lord your God will suffer you that ye shall go on in this your way of sin?
You should start to cry out and mourn because great destruction is waiting for you right now, unless you repent.
O ye ought to begin to howl and mourn, because of the great destruction which at this time doth await you, except ye shall repent.
You say that I made an agreement with someone to murder Seezoram, our chief judge. But I tell you, the reason I have testified to you about this is so that you would know about it; it is a witness to you that I was aware of the wickedness and abominations among you.
Behold ye say that I have agreed with a man that he should murder Seezoram, our chief judge. But behold, I say unto you, that this is because I have testified unto you that ye might know concerning this thing; yea, even for a witness unto you, that I did know of the wickedness and abominations which are among you.
And because I have done this, you say that I made an agreement with a man to do it; because I showed you this sign, you are angry with me and want to take my life.
And because I have done this, ye say that I have agreed with a man that he should do this thing; yea, because I showed unto you this sign ye are angry with me, and seek to destroy my life.
Now I will show you another sign, and see if you will try to destroy me because of this.
And now behold, I will show unto you another sign, and see if ye will in this thing seek to destroy me.
I say to you: Go to the house of Seantum, who is the brother of Seezoram, and say to him—
Behold I say unto you: Go to the house of Seantum, who is the brother of Seezoram, and say unto him—
Has Nephi, the so-called prophet who prophesies so much evil about this people, made an agreement with you, in which you have murdered Seezoram, who is your brother?
Has Nephi, the pretended prophet, who doth prophesy so much evil concerning this people, agreed with thee, in the which ye have murdered Seezoram, who is your brother?
He will say to you, “No. ”
And behold, he shall say unto you, Nay.
And you will say to him, "Have you murdered your brother?
And ye shall say unto him: Have ye murdered your brother?
He will stand in fear and won’t know what to say. He will deny it to you and pretend to be astonished; however, he will tell you that he is innocent.
And he shall stand with fear, and wist not what to say. And behold, he shall deny unto you; and he shall make as if he were astonished; nevertheless, he shall declare unto you that he is innocent.
You will examine him, and you will find blood on the edges of his cloak.
But behold, ye shall examine him, and ye shall find blood upon the skirts of his cloak.
And when you see this, you will say, "Where did this blood come from? Don’t we know that it’s the blood of your brother?
And when ye have seen this, ye shall say: From whence cometh this blood? Do we not know that it is the blood of your brother?
And then he will tremble and look pale, as if death has come upon him.
And then shall he tremble, and shall look pale, even as if death had come upon him.
And then you will say, “Because of this fear and the paleness that has come over your face, we know that you are guilty. ”
And then shall ye say: Because of this fear and this paleness which has come upon your face, behold, we know that thou art guilty.
Then he will become even more afraid, and he will admit to you that he committed this murder and will deny it no longer.
And then shall greater fear come upon him; and then shall he confess unto you, and deny no more that he has done this murder.
He will tell you that I, Nephi, know nothing about the matter except what was given to me by the power of God. Then you will know that I am an honest man and that I am sent to you from God.
And then shall he say unto you, that I, Nephi, know nothing concerning the matter save it were given unto me by the power of God. And then shall ye know that I am an honest man, and that I am sent unto you from God.
They went and did exactly as Nephi had told them. The words he spoke were true; just as he said, the man denied it at first, and then, just as Nephi said, he confessed.
And it came to pass that they went and did, even according as Nephi had said unto them. And behold, the words which he had said were true; for according to the words he did deny; and also according to the words he did confess.
He was brought forward and proven to be the murderer, so the five men were released, as well as Nephi.
And he was brought to prove that he himself was the very murderer, insomuch that the five were set at liberty, and also was Nephi.
Some of the Nephites believed Nephi’s words, and others believed because of the testimony of the five, since they had been converted while they were in prison.
And there were some of the Nephites who believed on the words of Nephi; and there were some also, who believed because of the testimony of the five, for they had been converted while they were in prison.
Some of the people said that Nephi was a prophet.
And now there were some among the people, who said that Nephi was a prophet.
Some people said, “He is a god, because unless he were a god, he couldn’t know everything. He has told us the thoughts in our hearts and has revealed things to us. He has even shown us who really killed our chief judge. ”
And there were others who said: Behold, he is a god, for except he was a god he could not know of all things. For behold, he has told us the thoughts of our hearts, and also has told us things; and even he has brought unto our knowledge the true murderer of our chief judge.