Helaman 16:1
And now, it came to pa** that there were many who heard the
words of Samuel, the Lamanite, which he spake upon the walls of
the city. And as many as believed on his word went forth and
sought for Nephi; and when they had come forth and found him they
confessed unto him their sins and denied not, desiring that they
might be baptized unto the Lord.
Helaman 16:2
But as many as there were who did not believe in the words of
Samuel were angry with him; and they cast stones at him upon the
wall, and also many shot arrows at him as he stood upon the wall;
but the Spirit of the Lord was with him, insomuch that they could
not hit him with their stones neither with their arrows.
Helaman 16:3
Now when they saw that they could not hit him, there were many
more who did believe on his words, insomuch that they went away
unto Nephi to be baptized.
Helaman 16:4
For behold, Nephi was baptizing, and prophesying, and
preaching, crying repentance unto the people, showing signs and
wonders, working miracles among the people, that they might know
that the Christ must shortly come—
Helaman 16:5
Telling them of things which must shortly come, that they
might know and remember at the time of their coming that they had
been made known unto them beforehand, to the intent that they
might believe; therefore as many as believed on the words of
Samuel went forth unto him to be baptized, for they came
repenting and confessing their sins.
Helaman 16:6
But the more part of them did not believe in the words of
Samuel; therefore when they saw that they could not hit him with
their stones and their arrows, they cried unto their captains,
saying: Take this fellow and bind him, for behold he hath a
devil; and because of the power of the devil which is in him we
cannot hit him with our stones and our arrows; therefore take him
and bind him, and away with him.
Helaman 16:7
And as they went forth to lay their hands on him, behold, he
did cast himself down from the wall, and did flee out of their
lands, yea, even unto his own country, and began to preach and to
prophesy among his own people.
Helaman 16:8
And behold, he was never heard of more among the Nephites; and
thus were the affairs of the people.
Helaman 16:9
And thus ended the eighty and sixth year of the reign of the
judges over the people of Nephi.
Helaman 16:10
And thus ended also the eighty and seventh year of the reign
of the judges, the more part of the people remaining in their
pride and wickedness, and the lesser part walking more
circumspectly before God.
Helaman 16:11
And these were the conditions also, in the eighty and eighth
year of the reign of the judges.
Helaman 16:12
And there was but little alteration in the affairs of the
people, save it were the people began to be more hardened in
iniquity, and do more and more of that which was contrary to the
commandments of God, in the eighty and ninth year of the reign of
the judges.
Helaman 16:13
But it came to pa** in the ninetieth year of the reign of the
judges, there were great signs given unto the people, and
wonders; and the words of the prophets began to be fulfilled.
Helaman 16:14
And angels did appear unto men, wise men, and did declare
unto them glad tidings of great joy; thus in this year the
scriptures began to be fulfilled.
Helaman 16:15
Nevertheless, the people began to harden their hearts, all
save it were the most believing part of them, both of the
Nephites and also of the Lamanites, and began to depend upon
their own strength and upon their own wisdom, saying:
Helaman 16:16
Some things they may have guessed right, among so many; but
behold, we know that all these great and marvelous works cannot
come to pa**, of which has been spoken.
Helaman 16:17
And they began to reason and to contend among themselves,
saying:
Helaman 16:18
That it is not reasonable that such a being as a Christ shall
come; if so, and he be the Son of God, the Father of heaven and
of earth, as it has been spoken, why will he not show himself
unto us as well as unto them who shall be at Jerusalem?
Helaman 16:19
Yea, why will he not show himself in this land as well as in
the land of Jerusalem?
Helaman 16:20
But behold, we know that this is a wicked tradition, which
has been handed down unto us by our fathers, to cause us that we
should believe in some great and marvelous thing which should
come to pa**, but not among us, but in a land which is far
distant, a land which we know not; therefore they can keep us in
ignorance, for we cannot witness with our own eyes that they are
true.
Helaman 16:21
And they will, by the cunning and the mysterious arts of the
evil one, work some great mystery which we cannot understand,
which will keep us down to be servants to their words, and also
servants unto them, for we depend upon them to teach us the word;
and thus will they keep us in ignorance if we will yield
ourselves unto them, all the days of our lives.
Helaman 16:22
And many more things did the people imagine up in their
hearts, which were foolish and vain; and they were much
disturbed, for Satan did stir them up to do iniquity continually;
yea, he did go about spreading rumors and contentions upon all
the face of the land, that he might harden the hearts of the
people against that which was good and against that which should
come.
Helaman 16:23
And notwithstanding the signs and the wonders which were
wrought among the people of the Lord, and the many miracles which
they did, Satan did get great hold upon the hearts of the people
upon all the face of the land.
Helaman 16:24
And thus ended the ninetieth year of the reign of the judges
over the people of Nephi.
Helaman 16:25
And thus ended the book of Helaman, according to the record
of Helaman and his sons.