About five years before the birth of Jesus Christ, a Lamanite prophet named Samuel visited the city of Zarahemla to declare “glad tidings” (Helaman 13:7), including signs that would correspond with the birth and the death of Jesus Christ. After being kicked out of the city, he climbed up on the wall to deliver his message.
Some people rejected his words because he was a Lamanite. (See Helaman 14:10.) Others rejected his message because he urged them to repent. They wanted a messenger who would tell them they were doing fine and didn’t need to change. (See Helaman 13:26-29.) But those who accepted his message repented of their sins, chose to be baptized, and received personal revelation in preparation for the arrival of Jesus Christ to the earth. (See Helaman 16:1, 4-5, 14.)
Here are some other lessons I’ve learned from these chapters:
Outline
- Helaman 13 – Samuel begins his sermon with a warning that unpleasant days are ahead unless the people repent
- Helaman 14 – Samuel gives signs of the Savior’s birth and death.
- Helaman 15 – Samuel explains that God will not destroy the Lamanites because of their steadfastness when they are converted.
- Helaman 16 – Samuel escapes. Some people believe his message and are baptized by Nephi. Others refuse to believe.
Key Themes
- One way to assess our level of pride is to observe how we respond to challenging words of prophets.
- The Savior brings light and hope into our lives, even in the darkest of times.
- God can help us understand and act in accordance with true principles.
- God’s chastening is a sign that He loves us.
Connections
- The book of Proverbs teaches, “Whom the Lord loveth he correcteth” (Proverbs 3:11-12). Samuel the Lamanite applied this principle to his Nephite audience, explaining to them that God had chastened them because He loves them. (See Helaman 15:3.)
- A group of wise men came to Jerusalem after the birth of Jesus, seeking a baby they identified as “the King of the Jews” (Matthew 2:4-6). In the Americas leading up to the birth of Christ, angels appeared to wise men, bringing “glad tidings of great joy” (Helaman 16:13-14).
Applications
- Exercise faith when the Lord invites you to do something which seems unlikely to succeed.
- Be circumspect, gathering available information and avoiding rushing to judgment.
- Don’t compare yourself to other people. The comparison will always fail to account for critical differences.
- Don’t be intimidated if others view your beliefs as “unreasonable.”
Recommended Posts
- Christmas, Easter, and the Book of Mormon
- Why Is Light an Appropriate Symbol for the Birth of Christ?
- Samuel the Lamanite’s Sermon – Helaman 13-15
Blog Posts: September 10-15
Samuel the Lamanite on the Burden of Freedom
Samuel the Lamanite concisely synthesized the teachings of prior Book of Mormon prophets into a sobering statement about agency: You own your choices and their consequences, including the choice to repent.
“If Ye Will Repent…”
Samuel the Lamanite came to Zarahemla with a stern warning, coupled with a hopeful promise. He repeatedly promised his listeners that God would rescue them from their bad decisions if they would choose to repent. God always forgives those who repent.
Every Valley
Samuel’s prophecies were literally fulfilled. They also symbolize the Savior’s influence in our lives, as He smooths our rough edges, brings us down where we are proud, lifts us up where we lack confidence and gives us hope, like a new star.
Context and Judgment
Samuel said that God will be merciful to the Lamanites because of their firmness when they are converted. God sees not only what we do but also the context for those decisions. He also sees what we can become with the right experiences.
What Is the Second Death?
Jesus overcame death for us in three ways: Because of Him, our bodies and spirits will be reunited after we die. We will also be reunited with God, at least temporarily. Finally, He can help us be prepared at that time to stay in God’s presence forever.
Samuel the Lamanite and Occam’s Razor
The people who chose not to believe Samuel after seeing his miraculous avoidance of their stones and arrows concocted far-fetched theories to explain away what they had seen. The simplest explanation isn’t always right, but it’s a good place to start.
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