The people who have been debating about Nephi disburse, leaving him alone. As he walks back to his house, God speaks to him, praising him for his consistent hard work and promising that whatever he seals on earth will be sealed in heaven. Instead of continuing home, Nephi gets back to work, preaching the gospel to large gatherings of people. However, in spite of his miraculous power, they are unreceptive to his message.
Chapter Outline
- The people leave Nephi alone, and he begins to walk home, pondering (v. 1-2)
- The Lord praises him for his “unwearingness” and promises to honor any request he makes (v. 3-11)
- Nephi preaches “from multitude to multitude,” but the people harden their hearts (v. 12-19)
My Takeaways
- We need to take time to ponder, to focus our minds on things of eternal importance.
- We need to resist the temptation to slow down or to give up when we have important work to do.
- God is willing to trust some of His children and to honor their declarations and promises, both on earth and in heaven.
Featured Blog Posts
❖ Nephi ponders – Helaman 10:1-2
What Does It Mean to Ponder?
Near the end of the first day of the Savior’s ministry on the American continent, He announced that it was time for Him to leave. He promised to return the following day, and He gave them the following guidance about how to spend their time that evening: Go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon…
Nephi Went His Way…Pondering – Helaman 10:2
2 And it came to pass that Nephi went his way towards his own house, pondering upon the things which the Lord had shown unto him. (Helaman 10:2) In the verses preceding this one, Nephi is surrounded by a group of people who were arguing about what label to attach to his spiritual power. Was…
❖ The Lord gives Nephi the sealing power – Helaman 10:3-11
The Sealing Power
Nephi taught that we should focus on eternal treasures, not temporary ones. God promised that whatever he sealed on earth would be sealed in heaven. God has made it possible for us to enter into permanent covenants with Him and with other people.
Blessed Art Thou, Nephi – Helaman 10:4-5
4 Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my…
“Unwearyingness” – Helaman 10:4-5
4 Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my…
❖ Nephi preaches with power – Helaman 10:12-19
Why Are We Blessed When We Are Reviled?
At the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus lists a number of unlikely scenarios in which we should consider ourselves fortunate. One of those goes like this: Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and…
Old Testament Foundations
What Is the Sealing Power?
About 20 years before the birth of Jesus Christ, a prophet on the American continent had a remarkable experience. His name was Nephi, and he had previously served as the chief judge—the highest political office in his nation. But he had resigned from this position to serve as a missionary with his brother Lehi (Helaman…
New Testament Parallels
“I Judge Not Mine Own Self”
God’s judgment is the only judgment that matters in the end. Therefore, we ought to be careful how we judge others and even how we judge ourselves. We ought to strive to understand how God sees us, and to act accordingly.
The Eleventh Hour
One message of the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard is that it’s never too late for us. God is not only willing to bless us, He is eager to do so. He loves us and delights in extending grace to us, especially when we don’t think we deserve it.
Church History Connections
“I Will Make Thee Mighty” – Helaman 10:5
An awareness of our potential can energize us to action. After preaching to an unreceptive audience in Zarahemla, the prophet Nephi was discouraged. His listeners had heard his words and seen a miracle which they could not deny. But instead of changing their minds at that point and accepting his message, they “divided hither and…
“Blessed Art Thou”
It is easy to be hard on ourselves. When we feel God’s approval, anxiety can be replaced by confidence. When the Lord directed Lehi to take his family into the wilderness, He prefaced the commandment with the following words of reassurance: Blessed art thou Lehi, because of the things which thou hast done. 1 Nephi…
“Behold, Thou Art Nephi” – Helaman 10:6
I’ve been thinking this week about a simple statement in an 1829 revelation directed to David Whitmer. After affirming who was speaking (“Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God”), the Lord affirmed whom He was talking to: And behold, thou art David, and thou art called to assist; which thing if…
Keys
Keys open doors. In two revelations received in 1830, the Lord described to Joseph Smith various keys he has given to people. Reflecting on those keys can increase our appreciation for the opportunities He has made available to us.
All Posts Referencing Helaman 10
- Enoch and the Power of Words (2/3/2026)
- How to Endure Well (10/21/2025)
- Being Bound (7/24/2025)
- “Sweet Evidence” (4/3/2025)
- Keys (3/28/2025)
- Serious Reflection (1/22/2025)
- On the Day After Christmas (12/26/2024)
- The Sealing Power (9/8/2024)
- On Seeing and Believing (9/6/2024)
- Home (9/5/2024)
- “We Are Weary” (8/23/2024)
- Exquisite (8/2/2024)
- “I Judge Not Mine Own Self” (8/26/2023)
- The Eleventh Hour (5/10/2023)
- 50, 45, 40, 30, 20, 10 (2/16/2022)
- “I Will Make Thee Mighty” – Helaman 10:5 (8/8/2021)
- “Blessed Art Thou” (3/9/2021)
- “Behold, Thou Art Nephi” – Helaman 10:6 (2/17/2021)
- How Can I Recognize the Voice of the Lord? (1/31/2021)
- Famine (8/28/2020)
- What Is the Sealing Power? (11/16/2019)
- What Does It Mean to Ponder? (11/12/2019)
- Why Are We Blessed When We Are Reviled? (9/9/2019)
- What Should I Do When I’m Worn Out? (7/11/2019)
- Blessed Art Thou, Nephi – Helaman 10:4-5 (3/25/2018)
- “Unwearyingness” – Helaman 10:4-5 (1/24/2018)
- Nephi Went His Way…Pondering – Helaman 10:2 (4/15/2017)
- Whatsoever Ye Shall Seal on Earth – Helaman 10:7 (11/4/2016)
- With Unwearyingness – Helaman 10:4-5 (4/15/2016)
- Unwearyingness – Helaman 10:4-5 (9/20/2015)
- There Arose a Division Among the People – Helaman 10:1-2 (9/19/2015)