Seeing the suffering caused by wars and contentions, Nephi asks God to send a famine. Many lives are lost during the famine, but the people humble themselves and ask Nephi to intervene with God on their behalf. After Nephi prays, the famine ends, and the people enjoy several years of peace, with some help from Nephi, Lehi, and other church leaders. However, only a few years later, a group of people reorganize the Gadianton robbers, and the contentions continue.
Chapter Outline
- Nephi prays for a famine to replace the wars (v. 1-8)
- Nephi’s prayer to end the famine (v. 9-16)
- Four years of (mostly) peace (v. 17-23)
- The Gadianton robbers are reinstituted (v. 24-31)
My Takeaways
- Adversity can motivate us to turn our hearts to God.
- Remembering how God has answered our prayers in the past can help us have faith in the present.
- If we are listening, we can receive “many revelations daily.”
Featured Blog Posts
❖ The famine begins – Helaman 11:1-8
Famine
As Nephi walked dejectedly toward his home after being ignored by the people of his city, he heard the voice of God. The Lord was pleased with Nephi’s unwearying efforts to spread the gospel, and now, because of his faithfulness over time, God was granting him additional power. “Ye shall…smite the earth with famine, and…
❖ The famine ends – Helaman 11:9-16
Thou Didst Hearken Unto My Words – Helaman 11:14
14 O Lord, thou didst hearken unto my words when I said, Let there be a famine, that the pestilence of the sword might cease; and I know that thou wilt, even at this time, hearken unto my words, for thou saidst that: If this people repent I will spare them.(Helaman 11:14) Remembering the blessings…
Wilt Thou Turn Away Thine Anger? – Helaman 11:15-16
15 Yea, O Lord, and thou seest that they have repented, because of the famine and the pestilence and destruction which has come unto them.16 And now, O Lord, wilt thou turn away thine anger, and try again if they will serve thee? And if so, O Lord, thou canst bless them according to thy…
❖ Four years of peace – Helaman 11:17-23
“Many Revelations Daily” – Helaman 11:23
How frequently can we receive revelation from God? How frequently do we need revelation from God? In April, Sister Joy D. Jones taught us that God can help us avoid being overwhelmed by the number of things we need to get done. She said, “The Spirit helps us determine which work to focus on today”…
❖ Gadianton robbers reinstituted – Helaman 11:24-31
They Did Not Mend Their Ways – Helaman 11:36-37
36 And in the eighty and second year they began again to forget the Lord their God. And in the eighty and third year they began to wax strong in iniquity. And in the eighty and fourth year they did not mend their ways.37 And it came to pass in the eighty and fifth year…
Stronger and Stronger in Humility (or Pride)
Our spiritual fitness improves gradually through consistent effort. Church members in Helaman’s time grew “stronger and stronger in their humility” as they engaged in fasting and prayer. Later, they grew “stronger and stronger in pride” through negligence
Old Testament Foundations
Rain
As the children of Israel prepared to enter the promised land, Moses promised them that God would bless them in their new home, including providing the moisture needed to grow crops: It shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with…
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…
Church History Connections
“Having Many Revelations Daily” – Helaman 11:23
23 And in the seventy and ninth year there began to be much strife. But it came to pass that Nephi and Lehi, and many of their brethren who knew concerning the true points of doctrine, having many revelations daily, therefore they did preach unto the people, insomuch that they did put an end to…
All Posts Referencing Helaman 11
- Multiply and Replenish (12/18/2025)
- “He Began to Remember” (12/1/2024)
- The Sealing Power (9/8/2024)
- Stronger and Stronger in Humility (or Pride) (9/7/2024)
- Rain (11/10/2022)
- “I Only Remain” (7/2/2022)
- Famine (8/28/2020)
- “Many Revelations Daily” – Helaman 11:23 (8/25/2020)
- What Does It Mean to Be “Ripe in Iniquity?” (11/23/2019)
- What Is the Sealing Power? (11/16/2019)
- What Can We Learn from the Prayers Recorded in the Book of Mormon? (3/28/2019)
- “Having Many Revelations Daily” – Helaman 11:23 (3/27/2018)
- Let There Be a Famine – Helaman 11:3-5 (3/26/2018)
- Having Many Revelations Daily – Helaman 11:23 (1/25/2018)
- They Did Not Mend Their Ways – Helaman 11:36-37 (4/18/2017)
- Wilt Thou Turn Away Thine Anger? – Helaman 11:15-16 (4/16/2017)
- Thou Didst Hearken Unto My Words – Helaman 11:14 (9/20/2015)