Samuel contrasts the steadfast faithfulness of the Lamanites with the inconsistency of the Nephites, in spite of all the privileges the Nephites have received. He tells them that, because of this observable difference, the Lord will be merciful to the Lamanites and will preserve them, even when the Nephites are destroyed.
Chapter Outline
- Wo unto the Nephites, except they repent (v. 1-3)
- The Lamanites are firm and steadfast in the faith (v. 4-9)
- Therefore, the Lord will not destroy them (v. 10-17)
My Takeaways
- God’s chastening is a sign that He loves us.
- We should 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.
Featured Blog Posts
❖ Wo unto the Nephites – Helaman 15:1-3
[He Hath] Chastened Them Because He Loveth Them – Helaman 15:3
3 Yea, wo unto this people who are called the people of Nephi except they shall repent, when they shall see all these signs and wonders which shall be showed unto them; for behold, they have been a chosen people of the Lord; yea, the people of Nephi hath he loved, and also hath he…
❖ Steadfastness of the converted Lamanites – Helaman 15:4-9
They Do Walk Circumspectly Before God – Helaman 15:5
5 And I would that ye should behold that the more part of them are in the path of their duty, and they do walk circumspectly before God, and they do observe to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments according to the law of Moses. (Helaman 15:5) As the Lamanite prophet Samuel…
What Does It Mean to Be Steadfast?
After the people of King Benjamin prayed and received a remission of their sins, they made a covenant with God to obey His commandments for the rest of their lives. King Benjamin told them that they were now the children of Christ, and he urged them to follow through consistently on the promises they had…
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Racism?
Near the beginning of the Book of Mormon, Nephi declares God’s standard regarding racism, sexism, and other types of unrighteous discrimination: He inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the…
❖ The Lord will preserve the Lamanites – Helaman 15:10-17
Had the Mighty Works Been Shown Unto Them – Helaman 15:15-16
15 For behold, had the mighty works been shown unto them which have been shown unto you, yea, unto them who have dwindled in unbelief because of the traditions of their fathers, ye can see of yourselves that they never would again have dwindled in unbelief.16 Therefore, saith the Lord: I will not utterly destroy…
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.
Old Testament Foundations
“Whom I Love I Also Chasten”
In June 1833, the Lord provided corrective feedback to church members in Kirtland, Ohio. He opened the revelation with the following explanation: Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you whom I love, and whom I love I also chasten that their sins may be forgiven, for with the chastisement I prepare a way for their deliverance in all things out of temptation, and…
Chastened
As the children of Israel prepared to enter the promised land, Moses reminded them of the numerous blessings they had received during forty years of wandering in the wilderness. God had fed them with manna, their clothes had not worn out, their feet had remained strong. Then he added this blessing, which I’m guessing the…
All Posts Referencing Helaman 15
- Context and Judgment (9/13/2024)
- A Call from Arms (7/10/2024)
- “Whom I Love I Also Chasten” (9/1/2021)
- Chastened (9/3/2020)
- Who Were Zenos and Zenock? (7/17/2020)
- What Does It Mean to “Dwindle in Unbelief?” (1/26/2020)
- Why Would God “Inflict” Things on Us? (12/3/2019)
- Why Did the Nephites Keep the Law of Moses? (8/11/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Racism? (4/29/2019)
- What Does It Mean to Be Steadfast? (4/23/2019)
- [He Hath] Chastened Them Because He Loveth Them – Helaman 15:3 (7/20/2018)
- They Do Walk Circumspectly Before God – Helaman 15:5 (12/9/2017)
- Had the Mighty Works Been Shown Unto Them – Helaman 15:15-16 (9/26/2015)