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Book of Mormon Commentary
Helaman Chapter 2
Hel 2:77 And they did remember his words; and therefore they went forth, keeping the commandments
of God, to teach the word of God among all the people of Nephi, beginning at the city Bountiful; and
from thence forth to the city of Gid; and from the city of Gid to the city of Mulek;
The cities of Bountiful, Gid, and Mulek are named specifically; then they went "even from one
city to another, until they had gone forth among all the people. ..in the land southward, and from
thence into the land of Zarahemla, among the Lamanites" (77,78).
They preached with such power that many of the dissenters were confounded and confessed their
sins and were baptized unto repentance. Immediately these returned to the Nephites and tried to
repair all the wrongs they had done (79).
Then the missionaries preached to the Lamanites "with such great power and authority" that they
were astonished and convinced. Eight thousand in and about the land of Zarahemla were baptized
unto repentance (81). Then Nephi and Lehi continued their preaching in the land of Nephi, where
they were put into the same prison in which Ammon and his brethren had been confined (Mos.
5:7-10). "After. . many days without food" they brought them out to execute them. However, as
the missionaries were then "encircled about as if by fire, ...they durst not lay their hands upon
them" (H.2:85).
Hel 2:88 For they saw that the Lamanites durst not lay their hands upon them; neither durst they come
near unto them, but stood as if they were struck dumb with amazement.
"Fear not, for behold it is God that has shown unto you "this marvelous thing." Then "the earth
shook exceedingly," and the prison walls were about to tumble down. "They were overshadowed
with a cloud of darkness, and an awful, solemn fear came upon them" (92). A voice spoke from
above the cloud, "saying, Repent ye, repent ye, and seek no more to destroy my servants whom I
have sent unto you to declare good tidings" (93).
The third time the earth shook until the prison walls "were about to divide asunder" but the
Lamanites could not flee as they seemed paralyzed with fear, There was a Nephite dissenter
among them who noted that Nephi:s and Lehi's faces "did shine exceedingly, even as the faces of
angels" (97-100).
He noted that they were looking heavenward as if talking "to some being whom they beheld"
(101). This man, Aminadab, said, "They do converse with the angels of God" (105). The
Lamanites exclaimed, "What shall we do?" He answered, "You must repent, and cry unto the
voice, even until ye shall have faith in Christ" (106, 107).
Hel 2:108 And it came to pass that they all did begin to cry unto the voice of him who had shook the
earth; yea, they did cry even until the cloud of darkness was dispersed.
A new experience then came to these Lamanites: “They saw that they were encircled about, yea,
every soul, by a pillar of fire. ..and they were filled with that joy which is unspeakable and full of
glory" (109, 110).
Then they heard "a pleasant voice, as if it were a whisper, saying, Peace, peace be unto you,
because of your faith in my well beloved, who was from the foundation of the world" (112). This
experience was shared by three hundred witnesses, who went forth and ministered to the people in