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Book of Mormon Commentary
Helaman Chapter 3
NEPHI PRAYS AND PREACHES FROM HIS GARDEN TOWER, VER. 1-31
Hel 3:1 Behold, now it came to pass in the sixty and ninth year of the reign of the Judges over the
people of the Nephites, that Nephi, the son of Helaman, returned to the land of Zarahemla, from the land
northward: for he had been forth among the people who were in the land northward, and did preach the
word of God unto them, and did prophesy many things unto them;
The part of the "land north- ward" referred to in this passage does not seem to be the same as that
similarly described as the objective of those Nephites who earlier left Zarahemla in boats (H. 2:3).
Here was a settled land with cities. Nephi had his home here for some time. Doubtless he went
there on foot, and after his rejection came back to Zarahemla in .'the land southward" by walking.
Conditions had sunk to a deplorable state here among the Nephites. "Gadianton robbers filling the
judgment seats, had usurped the power and authority of the land. ..condemning the righteous
because of their righteousness; letting the guilty and the wicked go unpunished, because of their
money" (H. 3:3).
When Nephi saw these conditions and the iniquity to which they had led, "his heart was swollen
with sorrow within his breast” (5). He expressed the wish for the times when his great ancestor,
Nephi, had come to this promised land, for "then were his people easy to be entreated” to God's
ways (7, 8).
He went upon a tower in his garden near the highway to pray. As he poured out his heart in prayer
and mourning, a crowd was attracted. When he arose he took advantage of the situation and
preached to them. He explained that his exceeding sorrow was because of their iniquities (12-16).
Hel 3:17 Yea, ye ought to marvel, because ye are given away, that the devil has got so great hold upon
your hearts; yea, how could ye have given away to the enticing of him who is seeking to hurl away your
souls down to everlasting misery and endless wo?
He warned them that unless they repented, God "shall scatter you forth that ye shall become meat
for dogs and wild beasts" (20) .
History shows that warnings and threatenings seldom save a nation from impending disaster. But
they do give people an opportunity, and occasionally individuals will take advantage of them.
Nephi prophesied that should the people fail to repent, “this great city, and also all those great
cities which are round about ...shall be taken away, that ye shall have no place in them" (24).
Hel 3:26 Now therefore I would that ye should behold, my brethren, that it shall be better for the
Lamanites than for you, except ye shall repent; for behold they are more righteous than you; for they
have not sinned against that great knowledge which ye have received;
Not only did Nephi pray for his people and weep for them, but he reasoned with them and
delivered God's word in a warning voice. Pride and a love of riches had caused their downfall.
These may not seem so wicked in themselves, but they set a pattern of life which, when fully
developed, brings disaster. "Ye shall be destroyed from off the face of the earth" (30). “I know that
these things are true, because the Lord God has made them known unto me" (31).