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Book of Mormon Commentary
Helaman Chapter 5
SAMUEL THE LAMANITE PROPHESIES TO NEPHITES, VER. 1-53
Hel 5:2 And it came to pass that in this year, there was one Samuel, a Lamanite, came into the land of
Zarahemla, and began to preach unto the people.
In the eighty-sixth year [6 B.C.] the Nephites remained "in great wickedness, while the Lamanites
did observe strictly to keep. .. the law of Moses" (1). Samuel was able to "preach many days"
before he was cast out of the city .As he was about to return to his own land, the voice of the Lord
directed him to return and to prophesy to the Nephites (4).
They were on the lookout for him and refused to let him enter the city. He got upon the wall,
stretched forth his hand, and in a loud voice prophesied all that "the Lord put into his heart" (5).
Hel 5:6 And he said unto them, Behold, I, Samuel, a Lamanite, do speak the words of the Lord which
he doth put into my heart; and behold he hath put it into my heart to say unto this people, that the sword
of justice hangeth over this people; and four hundred years passeth not away save the sword of justice
falleth upon this people;
Only repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ could save them, for "an angel of the Lord hath
declared it unto me" (8) .The angel declared, "Except they repent, I [the Lord] will take away my
word from them, and I will withdraw my Spirit from them" (10), Samuel prophesied that the Lord
"will turn the hearts of their brethren against them." Before four hundred years shall pass, they
shall be smitten with sword, famine, and pestilence.
Hel 5:15 Yea, wo unto this great city of Zarahemla; for behold it is because of those who are righteous,
that it is saved;
This is a significant statement. It indicates that the law of effects obeying causes may be modified
under some conditions. No matter whether one thinks of a city's prosperity or depression resulting
from social causes or of God's judgments, there are usually some in the society who have done
their best to follow God's counsel and commands. The problem then: Must the righteous suffer for
the rebellion and sins of the wicked? If so, at what point does the balance become intolerable and a
reversal of effects set in?
Abraham raised the same question over the death sentence to Sodom. He inquired of the Lord,
"Wilt thou destroy the righteous with the wicked?" (Gen. 18:25). Without waiting for an answer,
Abraham began to proposition the Lord, "Wilt thou spare the city if fifty righteous may be found
therein?" When this was granted, Abraham asked if the number of upright lacked five of the fifty,
would he spare the city? When this was granted, Abraham tried forty, then thirty, twenty, and ten.
These in turn were granted, but then "the Lord ceased speaking with Abraham" (Gen. 18:19-40).
When not even ten could be found, Sodom was destroyed (Gen. 19:31, 32).
The Book of Mormon is positive on the principle that piety brings prosperity-economically and
spiritually (I N. 1:54; Mos. 1:56; A. 18:1). God alone knows when the limit of tolerance has been
reached, and whether to use natural means or miracles in treating each situation. Samuel was given
to know that Zarahemla would be destroyed by fire from heaven, "but behold, it is for the
righteous' sake that it is spared" (17). And further he prophesied, "When ye shall cast out the
righteous from among you, then shall ye be ripe for destruction" (18). The city of Gideon was