Book of Mormon Commentary CofC - Odessa, Missouri Community ...

Book of Mormon Commentary
Helaman Chapter 5
This prophecy was specific and definite as to time. But how would they know here on this
continent if such a child had been born in a Bethlehem stable? “This will I give unto you for a sign
at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the
night before he cometh, there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it
was day" (56). Thus there would be a day, a night, and a day ''as if it were one day, and there were
no night" (57). This was to occur "the night before he is born” (58). Then another sign shall also
be given: "There shall be a new star arise," and "many signs and wonders in heaven" (59, 60).
Hel 5:63 And behold, thus hath the Lord commanded me, by his angel, that I should come and tell this
thing unto you; yea, he hath commanded that I should prophesy these things unto you; yea, he hath said
unto me, Cry unto this people, Repent and prepare the way of the Lord.
Samuel was conscious that he was reversing the course of history. "I am a Lamanite, and have
spoken unto you [Nephites] the words which the Lord hath commanded me" (64). "That ye might
know of the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and of earth, the Creator
of all things. ..to the intent that ye might believe on his name" ( 66).
The construction of this sentence is somewhat ambiguous. If it is saying that Jesus was Father of
heaven and earth, it is in the sense that he was associated with God as Creator. Perhaps the phrase,
"Father of heaven and earth" should be interpreted as modifying only the noun nearest to it,
"God," which would make the sentence quite logical.
Hel 5:68 And behold, again, another sign I give unto you; yea a sign of his death; for behold, he surely
must die, that salvation may come;
He must pass through death "to bring to pass the resurrection of the dead," which is essential to
redeem "all mankind from the first death; that spiritual death for all mankind, by the fall of Adam,
being cut off from the presence of the Lord, or considered as dead, both as to things temporal and
to things spiritual" (70). But those who do not repent are cut off from God and suffer spiritual
death also, a second death (73). (See D. and C. 28:11 c)
Hel 5:75 But behold, as I said unto you concerning another sign, a sign of his death, behold, in that day
that he shall suffer death, the sun shall be darkened and refuse to give his light unto you; and also the
moon, and the stars;
"There shall be no light upon the face of this land,. even from the time that he shall suffer death,
for the space of three days, to the time that he shall rise again from the dead" (76). There shall be
thunderings and lightnings for many hours, the earth shall shake and tremble, the solid rocks shall
be broken up, and shall be found ever after in seams and in cracks, and in broken fragments (77,
78). There shall be great tempests, and mountains laid low, while what now are valleys shall
become mountains. The highways shall be broken up, many cities devastated, the graves opened,
and resurrected saints appear unto many (79).