The Start of Helaman's Ministry

Alma 45 describes some things that must have been very difficult for Helaman. First, his father Alma explained to him that eventually the whole Nephite civilization would be destroyed because of wickedness. Alma said, “Behold, I perceive that this very people, the Nephites, according to the spirit of revelation which is in me, in four hundred years from the time that Jesus Christ shall manifest himself unto them, shall dwindle in unbelief. Yea, and then shall they see wars and pestilences, yea, famines and bloodshed, even until the people of Nephi shall become extinct” (v10-11). At fact value that certainly couldn’t have been very encouraging for Helaman as he was about to begin his ministry as the prophet and spiritual leader of the people! What’s worse is that right after Alma told Helaman of the eventual downfall of their whole society, he disappeared. So that was likely the last message that Helaman remembered from his father—that they would one day all be destroyed. He must have mourned the departure of his father, especially given the fact that he did not know whether Alma was coming back or not. They likely didn’t even have the opportunity for a proper funeral (or whatever kind of ceremony they did at someone’s death) because it was not known if Alma was dead. That must have caused some anxiety or at least unease for Helaman at this difficult time in Nephite society.  

Amidst that uncertainty, Helaman had to then take up the leadership role for the whole church. Mormon described, “It became expedient that the word of God should be declared among them, yea, and that a regulation should be made throughout the church. Therefore, Helaman and his brethren went forth to establish the church again in all the land, yea, in every city throughout all the land which was possessed by the people of Nephi. And it came to pass that they did appoint priests and teachers throughout all the land, over all the churches.” This was his first chance to try to follow in the footsteps of his father. He must have known that many years previous to that time his father had helped the people of Zarahemla repent of their wickedness (Alma 5) and convert many in Ammonihah and Antionum as well. And yet, Helaman’s own efforts initially proved not as successful as he surely desired: “There arose a dissension among them, and they would not give heed to the words of Helaman and his brethren; But they grew proud, being lifted up in their hearts, because of their exceedingly great riches; therefore they grew rich in their own eyes, and would not give heed to their words, to walk uprightly before God” (Alma 45:23-24). Those dissenters were led by Amalickiah who proved to be the cause of much suffering and death among the people. As Helaman faced these dissenters, I wonder if he felt that he had failed to properly teach them and worried that he did not measure up as a new spiritual leader.

And yet, perhaps this is why in his wisdom Alma told Helaman this prophecy about the eventual destruction of the Nephites. As depressing as that might have been at first, perhaps it helped Helaman to understand that ultimately even the prophets could not prevent the wickedness and downfall of the people—it was in the end their choice. He may have taken courage as well from the fact that the society was not going to fall apart until many hundred years later, and so he could work with confidence knowing that they would not degenerate into full apostasy in his own day. Indeed, his own efforts would be worth it. Helaman proved in the end to be a magnificent leader during the war as he inspired the stripling warriors and others to put their trust in God. Helaman showed that God would deliver the faithful as they turned with all their hearts to Him.