#33 "A Sure Foundation"

Helaman 1-5

A Quick Synopsis of Chapters 1-4:
Ch 1-3 brothers want judgment seat; Pahoran, Pacumeni, Paanchi. Pahoran gets it by voice of the people. Pacumeni concedes and agrees with people. Paanchi is a sore loser and sends Kishkumen to kill Pahoran. Next Pacumeni is elected by voice of the people. Paanchi sells soul and joins in secret combinations.
We also learn from this chapter that when we contend with ourselves the enemy can penetrate deep into the center of our religion-heart-foundation.
Pacumeni is killed by Coniantumr (nephite gone Lamanite)
Chapter 2 Helaman-son of Helaman is elected and stays chief judge 11 years. It is this Helaman who this book is named for. He keeps this record.
We meet Gadianton-Helamans servant kills kishkumen as he tries to assassinate Helaman. Gadianton will prove a very powerful enemy that helps bring the Nephites down from now till the end of the Book of Mormon.
Chapter 3 Members start to exhibit Pride and there is a major shift. People apostatize, move around and spread out. The church grows and prospers. Then as quickly as it prospers pride leaks in. The humble suffer and are ridiculed by other members.
Chapter 4 more spiral downfall for the Nephites. Repentance and recognition of wrongs are noticed by Nephites.
Helaman 5 –Here is where our lesson begins. In chapter 3 we are introduced to Nephi and Lehi-Helaman II’s sons. In this chapter (5) Helaman’s words come back to Nephi and Lehi. They review them for us.

**NOTICE the word remember-it is very important to us!!!!
V5 They remembered the words of their father. Can we remember the words of our parents, leaders, teachers?

V6 Remember-Keep the commandments, Remember your names an who you were named for and what they did and how they acted.

*How many of you were named after a family member or prophet or whatever? Were those people whom you named after good? Good works? Etc.
*Does that motivate you to do good at all?
It did for President George Albert Smith. He had an awesome experience that I’d like to read to you. P357 Institute Manual:President Smith was similarly named. His grandfather, known as George A. Smith, was an apostle and a counselor to Brigham Young in the First Presidency of the Church. This fact had a great influence upon young George Albert Smith. Once when ill he had a dream in which his grandfather appeared to him. He reports:
“I saw a man coming towards me. I became aware that he was a very large man, and I hurried my steps to reach him, because I recognized him as my grandfather. In mortality he weighed over three hundred pounds, so you may know he was a large man. I remember how happy I was to see him coming. I had been given his name and had always been proud of it. “When Grandfather came within a few feet of me, he stopped. His stopping was an invitation for me to stop. Then-and this I would like the boys and fitls and yound people never to forget-he looked at me very earnestly and said: “’I would like to know what you have done with my name.’ “Everything I had ever done passed before me as though it were a flying picture on a screen- everything I had done. Quickly this vivid retrospect came down to the very time I was standing there. My whole life had passed before me. I smiled and looked at my grandfather and said: “’I have never done anything with your name of which you need be ashamed.’ “He stepped forward and took me in his arms, and as he did so, I became conscious again of my earthly surroundings. My pillow was as wet as though water had been poured on it-wet with tears of gratitude that I could answer unashamed. “I have thought of this many times, and I want to tell you that I have been trying, more that ever since that time, to take care of that name. So I want to say to the boys and girls, to the young men and women, to the youth of the Church and of all the world: Honor your fathers and you mothers. Honor the names that you bear because some day you will have the privilege and obligation of reporting to them (and your Father in heaven) what you have done with their name.”

*Have you ever thought of that before? I have and I think wow-what pressure! I am named after two different people! Does that mean I have to account to both of them? I am named for my mom and my dad. Both, strong, awesome people!

**paper activity: Divide your paper in 3rds. Turn sideways. 3 columns.
1st column- write who you were named for, If you aren’t named for anyone specific-go with your last name- Go with someone you know holds your last name.
2nd column-write Jesus Christ-do we not take His name upon us with baptism?
3rd column- write you name
Under the 1st column write all their good traits, good things they’ve done, talents etc?
Under the 2nd mane miracles and traits that Christ has and has done. This should be easy!
Under the 3rd column, and this may be tougher, write are your good qualities, traits, and here is the crucial one what are some spiritual experiences you’ve had, or felt?

**Richard G. Scott says this about our personal foundation and heritage! “I testify that you will remove barriers to happiness and find greater peace as you make your first allegiance your membership in the Church of Jesus Christ, and His teachings the foundation of your life. Where family or national traditions and customs are in harmony with His teachings, they should be cherished and followed to preserve your culture and heritage. There is one heritage that you need never change. It is that heritage that comes from your being a daughter or son of Father in Heaven”

V7 if your column is lacking-take this verse to heart and pay more attention! Record them!!

V8 These spiritual experiences are a treasure, a precious gift that is eternal

*Why are these experiences a treasure to you?
They are a treasure to me because they strengthen my testimony in hard times.
ON my birthday 2003 my friend bought me a journal-we had been talking about the fact that we both should be writing more of our spiritual experiences and thoughts rather than all the griping. So she gave me a journal and told me-this is only for spiritual things. I took that challenge and started to write. 3 years-I probably should’ve filled a journal by now but I mainly write down my biggest impacting ones. I’ve just started writing my small spiritual thoughts, however they are already a treasure to me. I’ve used some of my experiences in this class, I’ve used them as teaching moments for my kids and more importantly I’ve used them myself to remember that the Lord is present in my life and just because I may not feel it today doesn’t mean that I haven’t felt Him many times before. This gets me through tough times. It helps me to refocus on what I need to do to get those experiences again. It is a treasure to me!!!!
This also helps us with Helamans next piece of advice
V9 Remember Remember! 2 Remembers=pay attention this is double important. Remember Jesus Christ! Remember His Atonement, this also will keep us on track.

V10 Remember words of prophets-today and yesterday!
V12 Remember Remember! If we build our testimonies our very lives on Christ Not if, but when, we do that, the devil shall have no power over us! And He cannot drag us down to his misery and fall.

V14 After we remember-they went forth-we should go forth and preach, teach, share these feelings and experiences with our friends, families, neighbors, ward members to strengthen them! By sharing our personal experiences we experience –
V17 Teaching with power! Why? Because it is personal and real! To us and the people we are sharing with feel it!

V19 They converted many Lamanites just as we can do!
V20 Nephi and Lehi go to preach in Lamanite cities and end up having an amazing experience
V21 They were cast into prison! Isn’t that amazing? No-But this goes to show that during our darkest times and hours the Lord can strengthen us and uplift us with more spiritual experiences that we can add to our list and strengthen us!
V23 They thought they were going to die when they realized they were encircled by fire.
V24 their hearts took courage-I don’t know about you but that would give me courage!
V26 they try to testify to the men because they see they are scared.
V27 the earth shakes-walls shake
V29 Voice of Lord comes speaking repentance, a cloud of darkness falls on them.
V30-33 Voice speaks 3 times.
V35 Aminidab a Nephite who had apostatized starts to testify of what is happening and tells them they must all pray and repent to lift the darkness.
V 42 They did –darkness lifted. They were then encircled by fire- Fire=Holy Ghost (symbolically)
V45 They were filled with Joy!
V48 They beheld Angels administering to them-More and more miracles and spiritual experiences follow as they repent.
V50-52 Convinced of the power of God in their own lives they go forth and preach-they don’t fight anymore and give back all they took. The Cycle continues! More spiritual experiences to share with others are formed.

The Gospel is easy. The Gospel is good and full of spiritual experiences to be had. We all Have them and the sooner we recognize them and share them the more experiences will come and will strengthen us in times of trial and struggle, especially if they’re recorded! Of this I tesify in the name of Jesus Christ AMEN!