Under the righteous leadership of Alma and those whom he consecrated to be teachers and priests, the people prospered greatly and increased in numbers. They gradually built a city which was in the land they called, Helam. They, too, called the city, Helam.
City of Helam. The city built by the people of Alma the Elder, in the Land of Helam. It was eight days' journey from the Waters of Mormon, in the direction of Zarahemla, when that people fled from the murderous persecution of King Noah. After a few years of peaceful occupancy, it was discovered and taken possession of by the Lamanites and placed by their king under the rule of Amulon, one of the former priests of King Noah. By him and his associates the righteous people of Helam were outrageously abused until the Lord, in His mercy, opened up the way for their escape. These events took place, as near as can be told, between the years 147 and 122 B.C. Nothing is recorded of the history of this city after it was deserted by the people of Alma.
Land of Helam. The country immediately surrounding the City of Helam lay somewhere between the Cities of Lehi-Nephi and Zarahemla. It was an eight days' journey, for immigrants, from the former city and fourteen from the latter. It is only mentioned in the Book of Mormon in connection with its occupancy for a few years by the persecuted people of Alma. After they left, it fell into the hands of the Lamanites and became a subdivision of the Land of Nephi.