As Moroni, son of Mormon, abridged the record of the Jaredites, he warned the Gentiles of the secret combinations of the latter days (Ether 8:18–26). One of the solutions he gave to the Gentiles was a commandment of the Lord to “awake to a sense of your awful situation because of this secret combination which shall be among you” (Ether 8:24). What the servant of Helaman did to Kishkumen (Helaman 2:6–9) is an example of the solution that Moroni had given. The servant learned of their plans and became awake to the awful situation of the Nephites who were under the judge-ship of Helaman. For those who react to the servant killing Kishkumen, we remind you of the Spirit telling Nephi, son of Lehi the following:
10 And it came to pass that I was constrained by the Spirit that I should kill Laban; but I said in my heart: Never at any time have I shed the blood of man. And I shrunk and would that I might not slay him.
11 And the Spirit said unto me again: Behold the Lord hath delivered him into thy hands. Yea, and I also knew that he had sought to take away mine own life; yea, and he would not hearken unto the commandments of the Lord; and he also had taken away our property.
12 And it came to pass that the Spirit said unto me again: Slay him, for the Lord hath delivered him into thy hands;
13 Behold the Lord slayeth the wicked to bring forth his righteous purposes. It is better that one man should perish than that a nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief. [1 Nephi 4:10–13]
Kishkumen had taken the life of Pahoran, he had plotted to be placed in power and authority over the people, and he sought to destroy Helaman (vv. 3–5). The law of retaliation was in effect, he had smitten the Nephites at least three times and the Lord had delivered Kishkumen into the servant’s hands (see D&C 98:23–29).
Helaman’s attempt to execute the band of Gadianton according to the law (v. 10) is another evidence of their wickedness. The band fleeing into the wilderness also shows their guilt (v. 11).