The first chapter of Helaman covered two years, and the second chapter covered just one year of the reign of the judges. The third chapter covers a total of eleven years, three of which are covered very briefly (vv. 1–2). The fourth year, the forty-sixth of the reign of the judges, is described more fully than any of the eleven years in this third chapter. There is more than one full page telling of the results of the contention and dissension that arose.
The first result of their contention was a large migration to the land northward. Was the Lord involved in this movement? Nephi, son of Lehi, taught: “[the Lord] leadeth away the righteous into precious lands, and the wicked he destroyeth” (1 Nephi 17:38). Perhaps the Lord was responsible, but there is no direct evidence that he was. There is, however, indirect evidence the people of God are gathered together in any age of the world. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught us why:
“The main object was to build unto the Lord a house whereby He could reveal unto His people the ordinances of His house and the glories of His kingdom, and teach the people the way of salvation; for there are certain ordinances and principles that, when they are taught and practiced, must be done in a place or house built for that purpose.” [TPJS, 308]
While Mormon makes no references to a temple at this time, there was a temple in the land of Zarahemla. King Benjamin had given his speech from that temple (see Mosiah 1:18). Later, Nephi, son of Helaman, warned that unless the people of Zarahemla repented, the Lord would scatter them instead of gathering them (see Helaman 7:19). The Lord’s hand was probably involved in the northern migration at this time. After all: “And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments” (D&C 59:21).
The people traveled an exceedingly great distance to large bodies of water (v. 4). We must be careful that contentions do not arise over where these people traveled. Some Book of Mormon students feel this is in an area in Central America. Others quote this verse as the area of the great lakes in North America. The Prophet Joseph said: “the world will prove Joseph Smith a true prophet by circumstantial evidence, in experiments” (TPJS, 267). In this writers opinion, all of that evidence has not yet been found, and the Lord is still expecting his people to accept the Book of Mormon on faith. When the time is right, the Lord will bring forth further evidence. The land of desolation (Helaman 3:5–6) is also a controversial geographical area. We will also wait for further verification on this point.