Gadianton Period

Gadianton Genesis

Helaman 2:1–2
After some controversy, Helaman, the son of Helaman, is chosen as chief judge of Zarahemla.
Helaman 2:3–5
Kishkumen, along with a man named Gadianton, promise their followers prominent government positions if they would support Gadianton’s ascent to the judgment seat; Kishkumen plans to kill Helaman.
Helaman 2:6
Meanwhile, one of Helaman’s servants had gone undercover into the Gadianton band, and had learned about the plot against Helaman.
Helaman 2:7
Helaman’s servant goes out at night and meets Kishkumen, who asks the servant to lead him to Helaman.
Helaman 2:8
Helaman’s servant maintains his cover, and agrees to lead Kishkumen to Helaman.
Helaman 2:9
As they go towards the judgment seat, where Helaman is, Helaman’s servant stabs Kishkumen, who dies; he then runs back to Helaman and tells him everything that happened.
Helaman 2:10–11
Helaman dispatches officers to apprehend Gadianton’s group, but, noting that Kishkumen never returned, Gadianton’s group escapes into the wilderness, and remain unfindable.
Helaman 2:12–14
Gadianton and his ideology prove to be the downfall of the Nephite people.

Nephite Travels and Expansions

Helaman 3:1–2
The Nephite civilization continues to grow and develop, but faces some problems with pride.
Helaman 3:3–5
A large number of disaffected Nephites leave the land of Zarahemla and travel northward to an area filled with large bodies of water; some land had been rendered useless by its prior inhabitants.
Helaman 3:6–7
Due to the lack of timber, the people learn to construct buildings out of cement.
Helaman 3:8
The Nephites continue to multiply and expand, and cover a significant body of land.
Helaman 3:9
Those in the north implement reforestation efforts, and live in tents and cement structures.
Helaman 3:10–12
The northern Nephites establish a timber import industry, and are able to develop many cities.

Helaman’s Tenure as Judge

Helaman 3:18–20
Despite some unrest among the Nephite citizens, Helaman continues to rule as chief judge with fairness and honor.
Helaman 3:21
Helaman has two faithful sons: Nephi and Lehi.
Helaman 3:22–23
The Nephites prosper peacefully, but all the while, Gadianton forces continue to brood in the background.
Helaman 3:24–26
The church sees significant growth and progress, with tens of thousands baptized, and an unprecedented outpouring of blessings.
Helaman 3:27–30
The Lord’s mercy is bountifully poured out upon the Nephites, because the gates of heaven are open to all.
Helaman 3:31–32
The Nephites rejoice in peaceful prosperity.

Issues with Pride

Helaman 3:33–34
The increased prosperity leads to pride and ostracism among church members.
Helaman 3:34–35
The more humble members suffer greatly, yet are comforted and sanctified by the power of Christ.
Helaman 3:36
Although the Nephites are still in a state of peace, the pride becomes an ever increasing concern.
Helaman 3:37
Helaman dies, and his son Nephi reigns righteously in his stead.

Capture of the Southern Lands

Helaman 4:1–3
Nephite dissenters are driven out of the land, and entice the king of Lamanites to go to war against the Nephites, but the Lamanites are fearfully reluctant.
Helaman 4:4–5
Continued persuasion efforts on the part of the dissenters finally succeed, and the Lamanites initiate a strike on the Nephites, and successfully occupy the land of Zarahemla.
Helaman 4:6–8
Moronihah and the Nephite army are able to secure and defend the territory north of Bountiful, but the Lamanites conquer everything in the south.
Helaman 4:9–10
Moronihah fights back, and by the following year, he is successful in repossessing some their original territorial holdings.

Nephite Losses and Victories

Helaman 4:11–13
The Nephite losses were a result of Nephite pride, selfishness, and boasting.
Helaman 4:14–17
Moronihah, Nephi, and Lehi join forces in preaching repentance to the Nephites; as the people repent, Moronihah is able to regain one half of their original land.

Nephite Weakening

Helaman 4:18–19
Moronihah determines that any additional attempts to regain territory would be futile, so he focuses on maintaining current possessions.
Helaman 4:20–22
Fearful of the large number of Lamanites, the Nephites begin to remember past prophesies, and realize that their weakness is related to their abandonment of God.
Helaman 4:23–26
The church is decaying, and the Lord is no longer protecting the Nephites like he had previously—thus, the Nephites are no better off than the Lamanites.

Nephi’s Resignation as Judge

Helaman 5:1–3
Nephi resigns from his office as judge, and entrusts the position to a man named Cezoram.
Helaman 5:4
Nephi joins his brother Lehi, and the two set out to preach to the word of God to the Nephites.
Helaman 5:5–12
Nephi and Lehi are inspired and fueled by the words of their late father Helaman, who taught that true happiness and prosperity comes from following and believing Jesus.
Helaman 5:13
Helaman had instructed Nephi and Lehi well.
Helaman 5:14–16
Nephi and Lehi, keeping the faith, go on a preaching circuit, beginning in Bountiful, and going through Gid, Mulek, and even into the territories within Zarahemla occupied by Lamanites.
Helaman 5:17
Nephi and Lehi’s charismatic and powerful preaching convinces many of their errors, and leads many to repentance.
Helaman 5:18–19
8,000 Lamanites are baptized, and converted unto the Lord as a result of Nephi and Lehi’s efforts.

Nephi and Lehi in Prison

Helaman 5:20–22
Nephi and Lehi travel to the land of Nephi, where Lamanite militants capture them, imprison them, and sentence them to death.
Helaman 5:23
As the Lamanites come into the prison to execute Nephi and Lehi, a wall of fire and flames encircle Nephi and Lehi.
Helaman 5:24–25
The Lamanites are too afraid to proceed with the execution.
Helaman 5:26
Nephi and Lehi call out from the fire to the guards, telling them not to fear, but to believe in God.
Helaman 5:27–28
The ground begins to shake, and the prison walls rumble, but do not fall—a mist of darkness then envelops the prison.
Helaman 5:29
The prison guards hear a voice commanding them to repent and leave Nephi and Lehi alone.
Helaman 5:30–31
The voice is not booming nor is it loud, yet it is poignant and direct to the guards.
Helaman 5:32
The voice once again commands them to repent and let Nephi and Lehi go.
Helaman 5:33–34
The voice goes on to say unspeakably marvelous things.
Helaman 5:35–36, 39
One guard named Aminadab, an ex–Nephite, sees Nephi and Lehi’s faces through the mists of darkness; they are looking upward, speaking to someone.
Helaman 5:37–38
Aminadab notifies the other guards—they all see Nephi and Lehi, and wonder who they are talking to.
Helaman 5:39
Aminadab explains that Nephi and Lehi are talking to God’s angels.
Helaman 5:40
The guards asks how they can get the dark cloud to disperse.
Helaman 5:41
Aminadab tells them to to remember the teachings of Alma, Amulek, and Zeezrom, and repent through faith in Christ.
Helaman 5:42
The guards cry unto God, and the cloud disperses.
Helaman 5:43
When the darkness dissipates, they see that they are all encircled by a pillar of fire.
Helaman 5:44
Nephi and Lehi are at the center of the pillar of fire, yet are not harmed.
Helaman 5:45
All present experience a pentecostal outpouring of the spirit.
Helaman 5:46–47
The voice comes back, this time commending the people for their faith in Christ.
Helaman 5:48–49
They all look up, see angels coming out of heaven, and are charged to go forth faithfully.
Helaman 5:50–52
The converted guards go around and preach to the other Lamanites, many of whom believe, repent, and agree to give back captured Nephite lands and live in peace.

Lamanite Righteousness

Helaman 6:1
The faith of the Lamanites becomes such that they become overall more righteous than the Nephites.
Helaman 6:2–3
Many Nephites abandon their faith, yet the church continues to grow because of the continuous flow of Lamanite converts.
Helaman 6:4–5
Righteous Lamanites migrate into Nephite lands, and testify of their conversions to the Lord, exhorting the Nephites to repent.
Helaman 6:6
Nephi and Lehi go to the northern lands to preach.

Nephite and Lamanite Intermixing

Helaman 6:7–8
Diplomatic relations between Nephites and Lamanites improve dramatically, evidenced by a free–trade agreement established between them.
Helaman 6:9–11
Together, the Nephites and Lamanites prosper substantially, partially due to the abundance of precious ore in the land.
Helaman 6:12–14
Peace, prosperity, abundance, and blessing underscore the lives of both the Nephites and Lamanites.

Rise of the Gadianton Robbers

Helaman 6:15
Not long after, Cezoram, the chief judge, is murdered in cold blood along with his successor, his son.
Helaman 6:16–17
The abundance and prosperity of the people had once again caused them to become prideful, and they fall back into a wicked state.
Helaman 6:18–19
Gadianton’s band resurfaces, leading the way of robbing, murdering, and wickedness.
Helaman 6:20–21
The Lamanites try to counter the influence of the Gadianton robbers, but it is of no use.
Helaman 6:22–24
The Gadianton robbers are meticulously organized with secret signs, pacts, and the like, to keep their underground enterprise alive.
Helaman 6:25
Alma had specifically warned about this kind of organization and the dangers which accompany it.

Nephite Moral Decay

Helaman 6:26–27
The ideas behind the Gadianton secret society were not obtained from any existing available record, but were revealed by the devil.
Helaman 6:28
The devil has been the motivating influence of many previous evil deeds.
Helaman 6:29
Gadianton was inspired by the devil himself to initiate his organization.
Helaman 6:30
Satan influences one generation after the next to do evil.
Helaman 6:31
Consequently, the Nephites morally deteriorate, and turn their attention to riches.
Helaman 6:32–33
The Nephites continue on their downward spiral.
Helaman 6:34–36
The Spirit of God withdraws from the Nephites, but is poured out abundantly among the Lamanites.
Helaman 6:37–41
The Lamanites initiate outreach programs to help the Nephites repent, but they are largely ineffective—the Nephites continue increasing in wickedness.

Gadianton Growth

Helaman 11:24–25
The following year, Nephite dissenters, now merged with the Lamanites, initiate guerilla attacks on the Nephites.
Helaman 11:26–27
These guerillas assume the identity of Gadianton robbers, and pose a large problem for the Nephites.
Helaman 11:28–32
Nephite militias are sent into the jungle several times and they successfully disperse the Gadianton forces.
Helaman 11:32–35
Even so, the Gadianton forces continue to grow and they continue to initiate battles against the Nephites.
Helaman 11:36–38
The Nephites’ morals again decay, and they show no sign of repentance.

Samuel the Lamanite

Helaman 13:1
The Nephites remain in wickedness, while the Lamanites live righteously.
Helaman 13:2
Samuel, a Lamanite prophet, arrives in Zarahemla and preaches, but is rejected, and turns around to go home.
Helaman 13:3
The Lord tells him to return to Zarahemla.
Helaman 13:4
Samuel is not allowed in the city, so he climbs the city wall, and begins to preach from the top of the wall.
Helaman 16:1
Many Nephites believe Samuel’s words, and go find Nephi to confess their sins and be baptized.
Helaman 16:2
Those who do not believe Samuel throw rocks and shoot arrows at him, but Samuel is protected by God, and is not hit.
Helaman 16:3
Seeing that Samuel is untouchable by rocks and arrows, more people believe and go to Nephi to be baptized.
Helaman 16:4–5
Nephi baptizes many of the converts, and reiterates Samuel’s words.
Helaman 16:6
The non-believers, angry that they cannot hit Samuel, declare that he is possessed by the devil, and order that he be apprehended.
Helaman 16:7
As they approach to capture him, Samuel jumps off the wall, and returns to Lamanite territory to preach to his own people.
Helaman 16:8–9
Samuel is never heard from again.

Rejection and Unbelief

Helaman 16:10–12
Time passes, and the majority of the Nephites continue to live in sin.
Helaman 16:13–14
Many sign and wonders appear, in fulfillment of prophecy.
Helaman 16:15–16
The non-believers attribute the vindicated prophesies to luck and coincidence.
Helaman 16:17–21
The non believers argue that the Messianic prophesies are not reasonable, and wonder why Jesus won’t come and appear to them as well.
Helaman 16:22–25
Despite the ongoing signs and wonders, many people still remain in a state on unbelief and wickedness.

Nephi’s Son

3 Nephi 1:1–3, 2:9
As man named Lachoneus becomes chief judge, Nephi hands the Nephite records down to his son, also named Nephi, then leaves Zarahemla, and is never heard from again.
3 Nephi 1:4–6
Many of Samuel’s prophesied signs and miracles come to pass, but even so, some naysayers insist that the believers’ faith is in vain.
3 Nephi 1:7–8
Controversy spreads through the land—the people become anxious to see the night that will be light as day.
3 Nephi 1:9
A day is designated to execute all the believers if Samuel’s sign does not come to pass.

Signs Fulfilled

3 Nephi 1:10–14
Nephi, greatly worried, prays mightily—Jesus answers him, informing him that he will be born the following day.
3 Nephi 1:15–18
That night, the sun goes down, but there is no darkness; many of the non–believers are astounded, and begin believing.
3 Nephi 1:19–21
The whole night passes without any darkness, and a new star appears, all according to prophecy.
3 Nephi 1:22–23
Still, some are unconvinced, while many others are converted and are baptized.
3 Nephi 1:24–26
Some erroneously teach that the law of Moses should not be observed, not understanding that it had not yet been fulfilled.

Increasing Wickedness

3 Nephi 1:27–28
Gadianton forces strengthen, recruiting many Nephites and causing havoc among the people.
3 Nephi 1:29–30
Some Lamanites also dissent and join the Gadianton band.
3 Nephi 2:1–2
People begin to forget the signs and wonders they saw, and regress back into unbelief.
3 Nephi 2:3–4
Unbelief leads them in wickedness and moral corruption.
3 Nephi 2:5–8
609 years have passed since Lehi left Jerusalem.

Gadianton – Nephite Conflict

3 Nephi 2:10–11
Wickedness continues to abound, and the Gadianton forces continue to increase to the point that the Nephites and Lamanites feel compelled to team up and fight back.
3 Nephi 2:12–16
Converted Lamanites join the Nephites; their curse is lifted, and they become fair.
3 Nephi 2:17–19
The Nephites fight, are are able to regain some of their territory.
3 Nephi 3:1–10
Lachoneus receives a letter from Giddianhi, the Gadianton leader, inviting him and his people to join the Gadianton band and threatening to destroy him and his people should he refuse.
3 Nephi 3:11–12
Lachoneus is concerned about the threat, and urges his people to pray fervently for strength to withstand Giddianhi’s attack.
3 Nephi 3:13–16
Lachoneus orders that all the Nephites and Lamanites gather everything and everyone to a central location; he warns them to repent in order to be saved.
3 Nephi 3:17–19
Lachoneus places guards around the central area, and places a righteous man name Gidgiddoni at the command of the guards.
3 Nephi 3:20
The people urge Gidgiddoni to initiate a strike on the Gadianton robbers in their lands.
3 Nephi 3:21
Gidgiddoni refuses, and insists on leading a defensive military tactic.

Nephite Centralization

3 Nephi 3:22
Lachoneus’ order to centralize makes its way through the land, and the people follow it.
3 Nephi 3:23–24
They all centralize in Zarahemla, leaving all other territory desolate.
3 Nephi 3:25–26
They repent, live righteously, and live all together in one body, all while preparing for the Gadianton strike.

Gadianton Military Strike

3 Nephi 4:1
The Gadianton robbers initiate their military strike, hoping to conquer all the Nephite and Lamanite lands.
3 Nephi 4:2–4
To their shock, all of the cities had been deserted, and there are no resources to obtain, people to kill, or anything to plunder.
3 Nephi 4:5–6
Seeing that there is nothing to rob and plunder, and that the risk is too high to try to homestead or colonize the deserted land, Giddianhi decides to attack the Nephites and Lamanites in their central location.
3 Nephi 4:7–8
Seeing the savage appearance of the approaching army of Giddianhi, the Nephites fall to the ground and pray.
3 Nephi 4:9–10
Giddianhi’s troops see the Nephites fall to the ground, and begin to cheer, thinking that they are surrendering; but when they fully approach, the Nephites are ready for them.
3 Nephi 4:11–12
A horrific battle ensues, many people die, but the Nephites are ultimately victorious.
3 Nephi 4:13–14
Gidgiddoni and the robbers are chased out to the borders of the land; Giddianhi, tired from the fight, loses ground, and is killed.

Zemnarihah and the Gadianton Demise

3 Nephi 4:15–17
A few years pass, and the Gadianton robbers appoint a new leader, Zemnarihah, who leads his people to the Nephites, surrounds their city, and plans to cut them off from all outside resources.
3 Nephi 4:18–20
The plan backfires, because the Nephites have large amounts of food and resources stocked up, whereas the Gadianton robbers did not have any resources available to them outside the city limits.
3 Nephi 4:21–23
The Nephites also periodically dispatched troops to eliminate Gadianton robbers—seeing his efforts are futile, Zemnarihah orders a withdrawal, and he begins to lead his people to the land northward.
3 Nephi 4:24–26
Gidgiddoni plans an ambush, and the next day, Zemnarihah is met in the front and rear by Nephite troops.
3 Nephi 4:27–29
The Gadianton robbers surrender, Zemnarihah is executed, and the righteous pray for protection and grace.
3 Nephi 4:30
The Nephites again pray for protection.
3 Nephi 4:31–33
The Nephites break into song, and praise God for his providence.
3 Nephi 5:1–3
The Nephites all believe in the prophesies, have faith in Christ, repent, and live righteously.
3 Nephi 5:4–6
The Nephites preach the gospel to their Gadianton prisoners; those who believe and repent are set free.
3 Nephi 5:7–8
Many marvelous things occur, and cannot all be included in this account.

Nephite Expansion and Industry

3 Nephi 6:1–3
The Gadianton conflict being over, the Nephites decentralize out of Zarahemla, and repopulate the land.
3 Nephi 6:4–6
Thanks to the exceptional leadership of Lachoneus and Gidgiddoni, the whole civilization enjoys peace and order.
3 Nephi 6:7–9
Nephite industry expands, and cities are built, rebuilt, and inter–city highways are built.

Nephite Moral Decline

3 Nephi 6:10–13
The industry and prosperity leads some Nephites to become prideful, and true believers are persecuted.
3 Nephi 6:14
The church again begins to disintegrate, and only a select few remain faithful.
3 Nephi 6:15–16
Satan is the cause of the Nephite moral decay.

Prophetic Rejection and Government Conspiracy

3 Nephi 6:17–19
Lachoneus’ son, also named Lachoneus, assumes the judgment seat, all while the Nephites collapse into a state of willful sin.
3 Nephi 6:20–21
Many prophets and divine messengers come to preach repentance to the people, but they are rejected.
3 Nephi 6:22–23
Many of the preachers are apprehended and illegally executed without due process or authoritative approval.
3 Nephi 6:24–25
The judges who ordered the executions are summoned by the governor.
3 Nephi 6:26–29
Corruption, nepotism, and conspiracy abound, and the guilty parties somehow are not convicted of any crimes.

Societal Disintegration

3 Nephi 6:30
The corrupt judges conspire and plot to kill the governors and establish a king over the people.
3 Nephi 7:1
They are not successful in establishing a king, but they do kill the chief judge.
3 Nephi 7:2–3
The Nephite society disassembles, and the people group into factions.
3 Nephi 7:4–8
The government and legal system also disintegrates, and the Nephites are left in autonomous tribes—the social disassembly takes place in less than six years.

Jacob and the New Secret Combination

3 Nephi 7:9–11
The organization behind the corrupt judges appoints a leader, Jacob, to be their king, with a sworn oath to destroy all governmental order.
3 Nephi 7:12–13
Seeing that his faction was not as powerful as other Nephite tribes, Jacob leads his people to the land northward, in an attempt to gather recruits and strengthen his forces.
3 Nephi 7:14
While the Nephite tribes remained independent, they agree to peace treaties, to avoid war.

Nephi’s Spiritual Ministry

3 Nephi 7:15–17
Nephi, having seen the rapid decline in righteousness among the Nephites, goes out and begins to preach to the people.
3 Nephi 7:18–20
Despite the people’s anger with him, Nephi preaches and ministers with power and authority; his brother dies, but he raises him from the dead in the name of Jesus.
3 Nephi 7:21–22
Only a few people convert back to the Lord, but those people enjoy blessings and miracles from God.
3 Nephi 7:23–26
Nephi continues preaching, and despite the overall unbelief of the people, there are many that believe, repent, and are baptized.