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Come Follow Me 2024: Helaman 1–6
Scripture Block

Helaman 1–6

August 26–September 1
“The Rock of Our Redeemer”

Scripture Central Videos

Watch videos from Gospel scholars and teachers to learn more about these Book of Mormon passages.

Other Creator Videos

KnoWhys

Evidences

Paanchi, by James Fullmer.
Evidence #167
Paanchi, by James Fullmer.
Evidence #210
Paanchi, by James Fullmer.
Evidence #299
Detail of a judgment scene in the Book of the Dead, Papyrus of Hunefer. Image via Wikimedia Commons.
Evidence #420
Temples in Palenque. Image via Adobe Stock.
Evidence #103
Moses Breaks the Tables of the Law, from Doré's English Bible. Image via Wikimedia Commons.
Evidence #318
Nephi and Lehi speaking with an angel, by Steven Lloyd Neal.
Evidence #226
Lehi and Nephi's faces shining in the darkness. Image via churchofjesuschrist.org.
Evidence #279
Image via answersingenesis.org.
Evidence #306

Commentary

Book of Mormon Minute is a commentary series made especially for the free ScripturePlus app, which features insights from Book of Mormon scholar Brant A. Gardner. John W. Welch's notes for Come, Follow Me are also available for free.

Book of Mormon Minute cover
Book of Mormon Minute: Helaman 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6
Brant A. Gardner
cover of John W. Welch Notes - Come Follow Me
John W. Welch, Rita Spencer, and Brent J. Schmidt
John W. Welch, General Editor

Reading Plan

Structure your personal scripture study by following a 15-minute, day-by-day plan. Each day's assignment includes the required scripture passages from the Come, Follow Me curriculum, as well as suggestions for additional resources to bring context and understanding to your study. For the best experience, use our Reading Plan in the free ScripturePlus app! You can track your progress and have access to the best resources.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Additional Resources

Bibliography

Helaman

Hansen, Jr., Gerald. “The Terrifying Book of Helaman.” In The Book of Mormon: Helaman Through 3 Nephi 8, According to Thy Word, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 163–176. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1992.

Helaman 1

Hillam, Ray C. “The Gadianton Robbers and Protracted War.” BYU Studies Quarterly 15, no. 2 (1975): 215–224.

Welch, John W. “The Case of Paanchi.” In The Legal Cases in the Book of Mormon, 311–322. Provo, UT: BYU Press/Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship, 2008.

Helaman 1:1–10

Bowen, Matthew L. “’Swearing by Their Everlasting Maker’: Some Notes on Paanchi and Giddianhi.” Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 28 (2018): 155–170.

Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Legal Cases and Procedures in the Book of Mormon.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 121.

Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “The Nephite Judges.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 33.

Helaman 1:2

Book of Mormon Central. “How Was a Void in Leadership Dangerous for the Nephites? (Helaman 1:2).” KnoWhy 172 (August 24, 2016).

Helaman 2

Helaman 2:1–2

Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Pahoran as Chief Judge: Years 25–39 of the Reign of the Judges.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 37.

Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “The Nephite Judges.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 33.

Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Who Kept the Records in the Book of Mormon? (By Lineages).” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 17.

Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Helaman as Chief Judge: Years 42–53 of the Reign of the Judges.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 38.

Helaman 2:9

Book of Mormon Central. “Why was Helaman’s Servant Justified in Killing Kishkumen? (Helaman 2:9).” KnoWhy 173 (August 25, 2016).

Helaman 3

Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Nephite Cycle of Righteousness: Mormon's Warning for Us Today.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 144.

Helaman 3:7

Book of Mormon Central. “When Did Cement Become Common in Ancient America? (Helaman 3:7).” KnoWhy 174 (August 26, 2016).

Wells, Matthew G., and John W. Welch. “Concrete Evidence for the Book of Mormon.” In Reexploring the Book of Mormon, edited by John W. Welch, 212–214. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: FARMS/Deseret Book, 1992.

Helaman 3:8

Sorenson, John L. “Mesoamericans in Pre-Columbian North America.” In Reexploring the Book of Mormon, edited by John W. Welch, 218–220. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: FARMS/Deseret Book, 1992.

Sorenson, John L. “Mesoamericans in Pre-Spanish South America.” In Reexploring the Book of Mormon, edited by John W. Welch, 215–217. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: FARMS/Deseret Book, 1992.

Helaman 3:13

Barney, Kevin L. “’Slippery Treasures’ in the Book of Mormon: A Concept from the Ancient World.” Insights: A Window on the Ancient World 20, no. 6 (2000): 2.

Hilton, John L. “Wordprints and the Book of Mormon.” In Reexploring the Book of Mormon, edited by John W. Welch, 221–226. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: FARMS/Deseret Book, 1992.

Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Wordprints and the Book of Mormon.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 135.

Helaman 3:14

Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “A Comparison of Nephite Law Lists.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 127.

Helaman 3:15

Sorenson, John L. “Worth Repeating: ‘The Book of Mormon as a Mesoamerican Record.’” Insights: A Window on the Ancient World 27, no. 5 (2007): 6–7.

Helaman 3:20

Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “How Do You Say "Law" in Hebrew?.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 119.

Helaman 3:23

Benard, David R., John W. Welch, and Daniel C. Peterson. “’Secret Combinations.’” In Reexploring the Book of Mormon, edited by John W. Welch, 227–229. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: FARMS/Deseret Book, 1992.

Helaman 3:25

Welch, John W. “Rollercoaster Economics.” In Pressing Forward with the Book of Mormon: The FARMS Updates of the 1990s, edited by John W. Welch and Melvin J. Thorne, 180–186. Provo, UT: FARMS, 1999.

Helaman 3:37

Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “The Nephite Judges.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 33.

Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Who Kept the Records in the Book of Mormon? (By Lineages).” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 17.

Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Helaman as Chief Judge: Years 42–53 of the Reign of the Judges.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 38.

Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Nephi as Chief Judge: Years 53–62 of the Reign of the Judges.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 39.

Helaman 4

Helaman 4:5

Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Nephite Cycle of Righteousness: Mormon's Warning for Us Today.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 144.

Helaman 4:7

Anonymous, “A Day and a Half's Journey for a Nephite.” Insights: A Window on the Ancient World 5, no. 1 (1985): 2.

Hedges, Andrew H. “The Narrow Neck of Land.” Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel 9, no. 3 (2008): 151–160.

Sorenson, John L. “’A Day and a Half's Journey for a Nephite.’” In Reexploring the Book of Mormon, edited by John W. Welch, 187–188. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: FARMS/Deseret Book, 1992.

Helaman 4:12

Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “A Comparison of Nephite Law Lists.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 127.

Helaman 4:22

Welch, John W. “The Law of Mosiah.” In Reexploring the Book of Mormon, edited by John W. Welch, 158–161. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: FARMS/Deseret Book, 1992.

Helaman 4:25

Book of Mormon Central. “How Did the Nephites Become Weak in Such a Short Time? (Helaman 4:25).” KnoWhy 175 (August 29, 2016).

Helaman 5

Perry, Michael F. “The Supremacy of the Word: Alma’s Mission to the Zoramites and the Conversion of the Lamanites.” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 24 (2015): 119–137.

Rappleye, Neal. “’The Great and Terrible Judgments of the Lord’: Destruction and Disaster in 3 Nephi and the Geology of Mesoamerica.” Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 15 (2015): 143–157.

Wirth, Diane E. “Celestial Visits in the Scriptures, and a Plausible Mesoamerican Tradition.” Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 14 (2015): 55–75.

Helaman 5:1

Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “The Nephite Judges.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 33.

Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Who Kept the Records in the Book of Mormon? (By Lineages).” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 17.

Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Nephi as Chief Judge: Years 53–62 of the Reign of the Judges.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 39.

Helaman 5:6–7

Bowen, Matthew L. “’He Is a Good Man’: The Fulfillment of Helaman 5:6-7 in Helaman 8:7 and 11:18-19.” Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 17 (2016): 165–170.

Helaman 5:9

Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Helaman's Quotation of Benjamin.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 104.

Helaman 5:12

Book of Mormon Central. “Why Did Helaman Want His Sons to Remember to Build upon the Rock? (Helaman 5:12).” KnoWhy 332 (June 28, 2017).

Book of Mormon Central. “Why Did Helaman Compare Christ to a Rock? (Helaman 5:12).” KnoWhy 176 (August 30, 2016).

Helaman 5:16

Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Twelve Journeys between the Cities of Nephi and Zarahemla.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 153.

Helaman 5:21–22

Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Legal Cases and Procedures in the Book of Mormon.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 121.

Helaman 5:39

Bowen, Matthew L. “’My People Are Willing’: The Mention of Aminadab in the Narrative Context of Helaman 5-6.” Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 19 (2016): 83–107.

Helaman 5:41

Roper, Matthew. “Was Aminadab a Zoramite?” Insights: A Window on the Ancient World 24, no. 1 (2004): 2–3.

Helaman 5:48–49

Tolley, Kevin L. “To ‘See and Hear.’” Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 18 (2016): 139–158.

Helaman 6

Helaman 6:6

Book of Mormon Central. “Who Was Zelph? (Helaman 6:6).” KnoWhy 336 (July 7, 2017).

Helaman 6:7–13

Christenson, Allen J. “Chiasmus in Mesoamerican Texts.” In Reexploring the Book of Mormon, edited by John W. Welch, 233–235. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: FARMS/Deseret Book, 1992.

Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Twelve Journeys between the Cities of Nephi and Zarahemla.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 153.

Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Chiasmus in Helaman 6:7–13.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 133.

Welch, John W. „Chiasmus in Helaman 6:7–13.“ In Reexploring the Book of Mormon, edited by John W. Welch, 230–232. Provo, UT/Salt Lake City: FARMS/Deseret Book, 1992.

Helaman 6:10

Book of Mormon Central. “Why Was Chiasmus Used in Nephite Record Keeping? (Helaman 6:10).” KnoWhy 177 (August 31, 2018).

Helaman 6:11

Sorenson, John L. “Challenging Conventional Views of Metal.” In Pressing Forward with the Book of Mormon: The FARMS Updates of the 1990s, edited by John W. Welch and Melvin J. Thorne, 187–189. Provo, UT: FARMS, 1999.

Helaman 6:15

Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “The Nephite Judges.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 33.

Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Who Kept the Records in the Book of Mormon? (By Lineages).” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 17.

Helaman 6:18

Book of Mormon Central. “What is the Difference Between "Robbers" and "Thieves" in the Book of Mormon? (Helaman 6:18).” KnoWhy 432 (May 10, 2018).

Helaman 6:23

Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “A Comparison of Nephite Law Lists.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 127.

Helaman 6:24

Welch, John W., and Greg Welch. “Legal Cases and Procedures in the Book of Mormon.” In Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999, chart 121.

Helaman 6:26–27

Bowen, Matthew L. “Getting Cain and Gain.” Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 15 (2015): 115–141.

Tvedtnes, John A. “Hiding the Secret Plans.” Insights: A Window on the Ancient World 22, no. 8 (2002): 2.

Helaman 6:30–34

Reynolds, Noel B. “The Ancient Doctrine of the Two Ways and the Book of Mormon.” BYU Studies Quarterly 56, no. 3 (2017): 49–78.

Helaman 6:35–36

Bowen, Matthew L. “’My People Are Willing’: The Mention of Aminadab in the Narrative Context of Helaman 5-6.” Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 19 (2016): 83–107.

Helaman 6:37–38

Peterson, Daniel C. “Notes on ‘Gadianton Masonry.’” In Warfare in the Book of Mormon. Edited by Stephen D. Ricks and William J. Hamblin. Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book and FARMS, 1990.

Peterson, Daniel C. “Secret Combinations Revisited.” In Pressing Forward with the Book of Mormon: The FARMS Updates of the 1990s, edited by John W. Welch and Melvin J. Thorne, 190–195. Provo, UT: FARMS, 1999.