Contemporary Conditions

The last chapter of Alma and the first chapter of the book of Helaman reflect several events and conditions of our recent past.

Superpower Struggles

Alma 63:15 states, "The Lamanites came down with a numerous army to war against the people of Moronihah, or against the army of Moronihah, in the which they were beaten and driven back again to their own lands, suffering great loss." In applying this to our day, we could fit it to many different things, as wars have not been a scarcity. Yet in this case reading "numerous army," and noting that the conflict was not so much between the people as between the armies, this brings to mind the Arms Race and the relentless march of Communism during the Cold War. Furthermore, the phrase, "suffering much loss" is an appropriate description of the several "limited combat" wars that scarred the involved nations, such as the Korean and Vietnam wars.

Flooding the Earth with the Book of Mormon

Verse 12 of this same chapter suggests another comparison. It states, "Now behold, all those engravings which were in the possession of Helaman were written and sent forth among the children of men throughout all the land." (Alma 63:12.) Here--unlike the discovery of the Jaredite records--already-existing records were sent forth throughout all the land. Likewise, President Benson has placed extraordinary emphasis on the Book of Mormon. He has called for a massive "flooding of the earth" with that book.⁽¹⁾ "God is not pleased with our neglect of the Book of Mormon," has been his persistent cry.⁽²⁾

Space Age Voyages

Another fascinating comparison emerges when we consider the account of the venturous Hagoth in this same chapter. Reflecting upon the modern space program, we can almost replace the word "ship" with "space ship." More specifically, we could use the word "space shuttle." The record states, "Hagoth, he being an exceedingly curious man, therefore he went forth and built him an exceedingly large ship...and launched it forth. And...this man built other ships. And the first ship did also return...; and they took much provisions, and set out again...." (Alma 63:5-7.) Could this be Mormon's way of symbolically prophesying about what other prophets may have described merely as "signs in heaven"?⁽³⁾

Crossroads Election

Turning the page to Helaman chapter 1, we next read about an election that took place among the Nephites. Evaluating the subsequent murder of the newly-elected chief judge, we might recall the scandalous assassination of President Kennedy. However, several possible hints suggest this Book of Mormon account might foreshadow an event yet to come.

One possible clue is found with the story of Hagoth and his ships. The narrative tells of a ship that was launched forth and "never heard of more." (Alma 63:8.) "And we suppose that they were drowned in the depths of the sea," it concluded. This resembles the Challenger disaster. The narrative continues, "And it came to pass that one other ship also did sail forth...." (63:8.) The wording here--"one other ship"--appears to be deliberate, for this was not the last ship to sail forth. (63:10.) Just one page later the Book of Mormon begins telling of the election that ended in assassination. Interestingly, between the Challenger disaster and the 1988 presidential election, one shuttle was launched: the Discovery. Might this correlation suggest that the election spoken of in Helaman chapter 1 parallels the 1988 election?

If this were the case, we would not have a hard time imagining how "much contention and...much difficulty [could arise] in the government" should our Vice President succeed "in the stead" of the President, "according to his right" under the Constitution⁽⁴⁾. (Hel. 1:18,13.)⁽⁵⁾ This wording, taken from the Book of Mormon, seems to apply with precision to the situation that would unfold in the event of an assassination in our day.

An additional indicator that this ominous parallel may be valid comes from the Jaredite account. We discussed earlier how Jaredite history has many parallels to Nephite history and therefore that Jaredite history also probably contains parallels to our day. (Appendix D.) Both the Jaredite and Nephite accounts tell of a segment of their history in which a destructive secret combination came into full display. This is indicative of what we may very well be facing in days just ahead.⁽⁶⁾ During that segment, both chronicles tell of either an assassination or assassination attempt of their chief leader in association with the ugly unveiling of the secret combination. (Hel. 1:9; 2:3; Ether 8:9,10.) Furthermore, in each account the compiler interrupts the story to warn us about the dangers of secret combinations: how they bring destruction to any nation that will uphold them. (Hel. 2:13,14 and Ether 8:18-26.) Might a similar assassination in our day serve as a sign that the flaxen cords of socialism, by which a modern secret combination has been leading us along, are about to be replaced by dictatorial chains? (2 Ne. 26:22.)⁽⁷⁾ In Book of Mormon history, Nephi, son of Helaman, pointed to the assassination of their chief judge as a sign that destruction was imminent. (Hel. 8:27,28.)

Updated Scenario for Helaman 1 by Rich Kuchinsky