Prev
Helaman
Next
Helaman 9
Messengers find the chief judge dead at the judgment seat—They are imprisoned and later released—By inspiration Nephi identifies Seantum as the murderer—Nephi is accepted by some as a prophet. About 23–21 B.C.
Behold,
now
it
came
to
pass
that
when
Nephi
had
spoken
these
words,
certain
men
who
were
among
them
ran
to
the
judgment-seat;
yea,
even
there
were
a
five
who
went,
and
they
said
among
themselves,
as
they
went:
2 Behold,
now
we
will
know
of
a
surety
whether
this
man
be
a
prophet
and
God
hath
commanded
him
to
prophesy
such
marvelous
things
unto
us.
Behold,
we
do
not
a
believe
that
he
hath;
yea,
we
do
not
believe
that
he
is
a
prophet;
nevertheless,
if
this
thing
which
he
has
said
concerning
the
chief
judge
be
true,
that
he
be
dead,
then
will
we
believe
that
the
other
words
which
he
has
spoken
are
true.
3 And
it
came
to
pass
that
they
ran
in
their
might,
and
came
in
unto
the
judgment-seat;
and
behold,
the
chief
judge
had
fallen
to
the
earth,
and
did
a
lie
in
his
blood.
4 And
now
behold,
when
they
saw
this
they
were
astonished
exceedingly,
insomuch
that
they
fell
to
the
earth;
for
they
had
not
believed
the
words
which
Nephi
had
spoken
concerning
the
chief
judge.
5 But
now,
when
they
saw
they
believed,
and
fear
came
upon
them
lest
all
the
judgments
which
Nephi
had
spoken
a
should
come
upon
the
people;
therefore
they
did
quake,
and
had
fallen
to
the
earth.
6 Now,
immediately
when
the
judge
had
been
murdered—he
being
stabbed
by
his
brother
by
a
garb
of
secrecy,
and
he
fled,
and
the
servants
ran
and
told
the
people,
raising
the
cry
of
murder
among
them;
7 And
behold
the
people
did
gather
themselves
together
unto
the
place
of
the
judgment-seat—and
behold,
to
their
astonishment
they
saw
those
a
five
men
who
had
fallen
to
the
earth.
8 And
now
behold,
the
people
knew
nothing
concerning
the
multitude
who
had
gathered
together
at
the
a
garden
of
Nephi;
therefore
they
said
among
themselves:
These
men
are
they
who
have
murdered
the
judge,
and
God
has
smitten
them
that
they
could
not
flee
from
us.
9 And
it
came
to
pass
that
they
laid
hold
on
them,
and
bound
them
and
cast
them
into
prison.
And
there
was
a
proclamation
sent
abroad
that
the
judge
was
slain,
and
that
the
murderers
had
been
taken
and
were
cast
into
prison.
10 And
it
came
to
pass
that
on
the
morrow
the
people
did
assemble
themselves
together
to
a
mourn
and
to
b
fast,
at
the
burial
of
the
great
chief
judge
who
had
been
slain.
11 And
thus
also
those
judges
who
were
at
the
garden
of
Nephi,
and
heard
his
words,
were
also
gathered
together
at
the
burial.
12 And
it
came
to
pass
that
they
inquired
among
the
people,
saying:
Where
are
the
five
who
were
sent
to
inquire
concerning
the
chief
judge
whether
he
was
dead?
And
they
answered
and
said:
Concerning
this
five
whom
ye
say
ye
have
sent,
we
know
not;
but
there
are
five
who
are
the
murderers,
whom
we
have
cast
into
prison.
13 And
it
came
to
pass
that
the
judges
desired
that
they
should
be
brought;
and
they
were
brought,
and
behold
they
were
the
five
who
were
sent;
and
behold
the
judges
inquired
of
them
to
know
concerning
the
matter,
and
they
told
them
all
that
they
had
done,
saying:
14 We
ran
and
came
to
the
place
of
the
judgment-seat,
and
when
we
saw
all
things
even
as
Nephi
had
testified,
we
were
astonished
insomuch
that
we
fell
to
the
earth;
and
when
we
were
recovered
from
our
astonishment,
behold
they
cast
us
into
a
prison.
15 Now,
as
for
the
murder
of
this
man,
we
know
not
who
has
done
it;
and
only
this
much
we
know,
we
ran
and
came
a
according
as
ye
desired,
and
behold
he
was
dead,
according
to
the
words
of
Nephi.
16 And
now
it
came
to
pass
that
the
judges
did
expound
the
matter
unto
the
people,
and
did
cry
out
against
Nephi,
saying:
Behold,
we
know
that
this
Nephi
must
have
agreed
with
some
one
to
slay
the
judge,
and
then
he
might
declare
it
unto
us,
that
he
might
convert
us
unto
his
faith,
that
he
might
raise
himself
to
be
a
great
man,
chosen
of
God,
and
a
prophet.
17 And
now
behold,
we
will
detect
this
man,
and
he
shall
confess
his
fault
and
make
known
unto
us
the
true
murderer
of
this
judge.
18 And
it
came
to
pass
that
the
five
were
liberated
on
the
day
of
the
burial.
Nevertheless,
they
did
rebuke
the
judges
in
the
words
which
they
had
spoken
against
Nephi,
and
did
contend
with
them
one
by
one,
insomuch
that
they
did
confound
them.
19 Nevertheless,
they
caused
that
Nephi
should
be
taken
and
bound
and
brought
before
the
multitude,
and
they
began
to
question
him
in
divers
ways
that
they
might
cross
him,
that
they
might
accuse
him
to
death—
20 Saying
unto
him:
Thou
art
confederate;
who
is
this
man
that
hath
done
this
murder?
Now
tell
us,
and
acknowledge
thy
fault;
saying,
Behold
here
is
a
money;
and
also
we
will
grant
unto
thee
thy
life
if
thou
wilt
tell
us,
and
acknowledge
the
agreement
which
thou
hast
made
with
him.
21 But
Nephi
said
unto
them:
O
ye
a
fools,
ye
uncircumcised
of
heart,
ye
blind,
and
ye
b
stiffnecked
people,
do
ye
know
how
long
the
Lord
your
God
will
suffer
you
that
ye
shall
go
on
in
this
your
way
of
sin?
22 O
ye
ought
to
begin
to
howl
and
a
mourn,
because
of
the
great
destruction
which
at
this
time
doth
await
you,
except
ye
shall
repent.
23 Behold
ye
say
that
I
have
agreed
with
a
man
that
he
should
murder
Seezoram,
our
chief
judge.
But
behold,
I
say
unto
you,
that
this
is
because
I
have
testified
unto
you
that
ye
might
know
concerning
this
thing;
yea,
even
for
a
witness
unto
you,
that
I
did
know
of
the
wickedness
and
abominations
which
are
among
you.
24 And
because
I
have
done
this,
ye
say
that
I
have
agreed
with
a
man
that
he
should
do
this
thing;
yea,
because
I
showed
unto
you
this
sign
ye
are
angry
with
me,
and
seek
to
destroy
my
life.
25 And
now
behold,
I
will
show
unto
you
another
sign,
and
see
if
ye
will
in
this
thing
seek
to
destroy
me.
26 Behold
I
say
unto
you:
Go
to
the
house
of
Seantum,
who
is
the
a
brother
of
Seezoram,
and
say
unto
him—
27 Has
Nephi,
the
pretended
prophet,
who
doth
prophesy
so
much
evil
concerning
this
people,
agreed
with
thee,
in
the
which
ye
have
murdered
Seezoram,
who
is
your
brother?
28 And
behold,
he
shall
say
unto
you,
Nay.
29 And
ye
shall
say
unto
him:
Have
ye
murdered
your
brother?
30 And
he
shall
stand
with
fear,
and
wist
not
what
to
say.
And
behold,
he
shall
deny
unto
you;
and
he
shall
make
as
if
he
were
astonished;
nevertheless,
he
shall
declare
unto
you
that
he
is
innocent.
31 But
behold,
ye
shall
examine
him,
and
ye
shall
find
blood
upon
the
skirts
of
his
cloak.
32 And
when
ye
have
seen
this,
ye
shall
say:
From
whence
cometh
this
blood?
Do
we
not
know
that
it
is
the
blood
of
your
brother?
33 And
then
shall
he
tremble,
and
shall
look
pale,
even
as
if
death
had
come
upon
him.
34 And
then
shall
ye
say:
Because
of
this
fear
and
this
paleness
which
has
come
upon
your
face,
behold,
we
know
that
thou
art
guilty.
35 And
then
shall
greater
fear
come
upon
him;
and
then
shall
he
confess
unto
you,
and
deny
no
more
that
he
has
done
this
murder.
36 And
then
shall
he
say
unto
you,
that
I,
Nephi,
know
nothing
concerning
the
matter
save
it
were
given
unto
me
by
the
power
of
God.
And
then
shall
ye
know
that
I
am
an
honest
man,
and
that
I
am
sent
unto
you
from
God.
37 And
it
came
to
pass
that
they
went
and
did,
even
according
as
Nephi
had
said
unto
them.
And
behold,
the
words
which
he
had
said
were
true;
for
according
to
the
words
he
did
deny;
and
also
according
to
the
words
he
did
confess.
38 And
he
was
brought
to
prove
that
he
himself
was
the
very
murderer,
insomuch
that
the
five
were
set
at
liberty,
and
also
was
Nephi.
39 And
there
were
some
of
the
Nephites
who
believed
on
the
words
of
Nephi;
and
there
were
some
also,
who
believed
because
of
the
testimony
of
the
five,
for
they
had
been
converted
while
they
were
in
prison.
40 And
now
there
were
some
among
the
people,
who
said
that
Nephi
was
a
prophet.
41 And
there
were
others
who
said:
Behold,
he
is
a
god,
for
except
he
was
a
god
he
could
not
a
know
of
all
things.
For
behold,
he
has
told
us
the
thoughts
of
our
hearts,
and
also
has
told
us
things;
and
even
he
has
brought
unto
our
knowledge
the
true
murderer
of
our
chief
judge.
Prev
Helaman
Next
This is not an official web site of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.