BoM Translation Guide



Helaman 1

Helaman 1:1 [LDS 1:1]
[And now] behold, [it came to pass] [in the commencement] [of the fortieth] year [of the reign] [of the Judges] over [the people] [of Nephi,] [there began] [to be] [a <serious> <difficulty> among] [the people] [of the Nephites.]

Helaman 1:2 [LDS 1:2]
For behold Pahoran [had died,] [and gone the way] [of all] [the earth;] [therefore there began] [to be] [a <serious> contention] concerning who [should have] [the <judgment> <seat> among] [the brethren,] who [were the sons] [of Pahoran.]

Helaman 1:3 [LDS 1:3]
[Now these] [are their names] who [did contend] [for the <judgment> seat,] who [did <also> cause] [the people] [to contend:] Pahoran, Paanchi, [and Pacumeni.]

Helaman 1:4 [LDS 1:4]
[Now these are] not all [the sons] [of Pahoran,] (for [he had many,)] [but these] [are they who] [did contend] [for the <judgment> seat;] therefore, [they did cause] three divisions among [the people.]

Helaman 1:5 [LDS 1:5]
[Nevertheless,{incorrect punctuation} it came to pass] [that Pahoran] [was appointed] [by the voice] [of the people] [to be <chief> judge] [and a governor] over [the people] [of Nephi.]

Helaman 1:6 [LDS 1:6]
[And it came to pass] [that Pacumeni,] [when he saw] that [he could] not obtain [the <judgment> seat,] [he did unite] with [the voice] [of the people.]

Helaman 1:7 [LDS 1:7]
[But behold,] Paanchi, [and that part] [of the people] [that were desirous] [that he should be] [their governor,] [was <exceeding> wroth;] therefore, he [was about to flatter away] those people [to rise up] [in rebellion] against [their brethren.]

Helaman 1:8 [LDS 1:8]
[And it came to pass] [as he was about to do] this, behold, [he was taken,] [and was tried] [according to the voice] [of the people,] [and condemned] [unto death;] for [he had raised up] [in rebellion,] [and sought] [to destroy] [the liberty] [of the people.]

Helaman 1:9 [LDS 1:9]
[Now when those] people [who were desirous] [that he should be] [their governor,] saw that [he was condemned] [unto death,] therefore [they were angry;] [and behold] [they sent forth] one Kishkumen, [even to] [the <judgment> seat] [of Pahoran,] [and murdered] Pahoran [as he sat] upon [the <judgment> seat.]

Helaman 1:10 [LDS 1:10]
[And he was pursued] [by the servants] [of Pahoran;] [but behold,] [so speedy] was [the flight] [of Kishkumen,] [that no] man [could overtake him.]

Helaman 1:11 [LDS 1:11]
[And he went] unto [those that sent him,] [and they <all> entered] [into a covenant,] yea, swearing [by their <everlasting> Maker,] [that they would tell] no man [that Kishkumen] [had murdered] Pahoran; [therefore Kishkumen] [was <not> known] among [the people] [of Nephi,] for [he was] [in disguise] [at the time] [that he murdered] Pahoran.

Helaman 1:12 [LDS 1:12]
[And Kishkumen,] [and his band] who [had covenanted] [with him,] [did mingle themselves] among [the people,] [in a manner] [that they <all> could not] [be found;] [but as many as] [were found,] [were condemned] [unto death.]

Helaman 1:13 [LDS 1:13]
[And now] behold, Pacumeni [was appointed,] [according to the voice] [of the people,] [to be a <chief> judge] [and a governor] over [the people,] [to reign] [in the stead] [of his brother] Pahoran: [and it was] [according to his right.]

Helaman 1:14 [LDS 1:13]
[And all] this [was done,] [in the fortieth] year [of the reign] [of the Judges;] [and it had an end.]

Helaman 1:15 [LDS 1:14]
[And it came to pass] [in the forty] [and first] year [of the reign] [of the Judges,] [that the Lamanites] [had gathered together] [an <innumerable> army] [of men,] [and armed them] [with swords,] [and with cimeters,] [and with bows,] [and with arrows,] [and with head-plates,] [and with breastplates,] [and with all manner] [of shields] [of every kind;] [and they came down] again, [that they might pitch battle] against [the Nephites.]

Helaman 1:16 [LDS 1:15]
[And they were led] [by a man] [whose name] [was Coriantumr;] [and he was] [a descendant] [of Zarahemla;] [and he was] [a dissenter] [from among] [the Nephites;] [and he was] [a large] [and a mighty man;]

Helaman 1:17 [LDS 1:16]
Therefore [the king] [of the Lamanites,] [whose name] [was Tubaloth,] who [was the son] [of Ammoron,] supposing [that Coriantumr,] [being a mighty man,] [could stand] against [the Nephites,] [insomuch with his strength] [and also] [with his great] wisdom, [that by sending him forth,] [he should gain] power over [the Nephites;]

Helaman 1:18 [LDS 1:17]
[Therefore he did stir them up] [to anger,] [and he did gather together] [his armies,] [and he did appoint] Coriantumr [to be] [their leader,] [and did cause] [that they should march down] to [the land] [of Zarahemla,] [to battle] against [the Nephites.]

Helaman 1:19 [LDS 1:18]
[And it came to pass] [that because of so <much> contention] [and so <much> difficulty] [in the government,] that [they had <not> kept] sufficient guards [in the land] [of Zarahemla;] for [they had supposed] [that the Lamanites] [durst not] come [into the heart] [of their lands] [to attack] [that <great> <city> Zarahemla.]

Helaman 1:20 [LDS 1:19]
[But it came to pass] [that Coriantumr] [did march forth] [at the head] [of his <numerous> host,] [and came] upon [the inhabitants] [of the city,] [and their march] was with [such <exceeding> <great> speed,] that [there was] no time for [the Nephites] [to gather together] [their armies;]

Helaman 1:21 [LDS 1:20]
[Therefore Coriantumr] [did cut down] [the watch] [by the entrance] [of the city,] [and did march forth] [with his whole] army into [the city,] [and they did slay] [every one] who [did oppose them,] [insomuch that they did take possession] [of the whole] city.

Helaman 1:22 [LDS 1:21]
[And it came to pass] [that Pacumeni,] who [was] [the <chief> judge,] [did flee] before Coriantumr, [even to] [the walls] [of the city.]

Helaman 1:23 [LDS 1:21]
[And it came to pass] [that Coriantumr] [did smite him] against [the wall,] [insomuch that he died.] [And thus] ended [the days] [of Pacumeni.]

Helaman 1:24 [LDS 1:22]
[And now] [when Coriantumr] saw that [he was in possession] [of the city] [of Zarahemla,] [and saw] that [the Nephites] [had fled] [before them,] [and were slain,] [and were taken,] [and were cast] [into prison,] [and that he had obtained] [the possession] [of the strongest] hold [in all] [the land,] [his heart] [took courage,] [insomuch that he was about to go forth] against all [the land.]

Helaman 1:25 [LDS 1:23]
[And now] [he did <not> tarry] [in the land] [of Zarahemla,] [but he did march forth] [with a <large> army,] [even towards] [the city] [of Bountiful;] for [it was] [his determination] [to go forth] [[and cut [his way] through]] [with the sword,] [that he might obtain] [the north] parts [of the land.]

Helaman 1:26 [LDS 1:24]
[And supposing] [that their <greatest> strength] was [in the center] [of the land,] [therefore he did march forth,] [giving them] no time [to assemble themselves together,] save [it were in <small> bodies;] [and in <this> manner] [they did fall] [upon them] [and cut them down] [to the earth.]

Helaman 1:27 [LDS 1:25]
[But behold,] [this march] [of Coriantumr] [through the center] [of the land,] gave Moronihah great advantage [over them,] notwithstanding [the greatness] [of the number] [of the Nephites] who [were slain;]

Helaman 1:28 [LDS 1:26]
For behold, Moronihah [had supposed] [that the Lamanites] [durst not] come into [the center] [of the land,] [but that they would attack] [the cities] [round about] [in the borders] [as they had <hitherto> done;] [therefore Moronihah] [had caused that their <strong> armies] [should maintain] [those parts] [round about] by [the borders.]

Helaman 1:29 [LDS 1:27] [Note]
[But behold,] [the Lamanites] [were <not> frightened] [according to his desire,] [but they had come] into [the center] [of the land,] [and had taken] [the capital] city, which [was the city] [of Zarahemla,] [and were marching through] [the most capital parts] [of the land,] slaying [the people] [with a <great> slaughter,] [both men,] women and children, [taking possession] [of <many> cities] [and of <many> strongholds.]

Helaman 1:30 [LDS 1:28]
[But when Moronihah] [had discovered] this, [he immediately] [sent forth] Lehi [with an army] [round about] [to head them,] before [they should come] to [the land] Bountiful.

Helaman 1:31 [LDS 1:29]
[And thus] [he did;] [and he did head them,] before [they came] to [the land] Bountiful, [and gave unto them] battle [insomuch that they began] [to retreat back] towards [the land] [of Zarahemla.]

Helaman 1:32 [LDS 1:30]
[And it came to pass] [that Moronihah] [did head them] [in their retreat,] [and did given unto them] battle [insomuch that it became] [an <exceeding> <bloody> battle;] yea, many [were slain;] [and among] [the number] who [were slain,] Coriantumr [was <also> found.]

Helaman 1:33 [LDS 1:31]
[And now] behold [the Lamanites] could not retreat [either way;] neither [on the north,] nor [on the south,] nor [on the east,] nor [on the west,] for [they were surrounded] [on every] hand [by the Nephites.]

Helaman 1:34 [LDS 1:32]
[And thus] [had <Coriantumr> plunged] [the Lamanites] [into the midst] [of the Nephites,] [insomuch that] [they were] [in the power] [of the Nephites,] [and he himself] [was slain,] [and the Lamanites] [did yield themselves] [into the hands] [of the Nephites.]

Helaman 1:35 [LDS 1:33]
[And it came to pass] [that Moronihah] [took possession] [of the city] [of Zarahemla] again, [and caused that the Lamanites] who [had been taken] prisoners [should depart] [out of the land] [in peace.]

Helaman 1:36 [LDS 1:34]
[And thus] ended [the forty] [and first] year [of the reign] [of the Judges.]

Helaman 1:37 [LDS 2:1]
[And it came to pass] [in the forty] [and second] year [of the reign] [of the Judges,] after Moronihah [had established] again peace between [the Nephites] [and the Lamanites,] behold [there was <no> one] [to fill] [the <judgment> seat;] [therefore there began] [to be] [a contention] among [the people] [concerning who] [should fill] [the <judgment> seat.]

Helaman 1:38 [LDS 2:2]
[And it came to pass] [that Helaman,] who [was the son] [of Helaman,] [was appointed] [to fill] [the <judgment> seat,] [by the voice] [of the people;]

Helaman 1:39 [LDS 2:3]
[But behold,] Kishkumen, who [had murdered] Pahoran, [did lay wait] [to destroy] Helaman also; [and he was upheld] [by his band,] who [had entered] [into a covenant] [that no] one [should know] [his wickedness;]

Helaman 1:40 [LDS 2:4]
For [there was one] Gadianton who [was <exceeding> expert] [in <many> words,] [and also] [in his craft,] [to carry on] [the <secret> work] [of murder] [and of robbery;] [therefore he became] [the leader] [of the band] [of Kishkumen;]

Helaman 1:41 [LDS 2:5]
[Therefore he did flatter them,] [and also] Kishkumen, [that if] [they would place him] [in the <judgment> seat,] [he would grant] [unto those who belonged] [to his band] [that they should be placed] [in power] [and authority] among [the people;] [therefore Kishkumen] sought [to destroy] Helaman.

Helaman 1:42 [LDS 2:6]
[And it came to pass] [as he went forth] towards [the <judgment> seat,] [to destroy] Helaman, behold one [of the servants] [of Helaman,] [having been out] [by night,] [and having obtained,] [through disguise,] [a knowledge] [of those plans] which [had been laid] [by his band] [to destroy] Helaman;

Helaman 1:43 [LDS 2:7]
[And it came to pass] [that he met] Kishkumen [and he gave] [unto him] [a sign;] [therefore Kishkumen] [made known] [unto him] [the object] [of his desire,] desiring [that he would conduct him] [to the <judgment> seat,] [that he might murder] Helaman;

Helaman 1:44 [LDS 2:8]
[And when the servant] [of Helaman] [had known] all [the heart] [of Kishkumen,] [and how] that [it was] [his object] [to murder,] [and also] that [it was] [the object] [of all] [those who belonged] [to his band,] [to murder,] [and to rob,] [and to gain] power, [(and this] was [their <secret> plan] [and their combination,)] [the servant] [of Helaman] saith unto Kishkumen, [Let us go forth] unto [the <judgment> seat.]

Helaman 1:45 [LDS 2:9]
[Now this] [did please] Kishkumen exceedingly, for [he did suppose] [that he should accomplish] [his design;] [but behold,] [the servant] [of Helaman,] [as they were going forth] unto [the <judgment> seat,] [did stab] Kishkumen, [even to] [the heart] [that he fell] dead without [a groan.]

Helaman 1:46 [LDS 2:9]
[And he ran] [and told] Helaman all [the things] which [he had seen,] [and heard,] [and done.]

Helaman 1:47 [LDS 2:10]
[And it came to pass] [that Helaman] [did send forth] [to take] this [band of robbers] [and <secret> murderers,] [that they might be executed] [according to the law.]

Helaman 1:48 [LDS 2:11]
[But behold,] [when Gadianton] [had found] [that Kishkumen] [did <not> return,] [he feared] lest [that he should be destroyed;] [therefore he caused that his band] [should follow him.]

Helaman 1:49 [LDS 2:11] [Note]
[And they took their flight] [out of the land,] [by a <secret> way,] into [the wilderness;] [and thus] [when Helaman] [sent forth] [to take them,] [they could <nowhere> be found.] [And more] [of this] Gadianton [shall be spoken] hereafter.

Helaman 1:50 [LDS 2:12]
[And thus] ended [the forty] [and second] year [of the reign] [of the Judges] over [the people] [of Nephi.]

Helaman 1:51 [LDS 2:13]
[And behold,] [in the end] [of <this> book,] [ye shall see] that this Gadianton [did prove] [the overthrow,] yea, almost [the entire] destruction [of the people] [of Nephi.]

Helaman 1:52 [LDS 2:14]
Behold [I do <not> mean] [the end] [of the book] [of Helaman,] [but I mean] [the end] [of the book] [of Nephi,] [from which] [I have taken] all [the account] which [I have written.]