December 29, 2010

Tonight I read Helaman 1-2. In these chapters are given an account of how Kishkumen had murdered the chief judge, the Lamanites came again to war against the Nephites, and Kishkumen and his band plot again to murder the next judge, which was Helaman. As I read about how Kishkumen had been in disguise when he murdered Pahoran and how all that knew of his murder had entered a covenant to never tell anyone that it was Kishkumen, then I wondered, how is it that we have this account? Someone must have told, and that someone had to have been involved with this band of renegades. My question was answered in the next chapter. It turns out that the servant of Helaman had been in disguise and found out about the band's secret plans to murder Helaman. Apparently this was not the first time he had been with these people for he knew their secret signs wherewith to gain their trust. This makes me curious about this man. I wish more was known about him. Why was he motivated to associate with these people in the first place? Did he suspect foul play and wanted to expose it? Was he initiated into their group of his own free will without realizing what he was getting himself into? Or did he know full well what he was doing and perhaps was playing two roles himself in order to gain more power by exposing their secrets? Was he commissioned by Helaman to be out in disguise? Was he a righteous man? I don't know that any of these questions will ever be answerable, but it is intriguing to me nonetheless because it makes me wonder what is appropriate in our relationships with people and when deceit is justifiable. 

All of the accounts of the secret bands of wickedness from this part of The Book of Mormon seem so similar to popular notions today of conspiracy theories and what not. I wonder for what purpose are they included in The Book of Mormon. If this servant hadn't been in disguise, associating with these wicked men, then no one would have known the truth of their murderous dealings and they would have attained powerful positions among the people. To me, that implies that it is important to have trustworthy, loyal, honest, and righteous people who are willing to go undercover to discover hidden plots of murder and wickedness in order to protect the people and preserve their liberty. I think there is much of this going on even today, especially today, since these are the latter days and Satan is trying his hardest to bring down as many souls as he can. I have heard that the FBI and CIA like to employ Latter-day Saints because of their honest and trustworthy characteristics. As a righteous person, doing my best to build God's kingdom and serve others, I believe it would be absolutely critical to my spiritual and physical well-being to be vigilant in my obedience to the commandments so as to always have the protective power of the gift of the Holy Ghost as my constant companion, were I to work undercover in such a situation. In fact, it is absolutely critical to have that companionship even if I am not in an undercover situation, just because Satan is absolutely raging and the power of the Spirit is the only protection I have against being deceived and led away by him.