Comments on Helaman 14 The chapter can be divided based upon subject into a relatively simple A-B-C-A-B-C, as follows: A - (v. 1-8) The sign of the birth of the Son of God B - (v. 9) The angel said... C - (v. 10-13) Samuel says... A - (v. 14-27) The sign of the death of the Son of God B - (v. 28-29) The angel said... C - (v. 30-31) Samuel says... Aside from the repetition, note the way the imagery in the A's contrast one another. In the first A (v. 1-8) there is miraculous light, and in the second A (v. 14-27) there is profound darkness. This contrast continues in the B's as well. The first B (v. 9) has the angel preaching repentance, telling them to prepare for the Lord's arrival. The second B (v. 28-29) has the angel speaking of being without excuse and therefore judged. The angel's comments coincide with the two signs given. The first sign indicates Christ's arrival and they ought to repent and be prepared for it. The second sign indicates Christ's death, when those who have no excuse for their unbelief and wickedness will be judged. The C's are Samuel's testimony to the contemporary audience concerning their wickedness, their need for faith and repentance, and the judgement that will come to them. The first C is focused mainly on the call to repentance, and the second C is focused mainly on judgement. Thus, Samuel's testimony follows on the angel's comments. We therefore have two witnesses against the present Nephites. v18 "second death", i.e., spiritual death. See Alma 42:9 for the first death. v20-28 Curiously enough the description doesn't talk about the wicked being killed by all of the natural disasters, ct. 2 Ne. 26:3-6. v25 This is the missing scripture spoken of in 3 Ne. 23:11. v30 "ye are free", the people are free to choose to do good or evil, but they are not free from the consequences of their actions. The contemporary Nephites are doing all they can to avoid responsibility for their actions using these secret combinations, cf. 6:21-24. So they think they have gotten away with all of murders and adulteries and so on. However, in committing these acts the effects thereof are within themselves, and will be restored to them at Judgement, according to the Doctrine of Restoration, cf. Alma 41. Copyright © 2001 by S. Kurt Neumiller . All rights reserved. No part of this text may be reproduced in any form or by any means for commercial gain without the express written consent of the author. Digital or printed copies may be freely made and distributed for personal and public non-commercial use.