Helaman Becomes Chief Judge
In the forty-second year of the judges’ reign, after Moronihah had made peace between the Nephites and Lamanites, the judge’s seat sat empty. The people argued over who should fill it. The people chose Helaman, son of Helaman, to be the next chief judge.
A Secret Plot
But Kishkumen, the man who had murdered Pahoran, was now plotting to kill Helaman too. His secret gang backed him—a group sworn to keep each other’s crimes hidden. One of them, Gadianton, was a smooth talker and a master of secret murder and robbery. He became the leader of Kishkumen’s gang. Gadianton made promises to Kishkumen and the others: if they’d get him into the judge’s seat, he’d give them positions of power and authority. So Kishkumen set out to kill Helaman.
The Servant’s Trick
As Kishkumen headed toward the judgment hall to murder Helaman, one of Helaman’s servants had been out that night. Disguised, he’d learned about the gang’s plans. The servant met Kishkumen and gave him their secret sign. Kishkumen, thinking he was one of them, told him exactly what he wanted to do. He asked the servant to lead him to the judgment hall so he could murder Helaman. Once Helaman’s servant understood Kishkumen’s full intent—and that the whole gang’s purpose was to murder, rob, and seize power through their secret plots—he said to Kishkumen, “Let’s go to the judgment hall.” Kishkumen was thrilled. He thought his plan was about to succeed. But as they walked toward the judgment hall, Helaman’s servant stabbed him straight through the heart. Kishkumen dropped dead without a sound. The servant ran back and told Helaman everything he’d seen, heard, and done. Helaman immediately sent forces to capture the gang of thieves and murderers so they could be executed according to law.
Gadianton Escapes
But when Gadianton realized Kishkumen wasn’t coming back, he feared he’d be caught and killed. He ordered his gang to flee. They escaped through secret routes into the wilderness. When Helaman’s men went looking for them, they were nowhere to be found. There’s more to tell about Gadianton later. And that’s how the forty-second year of the judges ended.
I should warn you: by the end of this record, you’ll see that Gadianton nearly destroyed the entire Nephite nation. When I say “the end of this record,” I don’t mean the end of the Book of Helaman. I mean the end of the Book of Nephi, which is where I’ve been getting all these accounts I’ve written.