# Helaman 9

*Paraphrase*

### Racing to the Judgment Seat

When Nephi finished speaking, five men in the crowd took off running toward the judgment seat. As they ran, they talked among themselves: “Now we’ll know for sure whether this man is really a prophet—whether God actually commanded him to say these amazing things. We don’t believe he’s a prophet at all. But if what he said about the Chief Judge being dead turns out to be true, then we’ll believe the rest of what he said.”

They ran as fast as they could to the judgment seat. When they arrived, they found the Chief Judge lying on the ground in his own blood.

The sight stunned them so completely that they collapsed to the ground. They hadn’t believed Nephi’s words about the Chief Judge at all. But now that they saw it with their own eyes, they believed—and fear gripped them. What if everything else Nephi said was about to come true? They trembled and fell to the ground.

### The Real Murder

Here’s what had happened: the Judge had been murdered—stabbed by his own brother, who was part of a secret group. After killing him, the brother fled. The servants discovered the body and ran out shouting the news of murder to everyone.

A crowd gathered at the judgment seat. To their shock, they found the five men lying on the ground.

The people knew nothing about the crowd that had gathered at Nephi’s garden. So they said to each other, “These must be the men who murdered the Judge! God struck them down so they couldn’t escape.”

They grabbed the five men, tied them up, and threw them in prison. Word spread throughout the city that the Judge had been murdered and the killers had been caught and imprisoned.

### The Burial

The next day, people gathered to mourn and fast at the burial of their great Chief Judge who had been killed.

The judges who had been at Nephi’s garden and heard his words also came to the burial.

They asked the people, “Where are the five men we sent to check whether the Chief Judge was dead?” The people answered, “We don’t know anything about five men you sent. But there are five murderers we threw in prison.”

The judges asked for the prisoners to be brought out. When they arrived, the judges recognized them—they were the five men they had sent! The judges questioned them about what had happened, and they told the whole story: “We ran to the judgment seat, and when we got there, everything was exactly as Nephi said it would be. We were so shocked we fell to the ground. When we came to our senses, they threw us in prison. As for who murdered him—we have no idea. All we know is we ran there just like you told us to, and he was dead, exactly as Nephi said.“

### Nephi Accused

The judges explained all this to the people, then turned on Nephi, shouting accusations: “This Nephi must have plotted with someone to kill the Judge! Then he could announce it to us, trying to win us over to his beliefs so he could make himself look important—some great prophet chosen by God! We’ll expose this man for what he is. He’ll confess his guilt and tell us who really murdered the Judge.”

The five men were released on the day of the burial. But they confronted the judges, rebuking them for what they’d said about Nephi. They argued so effectively they left the judges speechless.

Even so, the judges had Nephi arrested, tied up, and brought before the crowd. They began questioning him in every way they could think of, trying to trip him up so they could find grounds to execute him. They said to him, “You’re part of this conspiracy! Who killed the Judge? Tell us now! Admit what you’ve done. Look—here’s money for you. We’ll even spare your life if you tell us about your deal with the killer.”

### Nephi’s Response

But Nephi said to them, “You fools! You’re blind and stubborn, closed off to truth. How long do you think the Lord your God will let you keep living like this? You should be weeping and mourning, because terrible destruction is waiting for you—unless you turn back to God.”

“You say I plotted with someone to murder Seezoram, our Chief Judge. But I’m telling you this so you’ll know the truth about what happened. It’s proof that I knew about the evil and corruption among you. And because I did this—because I showed you this sign—you’re angry with me. You want to kill me. So now I’ll show you another sign. Let’s see if this makes you want to destroy me too.”

### Another Sign

“Go to the house of Seantum, who is Seezoram’s brother. Say to him: ’Did Nephi—that so-called prophet who keeps predicting disaster for our people—make a deal with you to murder your brother Seezoram?’”

“He’ll say no.”

“Then ask him: ‘Did you murder your brother?’”

“He’ll freeze up, not knowing what to say. He’ll deny it. He’ll act shocked. He’ll insist he’s innocent.”

“But when you examine him, you’ll find blood on the hem of his cloak.”

“When you see it, ask him: ‘Where did this blood come from? Isn’t this your brother’s blood?’”

“He’ll start shaking. His face will turn pale as death.”

“Then say to him: ‘Your fear and the way your face has gone white—these things prove you’re guilty.’”

“Even greater fear will come over him. Then he’ll confess everything. He won’t be able to deny the murder any longer.”

“And then he’ll tell you that I, Nephi, knew nothing about the murder except what God revealed to me. Then you’ll know I’m an honest man and that God sent me to you.”

### The Prophecy Fulfilled

They went and did exactly what Nephi told them. Everything he said came true—first Seantum denied it, then he confessed, word for word as Nephi had predicted.

The evidence proved Seantum was the murderer. The five men were set free, and so was Nephi.

Some of the Nephites believed Nephi’s words. Others believed because of what the five men testified—they’d been converted while they were in prison.

Some people said Nephi was a prophet. Others said, “He must be a god! No one but a god could know everything like that. He told us what we were thinking in our hearts. He revealed things to us. He even showed us who really murdered our Chief Judge.”

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*Source: [The Book of Mormon](https://bookofmormon.com/paraphrase/helaman/9)*
