This is a sad chapter to read that is also a dire warning to us. Dissenters incite the Lamanites again to come to war against the Nephites. While this is nothing new, what is interesting is the first time they try, the Lamanites refuse because they are afraid of the Nephites. It’s not until another group of dissenters come that they finally succeed in getting the Lamanites angry enough to go to war.
I think it interesting that of all the tools Satan uses to control people, the one that is most successful in getting one group to kill another is anger. In our day, agitators use the bromide “we have been oppressed for too long, so let us do what we must to right this wrong." Then, in the name of justice they attack, harm and destroy innocent people.
Like today, those early agitators were always members of the society they attacked. Rarely did the Lamanites start a war with the Nephites rather it was the Nephite dissenters. Today is no different as most agitators live well while their followers live in squalor or far below them financially. While claiming to help them, they abuse them for their personal political aims all the while inciting them against a group of people they claim are their oppressors.
The other powerful message of Helaman chapter four is a dire warning to the church about pride and wickedness. Unlike earlier wars, this time the Lamanites are successful and take control of more than half the Nephite lands. Mormon observes they did so because the Nephites, especially those who claimed membership in the church had become as wicked as the Lamanites. He also noted the church began to dwindle not only in numbers but personal righteousness. They did so because they quit believing in the revelations and denied the Holy Spirit.
The Lord quit helping them because of their pride in their wealth, their oppression of the poor and their mocking of their humble, devout brethren. Err we are aware, it will be the same for us.
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