Helaman Chapter five is so loaded with information you will miss if you aren't paying attention when you read it. The casual reader will typically notice the promise in verse 12 and the impressive feat where the converted Lamanites and Nephite dissenters give back to the Nephites the lands they'd taken from them in v52. Those are impressive in their own right, but how many notice the detailed description of God's voice? Or the geography lesson? How many see the great power of listening to the Spirit, and how that gives one the ability to speak with God's power and authority even to the convincing of those with murderous intent? How many notice they traveled freely through the Lamanite controlled Nephite lands including Zarahemla and surrounding areas? How many noticed they travelled into a far north country to preach to both Nephites and Lamanites? (Heartlanders rejoice?!)
These hints show the culture of the Lamanites and Nephites is far more extensive and complicated than we typically think. It is another evidence to me that it is not the fabrication of a farm boy or even one assisted by a school teacher and a preacher.
Many critics allege the Book of Mormon was the brain child of more than one person, but consider this thought experiement: The television show, I Love Lucy, was the result of many talented and smart people. It was a popular show in its day. The cultural comments it makes however place it in 1950's America. It could exist at no other time because the values it holds up as humorous are insulting today. It reeks of the culture of the day in which it was created. Virtually every work of fiction is similarly "fingerprinted" by the prevailing culture known to the authors.
In this light, the Nephite and Lamanite cultures in the Book of Mormon, should show fingerprints of 1820 America. But where was the aristocracy that held both political and religious power in Joseph's day? Where did people freely travel into even enemy held lands? While I'll grant there are common values such as the love of liberty in the book but those are by design. In my opinion, inspiriation guided Mormon to reveal those aspects of his society which we would understand as he compiled the stories that became our Book of Mormon. But the things he leaves in the footnotes and sidebars reveal a culture that is alien to ours. Had he put those elements in, we would not have recognized it nor identify with it as we do today. It truly was, written for our day.
Well, I'm rambling, but such are the adventures contained in Helaman Chapter five.
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