HelamanChapter2

And it came to pass in the forty and second year of the reign of the judges, after Moronihah had established again peace between the Nephites and the Lamanites, behold there was no one to fill the judgment-seat; therefore there began to be a contention again among the people concerning who should fill the judgment-seat.

In the forty-second year of the reign of the judges, after Moronihah had established peace again between the Nephites and the Lamanites, there was no one to fill the judgment seat. So a dispute started up among the people again over who should fill it.

And it came to pass that Helaman, who was the son of Helaman, was appointed to fill the judgment-seat, by the voice of the people.

Helaman, the son of Helaman, was appointed to fill the judgment seat by the voice of the people.

But behold, Kishkumen, who had murdered Pahoran, did lay wait to destroy Helaman also; and he was upheld by his band, who had entered into a covenant that no one should know his wickedness.

But Kishkumen, who had murdered Pahoran, was lying in wait to kill Helaman too, and he was backed by his band, who had made a covenant that no one would ever know his wickedness.

For there was one Gadianton, who was exceedingly expert in many words, and also in his craft, to carry on the secret work of murder and of robbery; therefore he became the leader of the band of Kishkumen.

There was a man named Gadianton, very skilled with words and skilled as well in his craft of carrying on the secret work of murder and robbery. So he became the leader of the band of Kishkumen.

Therefore he did flatter them, and also Kishkumen, that if they would place him in the judgment-seat he would grant unto those who belonged to his band that they should be placed in power and authority among the people; therefore Kishkumen sought to destroy Helaman.

He flattered them, and Kishkumen along with them: if they would put him in the judgment seat, he would give everyone who belonged to his band a place of power and authority among the people. So Kishkumen set out to kill Helaman.

And it came to pass as he went forth towards the judgment-seat to destroy Helaman, behold one of the servants of Helaman, having been out by night, and having obtained, through disguise, a knowledge of those plans which had been laid by this band to destroy Helaman—

As Kishkumen went toward the judgment seat to kill Helaman, one of Helaman's servants was out in the night, and in disguise he had learned the plans this band had laid to kill Helaman.

And it came to pass that he met Kishkumen, and he gave unto him a sign; therefore Kishkumen made known unto him the object of his desire, desiring that he would conduct him to the judgment-seat that he might murder Helaman.

He met Kishkumen, and he gave him the sign. So Kishkumen told him what he was after: he wanted the servant to lead him to the judgment seat so he could murder Helaman.

And when the servant of Helaman had known all the heart of Kishkumen, and how that it was his object to murder, and also that it was the object of all those who belonged to his band to murder, and to rob, and to gain power, (and this was their secret plan, and their combination) the servant of Helaman said unto Kishkumen: Let us go forth unto the judgment-seat.

Now Helaman's servant knew Kishkumen's whole heart. He knew that Kishkumen's purpose was murder, and that the purpose of everyone in his band was to murder, and to rob, and to gain power. (This was their secret plan, their secret combination.) And the servant said to Kishkumen, "Let's go to the judgment seat."

Now this did please Kishkumen exceedingly, for he did suppose that he should accomplish his design; but behold, the servant of Helaman, as they were going forth unto the judgment-seat, did stab Kishkumen even to the heart, that he fell dead without a groan. And he ran and told Helaman all the things which he had seen, and heard, and done.

This pleased Kishkumen very much, because he thought he was about to accomplish what he had planned. But as they walked toward the judgment seat, Helaman's servant stabbed Kishkumen straight to the heart, and he fell dead without a groan. Then the servant ran and told Helaman everything he had seen and heard and done.

And it came to pass that Helaman did send forth to take this band of robbers and secret murderers, that they might be executed according to the law.

Helaman sent men out to take this band of robbers and secret murderers, so they could be executed according to the law.

But behold, when Gadianton had found that Kishkumen did not return he feared lest that he should be destroyed; therefore he caused that his band should follow him. And they took their flight out of the land, by a secret way, into the wilderness; and thus when Helaman sent forth to take them they could nowhere be found.

But when Gadianton found that Kishkumen had not come back, he was afraid he would be killed himself, so he had his band follow him. They fled out of the land by a secret route into the wilderness, and when Helaman sent men to take them, they were nowhere to be found.

And more of this Gadianton shall be spoken hereafter. And thus ended the forty and second year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.

More about this Gadianton will be told later. And so ended the forty-second year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.

And behold, in the end of this book ye shall see that this Gadianton did prove the overthrow, yea, almost the entire destruction of the people of Nephi.

And at the end of this book you will see that this Gadianton brought about the overthrow of the people of Nephi, and almost their complete destruction.

Behold I do not mean the end of the book of Helaman, but I mean the end of the book of Nephi, from which I have taken all the account which I have written.

I do not mean the end of the book of Helaman, but the end of the book of Nephi, the record from which I have taken this whole account that I have written.