Lifespan

Approximately 570 B.C.

Ministry

Jacob was a Nephite prophet and the fifth son of the prophet Lehi. He was born after the family left Jerusalem, so he was apparently taught by his parents and strongly influenced by his older brother Nephi. Although the extended family probably grew rapidly, obviously his ministry was restricted to that small but growing population. His recorded words, however, continue to teach millions today. He also had responsibility for the small plates of Nephi, which stewardship remained in his direct family line.

Preparation and Calling

Jacob was blessed with both great tribulation and great faith as a young man. Nephi, his older brother, consecrated him to be a priest and a teacher, which role he fulfilled with prophetic diligence. His vocabulary and ability to recall teachings from disparate sources show him to be well-educated and versed in scripture.

Interaction with God

Jacob seems to have been a man of unusual faith. He declared to Sherem, an anti-Christ, “I truly had sen angels, and they had ministered unto me. And also, I had heard the voice of the Lord speaking unto me in very word, from time to time” (Jacob 7:5). Nephi wrote that Jacob had seen the premortal Jesus Christ, and indeed perhaps his greatest teachings are of the Savior and His coming mission on earth.

Social Situation

Jacob was born in the wilderness to an aging prophet-father and righteous mother. As he matured, the rift between those who believed in God’s direction for the family and those who did not grew. In the promised land, the two groups grew apart spiritually and physically, even to the point of warring with each other. As the Lord blessed the righteous Nephites, they began to prosper. Jacob, a spiritually and emotionally sensitive man, was tasked with being a priest and a teacher to the Nephite tribe. Many of his teachings center on warning his people of pride, materialism, and unchastity, knowing that the spiritual downfall that these sins could cause was far greater than the afflictions, even death, that the Lamanites would cause.

Key Teachings

Though Jacob taught several doctrines clearly and powerfully, his witness of the coming Messiah to the Jews is remarkable. He was visited by the premortal Jesus and recorded that the purpose of this writing on the plates was for future peoples to “know that we knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his glory many hundred years before his coming” (Jacob 4:4). His teachings regarding the scattering and gathering of Israel are also worth noting (see Jacob 5).

Living with the Prophet

Jacob was not blessed to live a life of ease. He was born in the wilderness, crossed a mighty ocean by ship, and helped his family carve out an existence in a new and foreign country. He had no fine schools to attend. Yet he must have been diligent in his personal studies, for he learned in those humble circumstances to read and write and was familiar with all the writings of the sacred records carried by the family. Perhaps because of this, he developed strong feelings for the power of written records. He was associated with previous generations primarily through the written word, and he tried to leave a legacy for his future generations by recording his testimony on the plates. Consider your own circumstances. Do you strive to not only get through life but also to improve your education? What kind of legacy can you provide to others by recording your testimony and experiences?

Sources

Encyclopedia of Mormonism, vol. 1, s.v. “Jacob.”

Book of Mormon, the books of Mosiah and Alma.

Book of Mormon, Reader’s Edition, ed. Grant Hardy.

Lifespan

Approximately 100-57 B.C.

Ministry

Helaman was a son of Alma, the son of Alma, and served the Nephites as a prophet and military commander. His military career is best known for his service at the head of 2060 sons of Ammonite converts to the Church, known as the sons of Helaman or Helaman’s stripling soldiers. He also served as the chief priest of the Church.

Preparation and Calling

When Helaman was a young man, he stayed behind while his father and brothers served a mission to the Zoramites. During this time, he managed many of his father’s domestic and ecclesiastical affairs, including keeping the sacred records.

Interaction with God

We have no record of visions or personal conversations with Deity or even angelic visitations. However, Helaman was a man of great faith and devotion to a God whom he committed his entire life to.

Social Situation

Helaman strove to maintain the Church at a time when the Nephites were being engaged in a lengthy war by the Lamanites. He administered the affairs of the Church, and when it became more important to defend his people militarily, he went to war at the head of a band of 2060 untried young men. Following the war, he returned home and lived out the rest of his life convincing the wicked of the need to repent and otherwise leading the Church once again.

Key Teachings

“Helaman . . . went forth, and did declare the word of God with much power unto the convincing of many people of their wickedness, which did cause them to repent of their sins and to be baptized unto the Lord their God” (Alma 62:45).

Living with the Prophet

When Helaman was a young man, a group of Lamanites named the Ammonites repented of their wicked ways and joined the Church. They made an oath to never take a human life again for any reason. Later, however, when war with the Lamanites broke out, they were tempted to break their oath rather than allow the Nephites to lay down their lives in their defense. Helaman and some others convinced them to keep their oath. Instead, Helaman led a number of their young men who had not made that covenant into war. Miraculously, not one of them was killed despite their many battles, which they contributed to their mothers having trained them in faith. Helaman exemplified showing faith in times of extreme difficulty. Consider how you might display your faith in God by taking on a challenging task. Discuss your thoughts with a spiritual leader or family member, and share with them your commitment. Then do it.

Sources

Encyclopedia of Mormonism, vol. 1, s.v. “Helaman.”

Book of Mormon, Reader’s Edition, ed. Grant Hardy.

Lifespan

Died ca. 121 B.C.

Ministry

A Nephite prophet and king, Benjamin was a son of Mosiah. Mosiah was a righteous leader who led his people wisely and taught his son to follow the direction of the Lord. Benjamin was a righteous and holy man who also led the military efforts of his people and served them in all ways all the days of his life.

Preparation and Calling

We do not know of Benjamin’s preparation to become a prophet, nor of his actual calling. However, we do know that he was the son of a righteous prophet and king, who must have taught him in the ways of the Lord and prepared him in all ways to follow in footsteps.

Interaction with God

Benjamin sought the Lord’s direction in all that he did. He was rewarded with promptings, revelation, and even a visit from an angel. Whether he saw the Father or the Son himself is not recorded, but he was certainly familiar with both and understood their roles. He taught that Jesus Christ would be born among men, and was the first in the Book of Mormon to record that “his mother shall be called Mary” (Mosiah 3:8). He understood and clearly taught of Christ’s atonement and the need for all men to repent and come unto Christ.

Social Situation

Benjamin’s father, Mosiah, had led his people to the land of Zarahemla to avoid war with the Lamanites. With his own hand, Benjamin continued fighting against Lamanite invasion and succeeded in securing Zarahemla for the Nephite people under his rule. He believed strongly in service to one another and in holding firm to the revealed word of God, serving also as a keeper of the sacred records when Amaleki, the previous keeper, was left with on heirs to pass that duty on to. Benjamin was known, in today’s parlance, as one who not only “talked the talk but also walked the walk,” establishing a kingdom of righteous people who would provide a heritage for the Nephites for many years to come.

Key Teachings

Benjamin was a masterful and clear teacher. He led by word and example. He is perhaps best known for his powerful witness that salvation can come only through the atonement of Jesus Christ, and for his chosen lifestyle that required him to labor for the good of his people rather than demanding that they care for every whim of his royal station.

Living with the Prophet

King Benjamin had a great ability to view all people as equals. One key to this was his understanding that we are all equally in debt to God for our salvation. Not one person can be saved without coming to Christ and being relieved of the burden of sin that we all carry. Rich and poor alike are beggars before the Lord. Because we are all in need of something, he taught that we should view one another as people to serve and help with whatever the Lord has blessed us. Look at your life. Perhaps you have been blessed with monetary success. Perhaps you play an instrument. Maybe you have the ability to work hard. Whatever “wealth” the Lord has given you can be shared with others who are in need. Consider what you can do to help.

Sources

Encyclopedia of Mormonism, vol. 1, s.v. “Benjamin.”

Book of Mormon, Reader’s Edition, ed. Grant Hardy.

Lifespan

Approximately 174-92 B.C.

Ministry

Alma was an ex-priest of the wicked King Noah. He supported releasing Abinadi without punishment, and drew the wrath of his fellow priests for doing so. After escaping the king’s court, he taught faithful Nephites secretly in the wilderness and founded the church. He served as its prophet for twenty years before being discovered by the Lamanites. After suffering captivity, they escaped and fled to a new land, where they met up with King Mosiah and his people. Mosiah supported Alma in his role as leader of the church, which he did for another twenty years or so. Keep reading →