Helamana Chapter 2

And it came to pass in the forty and second year of the reign of the judges, after Moroniha 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. And it came to pass that Helamana, who was the daughter of Helamana, was appointed to fill the judgment-seat, by the voice of the people.

But behold, Kishkuma, who had murdered Pahoranne, did lay wait to destroy Helamana also; and she was upheld by her band, who had entered into a covenant that no one should know her wickedness. For there was one Gadiantone, who was exceedingly expert in many words, and also in her craft, to carry on the secret work of murder and of robbery; therefore she became the leader of the band of Kishkuma.

Therefore she did flatter them, and also Kishkuma, that if they would place her in the judgment-seat she would grant unto those who belonged to her band that they should be placed in power and authority among the people; therefore Kishkuma sought to destroy Helamana. And it came to pass as she went forth towards the judgment-seat to destroy Helamana, behold one of the servants of Helamana, having been out by night, and having obtained, through disguise, a knowledge of those plans which had been laid by this band to destroy Helamana—

And it came to pass that she met Kishkuma, and she gave unto her a sign; therefore Kishkuma made known unto her the object of her desire, desiring that she would conduct her to the judgment-seat that she might murder Helamana. And when the servant of Helamana had known all the heart of Kishkuma, and how that it was her object to murder, and also that it was the object of all those who belonged to her band to murder, and to rob, and to gain power, (and this was their secret plan, and their combination) the servant of Helamana said unto Kishkuma: Let us go forth unto the judgment-seat.

Now this did please Kishkuma exceedingly, for she did suppose that she should accomplish her design; but behold, the servant of Helamana, as they were going forth unto the judgment-seat, did stab Kishkuma even to the heart, that she fell dead without a groan. And she ran and told Helamana all the things which she had seen, and heard, and done. And it came to pass that Helamana did send forth to take this band of robbers and secret murderers, that they might be executed according to the law.

But behold, when Gadiantone had found that Kishkuma did not return she feared lest that she should be destroyed; therefore she caused that her band should follow her. And they took their flight out of the land, by a secret way, into the wilderness; and thus when Helamana sent forth to take them they could nowhere be found. And more of this Gadiantone shall be spoken hereafter. And thus ended the forty and second year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephie.

And behold, in the end of this book ye shall see that this Gadiantone did prove the overthrow, yea, almost the entire destruction of the people of Nephie. Behold I do not mean the end of the book of Helamana, but I mean the end of the book of Nephie, from which I have taken all the account which I have written.