Helaman 11

As I read this chapter, I kept asking myself, "why did Mormon share this part of the history with us" or, in other words, "what is it the Lord would have me understand". There is no question that we notice how quickly a person can repent and come to the truth and then how quickly upon "propering" return to pride and power, materialism, and immorality and then to apostasy.

Knowing that Nephi had been promised -

"...I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will." (Book of Mormon | Helaman 10:5)

And that the only way the Lord at times can get the attention of the people in that he does -

"...smite the earth with famine, and with pestilence, and destruction, according to the wickedness of this people." (Book of Mormon | Helaman 10:6)

...seems to answer the question why the Lord allows such events to happen to the habitants of the earth. We find this condition of wickedness again after Nephi and Lehi had spent so much time calling the people to repentance for -

"...Lehi, his brother, was not a whit behind him as to things pertaining to righteousness." (Book of Mormon | Helaman 11:19)

After doing all they could -

"...Nephi did cry unto the Lord, saying:
4 O Lord, do not suffer that this people shall be destroyed by the sword; but O Lord, rather let there be a famine in the land, to stir them up in remembrance of the Lord their God, and perhaps they will repent and turn unto thee.
5 And so it was done, according to the words of Nephi. And there was a great famine upon the land, among all the people of Nephi." (Book of Mormon | Helaman 11:3 - 5)

I like Nephi's acknowledgment of "perhaps" they will repent suggesting that Nephi fully understood the importance of agency. Things were done according to Nephi's words. And as the famine continued -

"...this work of destruction did also continue in the seventy and fifth year. For the earth was smitten that it was dry, and did not yield forth grain in the season of grain; and the whole earth was smitten, even among the Lamanites as well as among the Nephites, so that they were smitten that they did perish by thousands in the more wicked parts of the land." (Book of Mormon | Helaman 11:6)

Now as you would expect -

"...the people saw that they were about to perish by famine, and they began to remember the Lord their God; and they began to remember the words of Nephi." (Book of Mormon | Helaman 11:7)

It is obvious, whether they would never admit it or not -

"...the people began to plead with their chief judges and their leaders, that they would say unto Nephi: Behold, we know that thou art a man of God, and therefore cry unto the Lord our God that he turn away from us this famine, lest all the words which thou hast spoken concerning our destruction be fulfilled." (Book of Mormon | Helaman 11:8)

I believe even today, even though people may not acknowledge it, when they become desperate, they really know who to turn to. And -

"...when Nephi saw that the people had repented and did humble themselves in sackcloth, he cried again unto the Lord, saying:
10 O Lord, behold this people repenteth; and they have swept away the band of Gadianton from amongst them insomuch that they have become extinct, and they have concealed their secret plans in the earth.
11 Now, O Lord, because of this their humility wilt thou turn away thine anger, and let thine anger be appeased in the destruction of those wicked men whom thou hast already destroyed.
12 O Lord, wilt thou turn away thine anger, yea, thy fierce anger, and cause that this famine may cease in this land.
13 O Lord, wilt thou hearken unto me, and cause that it may be done according to my words, and send forth rain upon the face of the earth, that she may bring forth her fruit, and her grain in the season of grain.
14 O Lord, thou didst hearken unto my words when I said, Let there be a famine, that the pestilence of the sword might cease; and I know that thou wilt, even at this time, hearken unto my words, for thou saidst that: If this people repent I will spare them.
15 Yea, O Lord, and thou seest that they have repented, because of the famine and the pestilence and destruction which has come unto them.
16 And now, O Lord, wilt thou turn away thine anger, and try again if they will serve thee? And if so, O Lord, thou canst bless them according to thy words which thou hast said." (Book of Mormon | Helaman 11:9 - 16)

And as promised -

"...the Lord did turn away his anger from the people, and caused that rain should fall upon the earth, insomuch that it did bring forth her fruit in the season of her fruit. And it came to pass that it did bring forth her grain in the season of her grain.
18 And behold, the people did rejoice and glorify God, and the whole face of the land was filled with rejoicing; and they did no more seek to destroy Nephi, but they did esteem him as a great prophet, and a man of God, having great power and authority given unto him from God." (Book of Mormon | Helaman 11:17 - 18)

Is there any wonder the Lord allows destruction to take place? But even so, after hearing of repentance and propsperity, we fear again where the natural man goes.