Conflict arises over the election of a new chief judge after
Pahoran dies. Three of his sons—Pahoran, Paanchi, and Pacumeni—are all running
for the position. When Pahoran wins the election, Paanchi and his supporters are so upset
they plan to launch a violent rebellion, but Paanchi is arrested and
condemned to death before the rebellion erupts. This doesn’t stop Paanchi’s
supporters from plotting, and they sent a hit man—Kishkumen—to secretly murder
Pahoran while he is sitting on the judgment seat. Yikes! This secret band will grow to cause deep and significant problems among the Nephites.
So now Pacumeni (the brother who didn’t win the election,
and didn’t start a rebellion) becomes the chief judge. But then the Nephites
are attacked by a giant army of the Lamanites, now led by a ex-Nephite named
Coriantumr. The Lamanites audaciously march to the center of the Nephite lands,
right to the capital city, and attack. They kill Pacumeni, take over the city,
and then begin marching to the next city nearby to continue their take-over.
No!!!
But by now the new captain in town—Moronihah—has sprung
into action. He and captain Lehi are able to easily surround the Lamanites
because of their foolhardy attack into the center of the land, and the
Lamanites are conquered and Coriantumr is killed. The Lamanite captives are
permitted to return home in peace.
Helaman, the son of Helaman (who, if you remember, is the
one who is writing this record now) is appointed to be the new chief judge. But
Kishkumen and his secret band (remember, the ones who murdered Pahoran the
chief judge) are still actively plotting. Their goal is to get their
leader—named Gadianton—to be the chief judge. So Kishkumen sets out in the
night to murder Helaman just like he did Pahoran. But Helaman has a clever and
brave servant who has secretly learned of Kishkumen’s plans, and even knows the
secret signals of Kishkumen’s group, so Kishkumen thinks this servant is on his
side and helping him. But as the servant is taking Kishkumen to Helaman, the servant stabs him in the heart, then runs to tell Helaman all that has happened.
Unfortunately, Gadianton and his secret band escape into
the wilderness before the government is able to capture and prosecute them.
This group, which is known as the “Gadianton Robbers” will cause big
trouble—nearly the entire downfall of the Nephite nation (see vs. 12-14).
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