The fifty-first year is covered in just three verses. However, these three verses show us how persecution and affliction can have a positive effect upon faithful people. Mormon’s observation that pride did not enter into the church, but into the hearts of some who professed church membership (v. 33), is astute. The church may be perfect, but the members have their agency “t o chose liberty and eternal life, through the great mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil” (2 Nephi 2:27).
The persecution and affliction came from within the church (Helaman 3:34), but the formula to turn these negative conditions into a growth pattern is given to us by Mormon. The first step of the three step formula is to “fast and pray often” (v. 35). Note that it doesn’t say how long to fast or how often to pray. Each individual must determine those times and they will vary accordingly. When the need is there, we must turn to the Lord in prayer and fasting.
The second step of the formula is to become stronger in humility (v. 35). Some may interpret humility as a weakness rather than a strength, but humility is to recognize the need for the Savior’s help and turn to him for direction. As we become stronger, it is through his strength being poured out upon us. The more we rely upon him, the more power he will give us, and the stronger we become.
The third step of the formula is to become “firmer in the faith of Christ” (v. 3). To be firm in the faith of Christ is to know that you can do all things through Christ. To know you can call on his power and it will come. As Paul said “I can do all things through [the faith of] Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).
Through the above formula, the people’s hearts were purified and sanctified because they yielded their hearts to God (v. 35). They knew that the course they pursued was the will of God, which gave them faith unto salvation (see Lecture of Faith 3:7). Thus the persecutions and the afflictions, although difficult to endure, brought them to rely on the Lord, made them stronger in character, and helped them become firmer in their conviction.
Again, we see a connection between pride and prosperity (v. 36). Pride eventually destroyed the Nephites as a nation (see Moroni 8:27).
The reign of Helaman came to a close after eleven years as the chief judge. He had kept the commandment of God and brought peace and prosperity to his people. Mormon’s description of his time on the judgment-seat was indeed accurate (see Helaman 3:20).