Nephi2, Helaman2’s oldest son, first appears in the record in Helaman 3:21 which records that he and his younger brother, Lehi, “began to grow up unto the Lord.” Nephi inherits the judgment seat and responsibility for the records when his father dies. Mormon does not mention either the voice of the people confirming the appointment or a transfer of the records. However, he explains that Nephi was a righteous man because he “did keep the commandments of God, and did walk in the ways of his father.”
Helaman2, the son of Helaman1, had been chief judge for only about ten years, during which Mormon seldom mentions him. Thus, this newly named book of Helaman has only ten years devoted to its namesake. The rest will be recorded by his son, Nephi.
Chronology: The fifty-third year of the judges would be approximately 42 B.C.
Text: There is no chapter break at this location in the 1830 edition.