When Nephi, son of Helaman, yields up his seat as chief judge in order to devote his time to the ministry, he is replaced by a man named Cezoram (verse 1). This is in the year 30 BC, at a time of considerable political unease when the majority of the people chooses evil over good (see verse 2). Fortunately, Nephi and his brother Lehi have great success in bringing about a reformation of spiritual values among the people, including the Lamanites. As we observe: “there was peace in all the land” (Helaman 6:7). However, the peace does not last long. In the year 26 BC, Cezoram is murdered “by an unknown hand as he sat upon the judgment-seat” (Helaman 6:15). His son, appointed by the people as his successor, suffers the same fate. The perpetrators are members of the Gadianton band who shortly thereafter take over the government. Cezoram therefore serves as a marker in history for the advance of secret combinations just prior to the time of Samuel the Lamanite and the birth of the Savior.