The rejection of the truth instead of laying up treasure in heaven was a New Testament concept also taught in the Old Testament (v. 25, see also Helaman 5:8 and comments there).
When the circumstances are right, a prophet will utter current prophecies. Giving current prophecies is a seventh characteristic of a prophet. Nephi told of the judge being murdered (Helaman 8:27–28), probably to leave his listeners without excuse. With such evidence how could they doubt? Nevertheless, they did try other explanations to refute his being a prophet, as will be shown in Helaman chapter 9.
The Old Testament gives examples of prophets giving current prophecies. The Lord revealed to Samuel who should be the leader of Israel, and the circumstances of where he would find him.
15 Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,
16 To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.
17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people.
18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer’s house is.
19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart.
20 And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father’s house? [1 Samuel 9: 15:20]
In the New Testament, a Prophet named Agabus, of whom we know little, foretold what would happen to Paul.
10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.
11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. [Acts 21:10–12]
The Prophet Joseph Smith told Judge Stephen A. Douglas:
“Judge, you will aspire to the presidency of the United States; and if ever you turn your hand against me or the Latter-day Saints, you will feel the weight of the hand of the Almighty upon you; and you will live to see and know that I have testified the truth to you; for the conversation of this day will stick to you through life.” [TPJS, 303]
The Prophet Joseph also “prophesied, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that Orrin Porter Rockwell would get away honorably from the Missourians” (TPJS, 285). His prophecy was fulfilled shortly.
While the foretelling of the future is often equated with being a prophet, it is only one of many characteristics that identify him. The list will continue.