Peace did not last long. Just two years after the famine was over, contention began over doctrine. Doctrine was established by the prophets (v. 22). As stated above, Satan is “the father of contention” (see 3 Nephi 11:29). The president of the Church is responsible for correct doctrine (see D&C 28:2, 43:2–3). Therefore, Nephi with the help of Lehi was fulfilling that role when they put an end to strife over true doctrine in the second year (Helaman 11:23). This gives us the twelfth characteristic of a prophet, the establishment of true doctrine.
Through Abraham, Jehovah established his covenant with Abraham’s seed (see Genesis 12:1–3; Abraham 2:8–11). The Lord spoke face to face with Moses to give the new but lower law to the children of Israel (see Deuteronomy 5). Peter taught the New Testament saints:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scriptures is given of any private will of man.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. [JST, 2 Peter 1:20]
The Lord instructed modern-day saints to preach only the words of the apostles and prophets.
9 And let them journey from thence preaching the word by the way, saying none other things than that which the prophets and apostles have written, and that which is taught them by the Comforter through the prayer of faith. [D&C 52:9]
He gave the same instructions regarding the teaching of families (52:36). The Prophet Joseph Smith very tactfully corrected Elder Orson Hyde on some points of doctrine (see D&C 130 section heading, which cites HC, 5:323–35).
Thus, Helaman 5–11 gives us twelve characteristics of a prophet that will enable the people to know he is a prophet. The writer has taken this criteria and tested it with many of the fifteen prophets who succeeded the Prophet Joseph Smith and found striking evidence for sustaining each one of these great men. Space does not lend itself to including that evidence here, but the accompanying chart shows the comparison of Nephi with the prophets of the Old Testament, the New Testament, and with the Prophet Joseph Smith. The chart does not include all the references used in the commentary above.
Table 3
Helaman 7–11