Building on Firm Foundations Helaman 1-5

"As the navel is set in the centre of the human body, so is the land of Israel the navel of the world... situated in the centre of the world, and Jerusalem in the centre of the land of Israel, and the sanctuary in the centre of Jerusalem, and the holy place in the centre of the sanctuary, and the ark in the centre of the holy place, and the foundation stone before the holy place, because from it the world was founded." Midrash.

History of Mount Moriah Place where Abraham was to sacrifice Issac Site where Jacob “wrestled with the angel” Location of the Temple of Solomon Currently houses the Dome of “The Rock”

The Foundation 1 Kings 5 17 And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house. 18 And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.

Isaiah’s Concern Isaiah 28:14 … ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. 15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death (Egypt), and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge (Assyrians) shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:

Where do we first hear about “secret alliances”? Moses 5:29 And Satan said unto Cain: Swear unto me by thy throat, and if thou tell it thou shalt die; and swear thy brethren by their heads, and by the living God, … and this day I will deliver thy brother Abel into thine hands. 31 And Cain said: Truly I am Mahan, the master of this great secret, that I may murder and get gain. Wherefore Cain was called Master Mahan, and he gloried in his wickedness.

Isaiah’s Concern 14 … ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. 15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death (Egypt), and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge (Assyrians) shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: 16 ¶ Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. 18 ¶ And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.

Helaman, Chapter One 2 For behold, Pahoran had died…therefore there began to be a serious contention concerning who should have the judgment-seat among… the sons of Pahoran. 3 Now these are their names… Pahoran, Paanchi, and Pacumeni. 5 …it came to pass that Pahoran was appointed by the voice of the people… 7 But behold, Paanchi, and that part of the people that were desirous that he should be their governor, was exceedingly wroth; therefore, he was about to flatter away those people to rise up in rebellion against their brethren. 8 …behold, he was taken, and was tried according to the voice of the people, and condemned unto death; … 9 Now when those people who were desirous that he should be their governor saw that he was condemned unto death… they sent forth one Kishkumen, and (he) murdered Pahoran as he sat upon the judgment-seat. 10 And he was pursued by the servants of Pahoran; but behold, so speedy was the flight of Kishkumen that no man could overtake him. 11 And he went unto those that sent him, and they all entered into a covenant, yea, swearing by their everlasting Maker, that they would tell no man....

Lamanites then capture the City of Zarahemla 5:18…because of so much contention and so much difficulty in the government, (1)that they had not kept sufficient guards in the land of Zarahemla; for (2) they had supposed that the Lamanites durst not come into the heart of their lands to attack that great city Zarahemla.

Helaman’s council to his sons 12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation;

that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

Question Like Solomon, we build on The Rock (Christ): But, what does our “foundation” consist of and what “binds” us to Him?

The Rock of Christ Our Foundation Covenants we make

Elder Matthew Cowley We must remember that we have taken upon us the most solemn obligations that were ever assumed by men and women upon the face of the earth. This is the great and last dispensation, a dispensation in which is comprehended all the keys, blessings and powers and every measure of divine authority which has been enjoyed by any and all previous dispensations of the Gospel, from father Adam down to the present period of time. Upon our shoulders rest the responsibilities of all these dispensations combined together, as it were. We have made sacred covenants, in sacred places, and those covenants mean something. When the Lord revealed them through His servant, the Prophet Joseph, as applying to this dispensation, it was designed that they should be attended… Let us reflect upon them. Let every man and woman ask himself or herself the question, Where have I been derelict? In what duty have I been neglectful? Can I improve?

President Karl G. Maeser "I have been asked what I mean by word of honor. I will tell you. Place me behind prison walls— walls of stone ever so high, ever so thick, reaching ever so far into the ground—there is a possibility that in some way or another I may be able to escape; but stand me on the floor and draw a chalk line around me and have me give my word of honor never to cross it. Can I get out of that circle? No, never! I'd die first!"

A Book of Mormon puzzle Hel 5:8 …lay up for yourselves a treasure in heaven, yea, which is eternal, and which fadeth not away; I Peter 1:4 …To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

Solon, Athens, 600 BC Behold the inhabitants of the city (of Athens) are minded to bring about the destruction thereof through their love of gain. They who lead them are of treacherous minds, but verily great sorrow and lamentation are about to fall upon them in their pride. Behold, they know not how to contain their lust.... They heed not the holy foundations of righteousness, which in silence lets things take their course until the latter-end, when surely comes the time of retribution. Behold a dire destruction cometh upon all the city and there is none who shall escape. The people have been quick to do iniquity and bring themselves into bondage.... As if it had fallen to a foreign enemy our cherished city is wasted away and consumed by those secret combinations which are the delight of evil men..