Helaman 5

Lehi gives up the judgment seat so he can deal with the mass of iniquity among his people. The Nephites have reached a critical point for any government that is based on freedom when "they who chose evil were more numerous than they who chose good." With his brother Lehi, named by their father Helaman after their great ancestors, they preach with great success, baptizing thousands of Lamanites and getting Nephite dissenters to repent. There success is enough to land them in prison where they are miraculously visited by angels and the people who imprisoned them hear a voice, perhaps that of the Lord, and all of them are then surrounded by a pillar of fire.

Much is talked about this miraculous event, especially the pillar of fire (pillar of light to us) and the still, quiet voice that brings peace to all who hear it. All of this leads to mass changes in the Lamanites who return the lands they have taken to the Nephites. Someone might ask, why should the Lamanites and the Nephites who have dissented to them, receive such great miracles? What of the righteous Nephites who are never mentioned, the ones who have stayed true in spite of the persecutions and losses of life? Perhaps one reason is, they don't need a miracle. They understand and know who they are and their faith in Christ anchors their souls to the atonement and gospel. A miracle would not change them and would not increase their faith. I think the Lord knows of the destruction that is going to come and he is providing this miracle so that masses of people can be brought to change. Whether they stay changed will be up to them, but it is a rare gift and opportunity. We often think it would be wonderful to witness a miracle such as this. But the fact is, we are surrounded by countless miracles and we tend to not notice them or write them off as coincidences.