Mormon's discourse about the
wickedness of his generation (Helaman 12) is filled with temporal ideas. In
times of plenty, his people develop fickle hearts. The quickness of his people
to turn to evil in times of ease is contrasted with their tardy return to God
in times of trial. Mormon places human vanity and greed in perspective by
contrasting human disobedience with the obedience of all the rest of God's
creation -- the dust of the earth, hills, mountains, valleys, the whole earth,
the foundations of the universe and the waters of the great deep. However, even
the iniquitous eventually will obey God. They will be shut out of His presence.
Mormon also teaches the principle of repentance -- change for the better. He
notes that some will not repent despite the chastening of the Lord; misery will
be the end of their time of probation.
In the heart of this discourse,
Mormon describes the movement of the earth and the role of the sun or day in a
manner that is central to his discussion of God's controlling power. His
statement in Helaman 12:15 that “surely it is the earth that moveth and not the
sun,” is a statement of astronomical reality and religious truth. The sun does
not circle the earth as the Mesoamerican astrologers asserted. The sun is
circled by the earth. The sun is not a deity; it is subject to God. Mormon's
statement is a clear reference to, and correction of, the scriptural report of
the great battle in which Joshua (Hebrew Yehoshua; Greek Jesus) called for the
sun and moon to stand still. Joshua 10:12-14 states that Joshua spoke and “the
Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man.” The “sun stood still in the midst of
heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.” (Randall P. Spackman, Introduction
to Book of Mormon Chronology: The Principal Prophecies, Calendars, and Dates
[FARMS Preliminary Papers; Provo, Utah: Foundation for Ancient Research and
Mormon Studies, 1993], 5)
For another approach to Helaman 12:15, see:
David Grandy, “Why
Things Move: A New Look at Helaman 12:15,” BYU Studies, 51, no. 2
(2012): 99-128.
