I was listening to this week’s Come Follow Me lesson as I ran this morning, and Samuel the Lamanite and his words and warnings came to life. I was immediately struck by how similar his words were to Noah, the biblical prophet.
I decided to think through and write down some similarities.
First, both were prophets of God.
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- Noah was called by God to prophesy (Genesis 6:13–14).
- Samuel the Lamanite also prophesied to the Nephites by divine command (Helaman 13:3).
Let’s be honest, neither of them were excited to talk about things the people didn’t want to hear, and probably would not have done this had they not received a divine injunction.
Both warned of impending destruction upon the people and civilizations.
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- Noah warned about the flood that would destroy the wicked (Genesis 6:17).
- Samuel the Lamanite warned of the destruction that would come if the people did not repent (Helaman 13:5–6).
Again, these are not happy messages the people wanted to hear, but the words had to be said. The warnings had to precede the action so there was an option for correction and change.
Both were messengers of change and repentance.
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- Noah called people to repentance to avoid the consequences of their wickedness (Genesis 6).
- Samuel the Lamanite implored the Nephites to repent and return to the Lord (Helaman 13:5).
Both were rejected by the majority of those who heard their words.
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- Noah’s audience disbelieved and disregarded his warnings (Genesis 6:5–7).
- Samuel the Lamanite was not received by many of the Nephite people (Helaman 16:2). Some, however, did accept his words and sough out Nephi for baptism.
Both provided EXACT signs from God:
Noah gave he sign of the rainbow after the flood (Genesis 9:13).
Samuel the Lamanite predicted the signs of Christ’s birth and death (Helaman 14:2–6).
Both prophets displayed righteous courage:
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- Noah: Persisted in his God-given task despite widespread wickedness (Genesis 6:9).
- Samuel the Lamanite: Courageously returned to Zarahemla to deliver God’s message, knowing the dangers (Helaman 13:2–4).
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Delivering Unpleasant Messages:
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- Noah: His message of impending destruction was not pleasant but necessary.
- Samuel the Lamanite: Warned of severe consequences if the people didn’t repent (Helaman 13:6).
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Faithful Despite Opposition:
Noah: Continued building the ark amidst likely scorn and ridicule (Hebrews 11:7).
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- Samuel the Lamanite: Despite being rejected and shot at, he continued to prophesy (Helaman 16:2).
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Teaching of a New Beginning:
Noah: The flood represented a cleansing and a new beginning for humanity (Genesis 9:1).
Samuel the Lamanite: His prophecies pointed towards the coming of Jesus Christ and a new covenant (Helaman 14:2).
Direct Communication with God:
Noah: Received his instructions directly from God (Genesis 6:13–21).
Samuel the Lamanite: Received revelations directly from the Lord regarding the future events (Helaman 13:3).
Signs and Miracles Confirmed Their Words:
Noah: The flood itself validated his prophetic warnings (Genesis 7:24).
Samuel the Lamanite: The signs he prophesied, like the day of Christ’s birth and death, came to pass (Helaman 14:5–28).
Long-lasting Impact on Mankind/Their People:
Noah: His obedience led to the preservation of human and animal life on Earth (Genesis 9:19).
Samuel the Lamanite: His prophecies had lasting religious impacts, influencing Nephite and Latter-day Saint theology.
Outsiders to the Main Group:
Noah: Wasn’t part of the wicked cultures surrounding him, described as a “preacher of righteousness” in a wicked world (2 Peter 2:5).
Samuel the Lamanite: An outsider, a Lamanite coming to a Nephite city, not fully accepted or welcomed (Helaman 13:2).
Faith and Endurance in Their Missions:
Noah: Demonstrated extraordinary faith by building the ark over many years (Hebrews 11:7).
Samuel the Lamanite: Showed great endurance and faith in fulfilling his mission despite hostility (Helaman 16:2).
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dyejo
