Helem was a Nephite explorer and one of the three companions—alongside Amaleki and Hem—who accompanied Ammon, a prominent Nephite and descendant of Zarahemla, on a significant expedition. This journey, undertaken around 121 B.C., was commissioned by King Mosiah for the purpose of locating a group of Nephites who had left their brethren about two centuries earlier to return to the land of Nephi (Mosiah 7:6). Helem’s commitment to this perilous task highlights the cooperative spirit and valor that were characteristic of Nephite explorers of the period.
The expedition led by Ammon proved both dangerous and fruitful. Upon reaching the land of Lehi-Nephi, Helem and his companions were apprehended and detained by the guards of King Limhi, mistakenly believed to be enemies. However, following the clarification of their identities and intentions, they were vindicated and liberated (Mosiah 7:7-9). In the wake of their release, Helem’s role, though not elaborately described, was pivotal to the successful return of Limhi’s people to Zarahemla, as he was presumably engaged in the subsequent events that facilitated the liberation and migration of Limhi’s oppressed Nephite colony (Mosiah 22).
This profound experience, of facilitating deliverance and reuniting separated factions of the Nephite nation, would have contributed to Helem’s historical legacy. Though the scripture is silent on the details of his life outside this expedition, Helem’s inclusion in this crucial chapter of Nephite history underscores his importance among the band of individuals instrumental in shaping the narrative of his people.