KnoWhy #173 - Why was Helaman’s Servant Justified in Killing Kishkumen? (Helaman 2:9)

Persuaded by the flattery of Gadianton, Kishkumen went forth to the judgment seat to assassinate Chief Judge Helaman. However, before this murder could take place, one of Helaman’s servants discovered this secret plot and stabbed Kishkumen in the heart, presumably in a private setting without witnesses. Because Kishkumen’s execution was independently carried out without a trial, some may naturally wonder about its morality and legality. Yet the way that Mormon’s narrative subtly references other episodes of justified killing in the Book of Mormon suggests that he wanted readers to see the execution of Kishkumen as a morally acceptable action.