Chapters 36 and 37
As noted in the Book of Mormon, chapters 36 and 37 consist of Alma's talk with his eldest son, Helaman. The same Helaman who led the 2,000 stripling warriors.
Because these two chapters contain Alma's talk with his eldest son, it's best to consider these two chapters together instead of separately. Nevertheless, these chapters can be divided into two main themes: Alma being born again and Alma's turning over the
Alma's Experience of Being Born Again
Alma teaches Helaman a truth about the Lord's dealings, when he states:
3 And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day.
He then remarks later on
5 if I had not been born of God I should not have known these things; but God has, by the mouth of his holy angel, made these things known unto me, not of any worthiness of myself;
The phrase "these things" refers to what he told Helaman in verse 3. Thus Alma knows that God will support those who put their trust in him during their "trials, troubles, and affliction" shall be lifted up on the last day.
The triplet trials, troubles, and afflictions each refer to a specific challenge. Notable is that Hebrew also distinguished between trials, troubles, and afflictions.
- Trial: Refers to a challenge that tests our faith and patience. (Websters 1828: Experience; suffering that puts strength, patience of faith to the test; afflictions or temptations that exercise and prove the graces or virtues of men.)
- Trouble: Refers to being vexed and disturbed.
- Affliction: Refers to being in a state of distress. (Webster's 1828: The state of being afflicted; a state of pain, distress, or grief; The cause of continued pain of body or mind, as sickness, losses, calamity, adversity, persecution.
Moreover, by using the triplet of "trials, troubles, and afflictions", Alma suggests that all these three things can be experienced simultaneously. For instance, you test of faith (trial) causes vexation/disturbance (trouble and being in distress (affliction)
In addition to explaining that an angel has taught him that God supports us in our trials, Alma also states that he did not learn these things out of his own worthiness. Alma then goes on to explain his experience with an angel.
- Hearing the angel's warning, Alma became "struck with such great fear and amazement" that he fell to the earth
- Alma was racked with eternal torment because his soul was "harrowed up to the greatest degree and racked with all [his] sins" And his eternal torment resulted from his awareness of his sins and iniquities, which torment Alma called the "pains of hell."
- Because of his iniquities, the though of coming into the presence of God "rack[ed] his soul with inexpressible horror". Alma would have rather become banished then enter into God's presence.
- Alma experienced this pain and anguish of soul for 3 days and 3 nights
To overcome his pain, Alma turned to Christ.
18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!21 Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.
Having been born again, Alma has dedicated his life to brining others to experience what he did.
24 Yea, and from that time even until now, I have labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls unto repentance; that I might bring them to taste of the exceeding joy of which I did taste; that they might also be born of God, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
And Alma explains that many have been born of God and experienced what he did
26 For because of the word which he has imparted unto me, behold, many have been born of God, and have tasted as I have tasted, and have seen eye to eye as I have seen; therefore they do know of these things of which I have spoken, as I do know; and the knowledge which I have is of God.
And it's during his missionary efforts that Alma has learned that God supported him through his trial.
27 And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, God has delivered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me.28 And I know that he will raise me up at the last day, to dwell with him in glory; yea, and I will praise him forever, for he has brought our fathers out of Egypt, and he has swallowed up the Egyptians in the Red Sea; and he led them by his power into the promised land; yea, and he has delivered them out of bondage and captivity from time to time.
Chapter 37
Alma's Charge to Helaman
The subject matter of chapter 37 deals with Alma entrusting the Nephite records to his son. After having counseled his son to trust in God, Alma shifts to giving Helaman charge over the Nephite records.
1. And now, my son Helaman, I command you that ye take the records which have been entrusted with me;
2 And I also command you that ye keep a record of this people, according as I have done, upon the plates of Nephi, and keep all these things sacred which I have kept, even as I have kept them; for it is for a wise purpose that they are kept.
Taking Care of the Brass Plates and Other Records
Helaman is to care for the records and make a record of the Nephites, just as Alma did. Alma explains that the purpose of keeping and making records is done for a wise purpose. Part of the records Helaman is entrusted with is the Brass Plates, the same plates that Nephi obtained from Laban.
Alma explains the importance of the plates
4 Behold, it has been prophesied by our fathers, that they should be kept and handed down from one generation to another, and be kept and preserved by the hand of the Lord until they should go forth unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, that they shall know of the mysteries contained thereon.
It's not clear whether Alma is referring to the Plates of Brass or all the records. In any case, we learn that Alma's fathers (Alma the Elder, Nephi, Lehi, others?) have been promised that the records (Brass Plates or other records) should go forth to all people, giving all people knowledge of the mysteries contained in them.
In my opinion, I believe Alma is alluding to the Book of Mormon (Gold Plates) going forth. This is evident by Alma's statement that the records should be "handed down" and "kept and preserved by the hand of the Lord." This statement seems to align with the Gold Plates, as the Gold Plates were preserved by the Lord until Joseph Smith was led to them.
However, Alma could be referring to something bigger than the Book of Mormon itself. He could be indicating that all the records which were kept will eventually go forth to the people. This going forth to the people could occur in the Millennial reign of the Lord -- where all things will be revealed.
Alma then explains the reason why the records (Plates of Brass, Nephite records, other records) should be preserved:
8 And now, it has hitherto been wisdom in God that these things should be preserved; for behold, they have enlarged the memory of this people, yea, and convinced many of the error of their ways, and brought them to the knowledge of their God unto the salvation of their souls.9 Yea, I say unto you, were it not for these things that these records do contain, which are on these plates, Ammon and his brethren could not have convinced so many thousands of the Lamanites of the incorrect tradition of their fathers; yea, these records and their words brought them unto repentance; that is, they brought them to the knowledge of the Lord their God, and to rejoice in Jesus Christ their Redeemer.
Here, the major importance of the records (or scriptures more broadly) is that they 1) enlarged the memory of the Nephites (this people); 2) convinced them of their errors and 3) saving the Nephites by bringing them to a knowledge of God. Additionally, the records allowed Ammon and his brothers to convince the Lamanites that their traditions were wrong. Because it did these things for the Nephites and Lamanites, it can also do the same for future people. And thus the records need to be kept.
Moreover, because of their importance, this is why Alma's fathers prayed to the Lord that he would preserve them. Moreover, the stakes are high for those entrusted with them:
14 And now remember, my son, that God has entrusted you with these things, which are sacred, which he has kept sacred, and also which he will keep and preserve for a wise purpose in him, that he may show forth his power unto future generations.15 And now behold, I tell you by the spirit of prophecy, that if ye transgress the commandments of God, behold, these things which are sacred shall be taken away from you by the power of God, and ye shall be delivered up unto Satan, that he may sift you as chaff before the wind.16 But if ye keep the commandments of God, and do with these things which are sacred according to that which the Lord doth command you, (for you must appeal unto the Lord for all things whatsoever ye must do with them) behold, no power of earth or hell can take them from you, for God is powerful to the fulfilling of all his words.17 For he will fulfil all his promises which he shall make unto you, for he has fulfilled his promises which he has made unto our fathers.18 For he promised unto them that he would preserve these things for a wise purpose in him, that he might show forth his power unto future generations.
The 24 Plates
Out of the records Helaman is entrusted with is the 24 Gold Plates. The 24 Gold Plates is a record of the Jaredite people. The other Jaredite record is the large stone. As a reminder, in Mosiah 28 we learn that Mosiah (king Benjamin's son) translated the 24 Gold Plates.
17 Now after Mosiah had finished translating these records, behold, it gave an account of the people who were destroyed, from the time that they were destroyed back to the building of the great tower, at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people and they were scattered abroad upon the face of all the earth, yea, and even from that time back until the creation of Adam. (Mosiah 28)
Here, we learn that the 24 Gold Plates provided an account of the Jaredite people from the time of the Tower of Babel ("building of the great tower"). In Alma 37, moreover, Alma explains to his son more about what the 24 Gold Plates contained:
21 And now, I will speak unto you concerning those twenty-four plates, that ye keep them, that the mysteries and the works of darkness, and their secret works, or the secret works of those people who have been destroyed, may be made manifest unto this people; yea, all their murders, and robbings, and their plunderings, and all their wickedness and abominations, may be made manifest unto this people; yea, and that ye preserve these interpreters. (Alma 37)
Although the records contained an account of the Jaredite people, it also contained many of their dark and secret works. I discussed this record in a previous post. Now, I'll explain it again, but going into more depth.
Alma explains the reason why the 24 Gold Plates contained an account of the dark and secret works of the Jaredite nation:
22 For behold, the Lord saw that his people began to work in darkness, yea, work secret murders and abominations; therefore the Lord said, if they did not repent they should be destroyed from off the face of the earth.23 And the Lord said: I will prepare unto my servant Gazelem, a stone, which shall shine forth in darkness unto light, that I may discover unto my people who serve me, that I may discover unto them the works of their brethren, yea, their secret works, their works of darkness, and their wickedness and abominations.
...
25 I will bring forth out of darkness unto light all their secret works and their abominations; and except they repent I will destroy them from off the face of the earth; and I will bring to light all their secrets and abominations, unto every nation that shall hereafter possess the land.
The Lord noticed that the Jaredites began to engage in secret and dark works (secret combinations). Because of this, he called one of his servants, Gazelem (a person), and prepared Gazelem with a stone (likely a seer stone) that showed Gazelem all the secret and dark works going on among the Jaredites. Orson Pratt said "Gazelem" meant a person who has been given the Urim and Thummim (see Journal of Discourses, Vol. 16, p. 156). Gazelem recorded them so that the Lord may show the Jaredites their dark and secret works so that they might repent. And if they don't repent, so that the Lord will show the dark works to the next nation who possessed the land. The next nation were the Nephites.
26 And now, my son, we see that they did not repent; therefore they have been destroyed, and thus far the word of God has been fulfilled; yea, their secret abominations have been brought out of darkness and made known unto us.
Alma instructs Helaman to keep and retain all the oaths and covenants made by the wicked Jaredites. This is the first mention in the Book of Mormon of secret combinations (secret works of darkness)
27 And now, my son, I command you that ye retain all their oaths, and their covenants, and their agreements in their secret abominations; yea, and all their signs and their wonders ye shall keep from this people, that they know them not, lest peradventure they should fall into darkness also and be destroyed....29 Therefore ye shall keep these secret plans of their oaths and their covenants from this people, and only their wickedness and their murders and their abominations shall ye make known unto them; and ye shall teach them to abhor such wickedness and abominations and murders; and ye shall also teach them that these people were destroyed on account of their wickedness and abominations and their murders.30 For behold, they murdered all the prophets of the Lord who came among them to declare unto them concerning their iniquities; and the blood of those whom they murdered did cry unto the Lord their God for vengeance upon those who were their murderers; and thus the judgments of God did come upon these workers of darkness and secret combinations.31 Yea, and cursed be the land forever and ever unto those workers of darkness and secret combinations, even unto destruction, except they repent before they are fully ripe.
It's important to note that Alma links destruction to a nation that embraces secret combinations. And unless that nation repents, it will be destroyed when it's fully ripe in iniquity.
Later in Helaman 6, we learn that the Nephite nation engaged in secret combinations. These secret acts were revealed to the Gadianton robbers by Satan. It was the major cause leading the the downfall and collapse of the Nephite nation before Christ appeared. see https://www.fairmormon.org/conference/august-2002/the-gadianton-robbers-in-mormons-theological-history-their-structural-role-and-plausible-identification.
Because Helaman is to keep the 24 Gold Plates secret, Alma instructs him as follows:
32 And now, my son, remember the words which I have spoken unto you; trust not those secret plans unto this people, but teach them an everlasting hatred against sin and iniquity.33 Preach unto them repentance, and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ; teach them to humble themselves and to be meek and lowly in heart; teach them to withstand every temptation of the devil, with their faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.34 Teach them to never be weary of good works, but to be meek and lowly in heart; for such shall find rest to their souls.
Learn Wisdom
In concluding his discussion with his son, Alma explains the way towards wisdom. It involves keeping God's commandments and relying on God for everything:
35 O, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth; yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God.36 Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.37 Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.
Chapter 38
After speaking to Helaman, Alma speaks next to Shiblon. We learn the following about Shiblon
- He has been righteous since his youth (verse 2)
- He was faith and diligent during his labors among the Zoramites (verse 3)
- He was put in bonds (captivity/imprisoned) (verse 4)
- He was stoned by the Zormaites (verse 4)
- But he bore all his trials with patience (verse 4)
- Be diligent and temperate [1828: Moderate in the indulgence of the appetites and passions; Moderate in the indulgence of the appetites and passions;] in all things (verse 10)
- Do not boast in your own wisdom (verse 11)
- Use boldness, but not overbearance (verse 12)
- Bridle all you passions so that you may be filled with love (verse 12)
- Refrain from idleness (verse 12)
- Acknowledge you unworthiness before God at all times (verse 14)
- Teach what you know to the people (verse 15)
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