Alma 37
People in this chapter
Alma is near the end of his ministry. He gathers his sons and speaks to each one alone. To Helaman, his eldest, he gives the most precious things the Nephites own: the brass plates, the plates of Nephi, the twenty-four gold plates of a destroyed people, the interpreters, and the Liahona. With them comes a charge that will shape the rest of the Book of Mormon. Helaman is to keep the record, and his descendants will keep it after him.
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Alma 37:1-12By Small and Simple Things
1And now, my son Helaman, I command you that ye take the records which have been entrusted with me; 2And 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.
Alma gives Helaman the sacred records and tells him to keep writing the history of his people on the plates of Nephi. From here on, the record passes from father to son in Helaman's family.
3And these plates of brass, which contain these engravings, which have the records of the holy scriptures upon them, which have the genealogy of our forefathers, even from the beginning— 4Behold, 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. 5And now behold, if they are kept they must retain their brightness; yea, and they will retain their brightness; yea, and also shall all the plates which do contain that which is holy writ.
The brass plates held the scriptures and the family history Lehi's family carried from Jerusalem. Prophets had said they would be preserved and go to every nation.
6Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise. 7And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls.
Alma knows that guarding some metal plates might look foolish. But God works through small things. Small, steady things done over time bring about great results.
8And 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. 9Yea, 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. 10And who knoweth but what they will be the means of bringing many thousands of them, yea, and also many thousands of our stiffnecked brethren, the Nephites, who are now hardening their hearts in sin and iniquities, to the knowledge of their Redeemer?
The scriptures enlarged the memory of the people. They helped them remember God and what He had done, and they helped many people see their mistakes and turn to Him.
11Now these mysteries are not yet fully made known unto me; therefore I shall forbear. 12And it may suffice if I only say they are preserved for a wise purpose, which purpose is known unto God; for he doth counsel in wisdom over all his works, and his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round.
Alma admits he doesn't know everything about God's plans for the records. He trusts that they are kept for a wise purpose that God knows.
Alma 37:13-20God Has Entrusted You with These Things
13O remember, remember, my son Helaman, how strict are the commandments of God. And he said: If ye will keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land—but if ye keep not his commandments ye shall be cut off from his presence. 14And 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. 15And 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.
Alma reminds Helaman that God's commandments are strict and the records are sacred. If Helaman keeps the commandments, the records will be safe with him. If he doesn't, they will be taken away.
16But 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. 17For 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. 18For 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. 19And now behold, one purpose hath he fulfilled, even to the restoration of many thousands of the Lamanites to the knowledge of the truth; and he hath shown forth his power in them, and he will also still show forth his power in them unto future generations; therefore they shall be preserved. 20Therefore I command you, my son Helaman, that ye be diligent in fulfilling all my words, and that ye be diligent in keeping the commandments of God as they are written.
If Helaman keeps the commandments and asks the Lord what to do with the records, no power of earth or hell can take them from him. God has kept His promises before, and He will keep them again.
Alma 37:21-32Preserve These Interpreters
21And 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. 22For 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.
The twenty-four plates were the record of an earlier people who had been destroyed. Alma wants their story kept so the Nephites can learn from what happened to them.
The interpreters were stones prepared by God to translate records like the twenty-four plates. Joseph Smith later received interpreters with the gold plates.
23And 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. 24And now, my son, these interpreters were prepared that the word of God might be fulfilled, which he spake, saying: 25I 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. 26And 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.
The Lord promised a stone that would shine forth in darkness unto light, so that hidden evil could be brought to light. That promise was fulfilled when the Jaredite record was translated.
27And 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. 28For behold, there is a curse upon all this land, that destruction shall come upon all those workers of darkness, according to the power of God, when they are fully ripe; therefore I desire that this people might not be destroyed. 29Therefore 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. 30For 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. 31Yea, 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. 32And 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.
Helaman must not teach the people the secret oaths of the destroyed people. He should teach what happened to them, so the people learn to hate sin without learning how to do it.
Alma 37:33-37Counsel with the Lord in All Thy Doings
33Preach 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. 34Teach them to never be weary of good works, but to be meek and lowly in heart; for such shall find rest to their souls. 35O, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth; yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God.
Alma tells Helaman what to teach: repentance, faith in Jesus Christ, humility, and how to resist temptation. Those who are meek and keep doing good will find rest.
Alma tells his son to learn to keep God's commandments while he is young. Habits formed early shape the rest of life.
36Yea, 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. 37Counsel 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.
Alma describes a whole day lived with God: ask Him for support, talk with Him about everything you do, give Him your night, and wake up thankful.
Alma 37:38-47Is There Not a Type in This Thing?
38And now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning the thing which our fathers call a ball, or director—or our fathers called it Liahona, which is, being interpreted, a compass; and the Lord prepared it. 39And behold, there cannot any man work after the manner of so curious a workmanship. And behold, it was prepared to show unto our fathers the course which they should travel in the wilderness. 40And it did work for them according to their faith in God; therefore, if they had faith to believe that God could cause that those spindles should point the way they should go, behold, it was done; therefore they had this miracle, and also many other miracles wrought by the power of God, day by day.
The Liahona was a brass ball the Lord prepared to guide Lehi's family through the wilderness. It worked according to their faith.
41Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by small means it did show unto them marvelous works. They were slothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence and then those marvelous works ceased, and they did not progress in their journey; 42Therefore, they tarried in the wilderness, or did not travel a direct course, and were afflicted with hunger and thirst, because of their transgressions. 43And now, my son, I would that ye should understand that these things are not without a shadow; for as our fathers were slothful to give heed to this compass (now these things were temporal) they did not prosper; even so it is with things which are spiritual.
Because the Liahona worked so simply, the family sometimes stopped paying attention. Then it stopped working, and they wandered and went hungry. Alma says the same thing happens to us spiritually.
44For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land. 45And now I say, is there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise. 46O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever. 47And now, my son, see that ye take care of these sacred things, yea, see that ye look to God and live. Go unto this people and declare the word, and be sober. My son, farewell.
The danger is that the way is so easy we don't take it seriously. Alma's last words to his son are look to God and live.
Research trail
Sources & further study
These references support the historical, linguistic, manuscript, and contextual notes in this chapter. Scripture remains the primary text; external sources are provided so readers can inspect the research directly.
- PlatesThe different sets of plates named in this chapter: the brass plates (v. 3), the plates of Nephi (v. 2), and the twenty-four plates of the Jaredites (v. 21).
- Urim and ThummimInstruments prepared by God to help in receiving revelation and translating languages, the "interpreters" Alma tells Helaman to preserve (v. 21).
- Book of Mormon TranslationExplains that the instrument the Book of Mormon calls the "interpreters" is better known to Latter-day Saints as the Urim and Thummim, and that Joseph Smith found the interpreters buried with the plates.
- Secret CombinationsScripture passages on the secret oaths Alma tells Helaman to keep from the people (vv. 27-32).
- LiahonaThe brass ball with two pointers that gave Lehi's family direction and spiritual instruction, the "type" of verses 38-46.
- PrayerThe Church's summary of prayer, the daily pattern Alma describes in verses 36-37.
Where this echoes in Scripture
By Small and Simple Things
- 1 Nephi 5:18-19These plates of brass should go forth unto all nations... neither should they be dimmed any more by time.Lehi's prophecy that Alma repeats in verses 4-5.
- Mosiah 28:20He took the plates of brass, and all the things which he had kept, and conferred them upon Alma.How the records came to Alma.
- 1 Nephi 16:29And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things.Nephi's lesson from the Liahona.
- 1 Corinthians 1:27God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.
- D&C 64:33Out of small things proceedeth that which is great.The same principle, revealed in this dispensation.
God Has Entrusted You with These Things
- Alma 36:1Inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land.The same promise opens Alma's counsel to Helaman.
- Luke 22:31-32Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee.The same image of sifting.
- Alma 63:1-2Shiblon took possession of those sacred things which had been delivered unto Helaman by Alma.The records stay safe through Helaman's life and pass to his brother.
- D&C 3:1-3The works, and the designs, and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught.The Lord's assurance about the same records in 1828.
Preserve These Interpreters
- Mosiah 8:13The things are called interpreters... whosoever is commanded to look in them, the same is called seer.
- Mosiah 28:11-17He translated them by the means of those two stones which were fastened into the two rims of a bow.Mosiah translates the twenty-four plates.
- Ether 8:20-22I, Moroni, do not write the manner of their oaths and combinations.Moroni keeps the same rule Alma gives here.
- Helaman 6:25-26These secret oaths and covenants which Alma commanded his son should not go forth unto the world.Mormon looks back at this charge.
- D&C 17:1The Urim and Thummim, which were given to the brother of Jared upon the mount.The Lord's promise to the Three Witnesses.
Counsel with the Lord in All Thy Doings
- Matthew 11:29I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.The Savior's words behind verse 34.
- Psalm 4:8I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.
- Proverbs 3:5-6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.The same promise of direction.
- Alma 34:27Let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually.Amulek's counsel to pray always.
- D&C 46:7Ask of God, who giveth liberally... doing all things with prayer and thanksgiving.
Is There Not a Type in This Thing?
- 1 Nephi 16:28-29The pointers which were in the ball... did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give unto them.
- Numbers 21:8-9When he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.The type behind "look and live."
- John 3:14-15As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.Jesus applies the type to Himself.
- Helaman 8:14-15As many as should look upon the Son of God with faith, having a contrite spirit, might live.
- 2 Nephi 32:3Feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.Nephi on the words of Christ as a guide.