Alma 38
People in this chapter
Shiblon gets fifteen verses. His brother Helaman received two chapters, and Corianton will receive four. But Alma's words to his middle son are full of a father's pleasure: I have had great joy in thee already, because of thy faithfulness and thy diligence, and thy patience and thy long-suffering among the people of the Zoramites (v. 3).
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Alma 38:1-5Because of Your Steadiness
1My son, give ear to my words, for I say unto you, even as I said unto Helaman, that inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land; and inasmuch as ye will not keep the commandments of God ye shall be cut off from his presence. 2And now, my son, I trust that I shall have great joy in you, because of your steadiness and your faithfulness unto God; for as you have commenced in your youth to look to the Lord your God, even so I hope that you will continue in keeping his commandments; for blessed is he that endureth to the end.
Alma gives Shiblon the same promise he gave Helaman: keep the commandments and you will prosper; don't, and you will be cut off from God's presence.
Alma praises Shiblon's steadiness. He has been faithful since his youth, and Alma hopes he will keep going to the end.
3I say unto you, my son, that I have had great joy in thee already, because of thy faithfulness and thy diligence, and thy patience and thy long-suffering among the people of the Zoramites. 4For I know that thou wast in bonds; yea, and I also know that thou wast stoned for the word's sake; and thou didst bear all these things with patience because the Lord was with thee; and now thou knowest that the Lord did deliver thee. 5And now my son, Shiblon, I would that ye should remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day.
Among the Zoramites, Shiblon was tied up and stoned for preaching. He endured it patiently because the Lord was with him, and the Lord delivered him.
Alma teaches that the more we trust God, the more He delivers us from our trials.
Alma 38:6-9Only in and through Christ
6Now, my son, I would not that ye should think that I know these things of myself, but it is the Spirit of God which is in me which maketh these things known unto me; for if I had not been born of God I should not have known these things. 7But behold, the Lord in his great mercy sent his angel to declare unto me that I must stop the work of destruction among his people; yea, and I have seen an angel face to face, and he spake with me, and his voice was as thunder, and it shook the whole earth. 8And it came to pass that I was three days and three nights in the most bitter pain and anguish of soul; and never, until I did cry out unto the Lord Jesus Christ for mercy, did I receive a remission of my sins. But behold, I did cry unto him and I did find peace to my soul.
Alma tells Shiblon he knows these things by the Spirit, because he was born of God. He briefly retells his conversion: the angel, three days of anguish, and the peace that came when he cried to Jesus Christ.
9And now, my son, I have told you this that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn of me that there is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ. Behold, he is the life and the light of the world. Behold, he is the word of truth and righteousness.
Alma 38:10-15Bridle All Your Passions
10And now, as ye have begun to teach the word even so I would that ye should continue to teach; and I would that ye would be diligent and temperate in all things. 11See that ye are not lifted up unto pride; yea, see that ye do not boast in your own wisdom, nor of your much strength.
Alma tells Shiblon to keep teaching, to be temperate (balanced and self-controlled), and not to become proud of his wisdom or strength.
12Use boldness, but not overbearance; and also see that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love; see that ye refrain from idleness.
Be bold in teaching, but don't be pushy or domineering. And don't be idle.
A bridle guides a horse's strength. Alma says that when we control our passions, we become able to love more fully.
13Do not pray as the Zoramites do, for ye have seen that they pray to be heard of men, and to be praised for their wisdom. 14Do not say: O God, I thank thee that we are better than our brethren; but rather say: O Lord, forgive my unworthiness, and remember my brethren in mercy—yea, acknowledge your unworthiness before God at all times. 15And may the Lord bless your soul, and receive you at the last day into his kingdom, to sit down in peace. Now go, my son, and teach the word unto this people. Be sober. My son, farewell.
Shiblon had seen the Zoramites pray to be praised. Alma teaches him to pray humbly instead: ask forgiveness for yourself, and ask mercy for others.
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.
- ShiblonScripture references for Alma's son Shiblon, from the Zoramite mission to his keeping of the sacred records (Alma 63:1-2).
- Meek, MeeknessScripture passages on meekness, the quality behind boldness without overbearance (v. 12).
- PrideScripture passages on pride, the danger Alma warns of in verse 11 and sees in the Zoramites' prayer (vv. 13-14).
- PrayerScripture passages on prayer, including the humble prayer Alma teaches in verse 14.
Where this echoes in Scripture
Because of Your Steadiness
- Alma 31:7The names of those whom he took with him were Shiblon and Corianton.Shiblon goes on the Zoramite mission.
- Alma 63:1-2He was a just man, and he did walk uprightly before God.Mormon's later summary of Shiblon.
- Alma 36:3Whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials.The same promise given to Helaman.
- Matthew 24:13He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
- 2 Corinthians 4:8-9Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.Paul describes what Shiblon lived.
Only in and through Christ
- Alma 36:17-20O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me.The full account Alma gave Helaman.
- Mosiah 27:11He spake as it were with a voice of thunder, which caused the earth to shake.Mormon's account of the angel.
- Acts 4:12There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
- John 8:12I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness.
- Mosiah 16:9He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless.Abinadi uses the same title.
Bridle All Your Passions
- Alma 31:15-18We thank thee, O God, that we are a chosen and a holy people.The Zoramite prayer Alma warns against.
- Luke 18:10-14God be merciful to me a sinner.The Pharisee and the publican.
- James 3:2-3Able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths.The same image of a bridle.
- Alma 7:23Full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things.Alma asked the same of the people of Gideon.
- D&C 121:41-42By persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned.Influence without overbearance.