CHAPTER 38
CHAPTER 38
Alma Jr. tells his son Shiblon to obey the commandments, be saved by Jesus, and not pray like a Zoramite. (73 BCE)
Previous chapter |
Next chapter
Alma Jr. preaches to his son Shiblon
1 My 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.
2 And 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.
3 I 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.
Here's what Alma said to his son, Shiblon:
Keep God's commandments. [1]
If you don't, he'll abandon you.
4 For 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.
5 And 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.
6 Now, 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.
I know that you were in prison and were stoned for the word's sake. [2]
7 But 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.
8 And 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.
I saw an angel face to face, and his voice was like thunder,
shaking the whole earth.
9 And 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.
10 And 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.
11 See that ye are not lifted up unto pride; yea, see that ye
do not boast in your own wisdom, nor of
your much strength.
12 Use 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.
Jesus Christ is the only way to get saved. [3]
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.
14 Do 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.
Don't pray like the Zoramites pray.
15 And 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.
38:1-15
