Shiblon: Alma's Pride and Joy
Book of Mormon Notes - Tuesday, October 10, 2023, Alma 38 (continued)
I was reminded that Helaman was indeed the eldest son of Alma the Younger:
Now the eldest of his sons he took not with him, and his name was Helaman; but the names of those whom he took with him were Shiblon and Corianton; and these are the names of those who went with him among the Zoramites, to preach unto them the word. (Alma 31:7)
Why didn’t Alma take Helaman with him on the mission to the Zoramites? Perhaps Alma already trusted Helaman enough and knew that he had already been thoroughly trained in the Gospel. Perhaps Shiblon and Corianton needed more experience and training. I don’t know. But Helaman had been prepared by the Lord to receive all of the sacred items from his father Alma, and Shiblon was also being prepared to receive all of the sacred items as well (Alma 63:1)
Alma teaches many of the same things to Shiblon that he did to Helaman, but in a kind of abridged form. This is another detail that makes me wonder if all three brothers were present as Alma was teaching them. Alma’s commendation to Shiblon (by the way, who could have come up with a name like “Shiblon”… really?) is very similar to his commendation of Helaman. His counsel is also very similar. Alma is particularly pleased with Shiblon’s constancy and consistency, or what he calls his “asteadiness” and “faithfulness unto God”, and his “faithfulness” and “diligence”, and especially his “patience” and “long suffering”. Shiblon had endured persecution, even bonds and stoning, at the hands of the apostate Zoramites. It was not an easy mission.
But as pleased as Alma is with Shiblon’s faithfulness, he is careful to remind him, as he surely reminded himself often, that it was because of the Lord that Shiblon was strengthened and enabled to be so faithful. The Lord was with Shiblon, and the Lord empowered Shiblon to endure well, and the Lord also delivered him. Alma counseled Shiblon, as he had counseled Helaman, and as he himself had done throughout his life, to trust in God. And again, Alma acknowledges that it is the Lord that bestowed such testimony and understanding upon him. Alma knew that the Lord had taught him, that the Lord had revealed these things unto him, and that it was not because of any wisdom of his own.
Alma shares a condensed version of the same testimony that he shared with his son Helaman. But why did Alma teach Shiblon all of these things, and why does Mormon teach us all of these things through Alma’s teachings to his son Shiblon?
And now, my son, I have told you this that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn of me that there is ano other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ. Behold, he is the life and the blight of the world. Behold, he is the word of truth and crighteousness. (Alma 38:9)
Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation.
Alma shares this succinct and beautiful testimony of Jesus Christ with his son in order to point him toward Jesus Christ.
Sometimes I think that even when we share sincere testimonies of Jesus Christ, we might rattle off words and phrases and titles of the Savior without really contemplating their meaning, words and phrases and titles such as “Savior and Redeemer”. We have a lot of phrases like this in the Church, phrases like “renew our covenants”, “nourish and strengthen our bodies”, and even “I know the Church is true”. These good and sincere testimonies may be mostly harmless in and of themselves, but even President Nelson has noted that we too often speak of “the Atonement” as some kind of amorphous entity that is detached from the Lord Himself:
As Latter-day Saints, we refer to His mission as the Atonement of Jesus Christ, which made resurrection a reality for all and made eternal life possible for those who repent of their sins and receive and keep essential ordinances and covenants.
It is doctrinally incomplete to speak of the Lord’s atoning sacrifice by shortcut phrases, such as “the Atonement” or “the enabling power of the Atonement” or “applying the Atonement” or “being strengthened by the Atonement.” These expressions present a real risk of misdirecting faith by treating the event as if it had living existence and capabilities independent of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
Under the Father’s great eternal plan, it is the Savior who suffered. It is the Savior who broke the bands of death. It is the Savior who paid the price for our sins and transgressions and blots them out on condition of our repentance. It is the Savior who delivers us from physical and spiritual death.
There is no amorphous entity called “the Atonement” upon which we may call for succor, healing, forgiveness, or power. Jesus Christ is the source. Sacred terms such as Atonement and Resurrection describe what the Savior did, according to the Father’s plan, so that we may live with hope in this life and gain eternal life in the world to come. The Savior’s atoning sacrifice—the central act of all human history—is best understood and appreciated when we expressly and clearly connect it to Him.
My point is that Alma’s earnest and sincere testimony to his son Shiblon is simultaneously simple and profound, and that the meaning of Alma’s expressions of faith deserve at least as much of our attention as the attention that Shiblon gave to his own father. Jesus Christ is “the life and the blight of the world”. Think of what that means. Jesus Christ is “the word of truth and crighteousness.” Consider the depth of the meaning of that short phrase, especially in light of everything that Alma already taught as a missionary among the Zoramites and others, and his confidence in the power of the word of God:
And now, as the apreaching of the bword had a great tendency to clead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God. (Alma 31:5)
Alma’s specific counsel to his young son Shiblon reveals interesting things about Shiblon. I get the sense that Shiblon was a very confident, strong, capable, charismatic, and good member of the Church. I get the sense that Shiblon had been a very successful missionary, and that he had been primed for leadership in the Church. I also get the sense that Alma wasn’t too concerned that Shiblon would struggle with the vices that plagued many in the Nephite society, rather, Alma wisely anticipated what might happen if his wonderful son Shiblon were to let any of his own obvious qualities and strengths go to his head. Thus Alma’s repeated counsel to Shiblon to remember to acknowledge the hand of the Lord and to give glory to Him in all things. Thus Alma’s specific counsel to his wonderful son Shiblon to remember where all of his blessings and strengths come from:
See that ye are not lifted up unto pride; yea, see that ye do not aboast in your own wisdom, nor of your much strength.
Use aboldness, but not overbearance; and also see that ye bbridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love; see that ye refrain from idleness.
Do not apray as the Zoramites do, for ye have seen that they pray to be heard of men, and to be praised for their wisdom.
Do not say: O God, I thank thee that we are abetter than our brethren; but rather say: O Lord, forgive my bunworthiness, and remember my brethren in mercy—yea, acknowledge your unworthiness before God at all times. (Alma 38:11-14)
In essence, I can tell that Alma the Younger - was very proud of his son Shiblon, like the great Marvin Gaye sang, and that he commended and praised Shiblon for his missionary efforts and his diligent development of Christ-like attributes. But Alma also wisely counseled his wonderful son Shiblon, as Elder Oaks has counseled us, not to let our strengths become our downfall.
Alma the Younger also blessed his wonderful son Shiblon and encouraged him to continue to teach the word of God unto the Nephites. He encouraged Shiblon, and he encourages us, to be asober as well. This reminds me of Peter’s timeless counsel:
aHumble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Be asober, be bvigilant; because your adversary the cdevil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Peter 5:6-8)
There is so much more to explore in this brief chapter, but let’s continue on to our study of Alma’s teachings and counsel to his third son, Corianton.