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Home > The Book of Mormon > Alma > Alma 45-63 > Chapter 45a / Verses 45:1-19
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Summary

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The relationship of Chapter 45a to the rest of Chapters 45-63 is discussed at Alma 45-63.

Discussion

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• Alma 45:2-5. It is interesting that Alma required Helaman to again confirm his faith before sharing the prophesy with him. It is like when the angel visiting Nephi asked if he had faith in God.

• Alma 45:2-8. In these opening verses (v. 2-8), Alma spontaneously, almost randomly, comes to Helaman and asks him very directly: "Believes thou the words which I spake unto thee concerning those records which have been kept?" (v. 2). This is followed by further questions about the state of Helaman's testimony. These questions are rapid-fire, point-blank, almost urgent in their quick succession. Is it possible that Alma knows his time is up, that he is being called to return to the Lord, and is quickly finishing his business?

It's also possible that the reason Helaman has not yet recieved the records (as the context of Alma 36 would imply) is that he maintained misgivings about the church and his role as guardian of the plates. Is Alma sounding out the state of his son's faith? The very first question asked is about the records and what Alma has said about them in Alma 36.

It's interesting, also, to note that Alma does not ask if Helaman will keep the Lord's commandments, in verses 6 and 7, but whether he will keep Alma's commands in particular--perhaps regarding the care of the records? Only after Helaman responds affirmatively (v. 7) does Alma say, "Blessed art thou," prophesy to his son, and then immediately leave, never to be heard from/seen again (v. 18).

It appears that Helaman had misgivings about assuming the responsibility of the records and needed time to come to terms with it. Finally, Alma comes to him and urgently sounds out his son's faith, entrusts him with the records and a final prophesy, and then leaves the land of Zarahemla, presumably translated (v. 19).

• Alma 45:12. Verse 12 mentions that the the Nephites will sin against great light and knowledge. At the same time, obviously, the Lamanites were sinning but they weren't sinning against the same knowledge. It's interesting to note how the Nephites had to be destroyed for that sin. We are responsible to live up to the knowledge that we are given.

• Alma 45:15. In verse 15 Alma blesses the earth for the righteous' sake. I wonder if he was just blessing the land of America or the whole earth. Its like he reaffirmed the blessing that the Lord had already placed upon the Americas.

Points to ponder

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I have a question

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• Alma 45:6: Why does Alma say "will ye keep my commandments" when really they are God's commandments?

• Alma 45:18-19: Where was Alma buried?

• The author says he does not know, and in fact says that he does not even know whether Alma in fact died a natural death or was buried at all.

Resources

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Notes

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