Alma knew the steadfast spirit of his son, Helaman, and in the confidence he had of Helaman’s integrity, he enjoined him to take charge of the Sacred Records and the Plates of Laban on which were inscribed the Holy Scriptures of the Jews and also the genealogy of the Nephites’ forefathers who had come out of Jerusalem, the sacred city of the Jews.
Alma had received from King Mosiah all the plates upon which a record had been kept of the Nephites’ history, also the Brass Plates and other sacred things which the Lord had commanded should be preserved. This was about 125 years Before Christ. The abridger of the Nephite records, Mormon, summed up many incidents connected with this transaction in a very few words:
And now, as I said unto you, that after King Mosiah had done these things, he took up the Plates of Brass, and all the things which he had kept, and conferred them upon Alma, who was the son of Alma; yea, all the records, and also the interpreters, and conferred thereupon him, and commanded him that he should keep and preserve them and also to keep a record of the people, handing them down from one generation to another, even as they had been handed down from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem. (Mosiah 28:20)
King Mosiah had been entrusted with them by his father, King Benjamin, who in turn had received them from other kings of the Nephites who had preceeded him. King Benjamin cared for these sacred things from 200 years Before Christ, to 125 years of that same era. Also he received from Amaleki, the last one to write upon Nephi’s Smaller Plates, their custodianship, and putting them with the Larger Plates brought together in a single record, the religious and political accounts of the people.
And it came to pass that I began to be old; and, having no seed, and knowing King Benjamin to be a just man before the Lord, wherefore, I shall deliver up these plates unto him … (Amaleki, Omni 25)
Wherefore, it came to pass that after Amaleki had delivered up these plates into the hands of King Benjamin, he took them and put them with the other plates, which contained records which had been handed down by the kings, from generation to generation until the days of King Benjamin.
And they were handed down from King Benjamin, from generation to generation until they have fallen into my hands … (W of M 10-11)
Alma commanded Helaman to continue as he, himself, had done, to inscribe upon the Plates which Nephi had made at the Lord’s bidding over 500 years previously, a record of his people and their actions during Helaman’s own days. Also, Alma cautioned his son to keep sacred all the things which were then being entrusted into Helaman’s care. “For it is for a wise purpose that they are kept.” (See w. 12; 14; 18)
In speaking of the plates which the Lord had instructed him to prepare, Nephi, about 600 years Before Christ, wrote what is the full purpose of doing so—it being for a wise purpose in God:
And all these things did my father see, and hear, and speak, as he dwelt in a tent, in the valley of Lemuel, and also a great many more things, which cannot be written upon these plates.
And now, as I have spoken concerning these plates, behold they are not the plates upon which I make a full account of the history of my people; for the plates upon which I make a full account of my people I have given the name of Nephi; wherefore, they are called the plates of Nephi, after mine own name; and these plates also are called the plates of Nephi.
Nevertheless, I have received a commandment of the Lord that I should make these plates, for the special purpose that there should be an account engraven of the ministry of my people.
Upon the other plates should be engraven an account of the reign of the kings, and the wars and contentions of my people; wherefore these plates are for the more part of the ministry; and the other plates are for the more part of the reign of kings and the wars and contentions of my people.
Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make these plates for a wise purpose in him, which purpose I know not.
1 Ne. 3-6)
Mormon, in a similar vein, explained the reason why he regarded both sets of plates as being sacred:
And now, I speak somewhat concerning that which I have written; for after I had made an abridgment from the plates of Nephi, down to the reign of this king Benjamin, of whom Amaleki spake, I searched among the records which had been delivered into my hands, and I found these plates, which contained this small account of the prophets, from Jacob down to the reign of this king Benjamin, and also many of the words of Nephi.
And the things which are upon these plates pleasing me, because of the prophecies of the coming of Christ; and my fathers knowing that many of them have been fulfilled; yea, and I also know that as many things as have been prophesied concerning us down to this day have been fulfilled, and as many as go beyond this day must surely come to pass—
Wherefore, I chose these things, to finish my record upon them, which remainder of my record I shall take from the plates of Nephi; and I cannot write the hundreth part of the things of my people.
But behold, I shall take these plates, which contain these prophesyings and revelations, and put them with the remainder of my record, for they are choice unto me; and I know they will be choice unto my brethren.
And I do this for a wise purpose; for thus it whispereth me, according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me. And now, I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his will.
And my prayer to God is concerning my brethren, that they may once again come to the knowledge of God, yea, the redemption of Christ; that they may once again be a delightsome people. (W of M 3-8)
Alma also impressed upon Helaman’s mind the importance of keeping inviolable, or secure from profanation, corruption, destruction, and violence, the Brass Plates of Laban. Upon them was engraved “the genealogy of our forefathers, even from the beginning,” Alma assured his son. Not only that, but equally of great consequence to their well being the Holy Scriptures of the Jews were contained thereon.
It seems that the self-evident consequences of keeping secure these Brass Plates were noted by their fathers, both near and far, who emphasized their worth as spiritual guides and moral instructors by prophesying of their future: “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 all men should know of God’s goodness, and of His great purposes which without these Plates would not be to the understanding of men.