As Alma turn his attention to Shiblon, his second son, he must have felt some very special tender feelings toward him. During the mission to the Zoramites Shiblon had received extremely brutal treatment. He had been held captive, bound down in a helpless condition and eventually stoned. The scripture says he was saved only by the intervention of the Lord. Alma knew what it was like to put his life on the line as a servant of God. He had done it a number of times. Alma opened his remarks to Shiblon much as he had to Helaman.
It is obvious that Alma had great hopes for Shiblon as a pillar of strength in the kingdom. He had already been deeply impressed by his performance among the Zoramites. He said:
“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. 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. 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.”
“For I Say Unto You Even as I Said Unto Helaman”
As Alma turn his attention to Shiblon, his second son, he must have felt some very special tender feelings toward him. During the mission to the Zoramites Shiblon had received extremely brutal treatment. He had been held captive, bound down in a helpless condition and eventually stoned. The scripture says he was saved only by the intervention of the Lord. Alma knew what it was like to put his life on the line as a servant of God. He had done it a number of times. Alma opened his remarks to Shiblon much as he had to Helaman.
It is obvious that Alma had great hopes for Shiblon as a pillar of strength in the kingdom. He had already been deeply impressed by his performance among the Zoramites. He said:
“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. 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. 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.”