“Shiblon Took Possession of Those Sacred Things”

Bryan Richards

Shiblon was the son of Alma the younger and brother to Helaman. He received counsel from his father, as recorded in Alma 38. His record, Alma chapter 63, could be accurately named the Book of Shiblon, but then Alma 45-62 could just as accurately be named the Book of Helaman (see heading for Alma 45). Certainly, Shiblon's father Alma had been translated long ago and had left the 'sacred things' to his sons Helaman and Shiblon. The phrase 'sacred things' is used because Shiblon received more than just records. Traditionally, the custodian of the plates would also receive the Liahona, the sword of Laban, and the Urim and Thummim (see Mosiah 1:16, Alma 37:21).

"The book of Alma in the Book of Mormon is made up of the records of three different writers: Alma and his sons, Helaman, and Shiblon. The record of Alma in the book of Alma is unique in that it comprises 22.6 percent of the entire Nephite record and yet covers only 18 years, or merely 1.76 percent of the entire 1021 years of Nephite history from 600 BC to AD 421. The record of Alma covers the first 44 chapters of the book of Alma, the 18 years from 91 to 73 BC. The record of Helaman makes up chapters 45-62, covering the 16 years from 73 to 57 BC. Mormon's abridgement of Shiblon's record constitutes the last chapter ("Alma 63:1Alma 63)." (Fred E. Woods, Alma, the Testimony of the Word, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, p. 305.)

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