This lesson covers Alma 36-39. In it we review the words of Alma to his sons Helaman, Shiblon and Corianton.

1. GIVE EAR TO MY WORDS
Gospel Doctrine Book of Mormon Lesson 29
Alma 36-39

2. INTRODUCTION
➤ ATOT: Sam playing whack-a-mole. When they
all popped up at once he looked up hopelessly
➤ Alma can relate
➤ Zoramites are way off base
➤ Alma & the dream team teach the
humble (seed parable)
➤ Converts are cast out and go to
Jershon
➤ Zoramites join with Lamanites, start
war
➤ Alma 35: 15-16
➤ When the world around him is
crumbling, he focuses his effort at
home,
➤ Lesson on parenting/management
strategies

3. ALMA SHARES HIS TESTIMONY AND GIVES THE RECORDS TO HIS SON HELAMAN
➤ Alma 36-37 (to Helaman)
➤ Alma 36, Alma’s conversion (we discussed in previously)
➤ 36:3
➤ “In thy youth” - Alma was probably in his late 30s when he saw
the angel. What a difference a few more decades of faith could
have made.
➤ We are supported “in” our trials
➤ Joseph Smith “…all things that we have to do with in the
world, whether they are adversity or prosperity, whether they
relate to ourselves or to others, if rightly appreciated and
understood, may teach us a lesson that will be to our joy,
probably not only in time, but in all eternity.” (Journal of
Discourses, vol. 1, p. 366)

4. ALMA SHARES HIS TESTIMONY AND GIVES THE RECORDS TO HIS SON HELAMAN
➤ 36:4-5
➤ Spiritual knowledge. Alma was a scriptoria and a scholar (this
whole chapter is a Chiasm)
➤ Why does he make such a point about where his knowledge
comes from?
➤ 36:5-16: Conversion story (we covered it in lesson 20)
➤ 36:17, His father’s testimony brought him back. Maybe that’s
why he took this time to teach his sons
➤ 36:24-26, He teaches what he did with that marvelous
conversion. He testifies of true joy.
➤ 36:30, Resounding message to every son
➤ How do we define “prosper”? The opposite of “cut off”.

5. ALMA PASSES THE PLATES TO HELAMAN
➤ Alma passes the plates to Helaman (lots of them - enough to fill a wagon
according to Orson Pratt )
➤ 37:5, this must have been a huge, boring task. Helaman is ‘royalty’
why should do it?
➤ ATOT: Karate Kid painting the fence
➤ 37:6-7, small and simple things
➤ How many of my stay-at-home mom tasks fit into this category?
➤ Hellen Keller, ”I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is
my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and
noble.”
➤ How have you seen small, simple things bring greatness?
➤ Alma’s warning, 36:15-16

6. ALMA WARNS HELAMAN ABOUT THE SECRET WORKS
➤ 36:21-31: Summarize
➤ 24 plates that contain secret works that brought down the Jaredites
➤ Alma tells Helaman what to teach instead
➤ 37:32, hatred of sin
➤ 37:33, repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, humility
➤ 37:34, don’t be weary of good works, how do we “find” rest?
➤ 37:35, keep commandments from thy youth
➤ 37:36-37, cry unto the Lord for support, direction, help
➤ ATOT: How often do you check your phone? It’s probably the first thing you see and the last
thing you check. It is the first thing I grab when I have a question. Prayer should be like that
for us.
➤ 37:44-46, Alma’s life hasn’t been easy. What is he talking about?
➤ The “Sunday School Answers” seem too easy. We discount them and search for
more.

7. ALMA’S TEACHING TO SHIBLON
➤ Alma bears his testimony and shares
his conversion story to Shiblon too.
➤ Watch for parenting strategies
➤ 38:1-3, Alma praises his goodness
➤ 38:4, Shiblon’s lot hasn’t been
easy. Alma acknowledges that.
➤ ATOT: Sarah’s happy personality, it
takes work!
➤ 38:5-7, He reminds Shiblon of his
testimony
➤ 38:11-12, Alma’s warnings
➤ Why do the righteous need
warning?
➤ “bridle” to direct your power
for good

8. ALMA ADMONISHES CORIANTON TO REPENT
➤ Helaman and Shiblon had been living righteously. Corianton struggled. He
committed adultery while on his mission.
➤ Do you think they were raised differently? Can we take comfort in the fact
that Alma had this struggle?
➤ 39:2-4, He shows him his 4 big mistakes
➤ 1. Didn’t give heed to my words
➤ 2. Pride
➤ 3. Forsake the ministry (stopped serving)
➤ 4. Adultery
➤ 39:7-8, Why does Alma remind Corianton of his mistakes?
➤ 1. “Guilt alerts us to the spiritual chasm between us and our maker"
➤ 2. Train example from 2010 Gen conference

9. LARRY LAWRENCE (SEVENTY)
“Imagine for a moment that your daughter
was sitting on the railroad tracks and you
heard the train whistle blowing. Would you
warn her to get off the tracks? Or would you
hesitate, worried that she might think you
were being overprotective? If she ignored
your warning, would you quickly move her
to a safe place? Of course you would! Your
love for your daughter would override all
other considerations. You would value her
life more than her temporary goodwill.
Challenges and temptations are coming at
our teenagers with the speed and power of a
freight train. As we are reminded in the
family proclamation, parents are responsible
for the protection of their children. 1 That
means spiritually as well as physically.”

10. ALMA TEACHES CORIANTON
➤ 38:9, Cross yourself (see footnote)
➤ How can we do that? What barriers do we set up to help us
stay focused on our goals?
➤ 38:10, He tells him where to look for good examples. Why? Alma
is leaving soon.
➤ 38:11, He helps him understand the consequences of his actions
➤ 38:12-13, He reminds him where this counsel is really coming
from
➤ We can use the Family Proclamation quote (next slide)
➤ Why is it important to acknowledge his faults? How did that
help Alma?

11. FAMILY PROCLAMATION
HUSBAND AND WIFE have a
solemn responsibility to love and
care for each other and for their
children. “Children are an heritage
of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents
have a sacred duty to rear their
children in love and righteousness,
to provide for their physical and
spiritual needs, and to teach them
to love and serve one another,
observe the commandments of God,
and be law-abiding citizens
wherever they live. Husbands and
wives—mothers and fathers— will
be held accountable before God for
the discharge of these obligations.

12. ALMA TEACHES CORIANTON OF HIS WORTH
➤ 39:14, He gives specific warnings
➤ Seek not after riches
➤ 39:15, He reminds him of Christ and the hope of repentance
➤ Knowing what we know about Alma, this must have been powerful
➤ 39:16, He reminds him of his mission, call to action.
➤ Why does Alma encourage him to resume his mission despite his
flaws and weaknesses?
➤ Alma 32:28, Give place
➤ In order to make room for the good God expects of us. We must
make place. We need to remove the obstacles, cross ourselves
and serve.

13. “
Our sins have an impact on others. Even though we may
think they only affect us personally. Gordon B. Hinckley:
“Whenever you step over the line in an immoral act or in
doing any other evil thing, the Church is that much
weaker...When you stand true and faithful, it is that much
stronger. Each one of you counts.”
“You parents of the willful and the wayward: Don’t give them
up. Don’t cast them off They are not utterly lost. The
shepherd will find his sheep. They were his before they were
yours – long before he entrusted them to your care; and you
cannot begin to love them as he loves them…Our Heavenly
Father is far more merciful, infinitely more charitable, than
even the best of his servants, and the Everlasting Gospel is
mightier in power to save than our narrow finite minds can
comprehend. - J. Rueben Clark, Address at BYU, May 3, 1955