The Records

As Alma gave his last charge to Helaman, he asked him, “Believest thou the words which I spake unto thee concerning these records which have been kept?”  (Alma 45:2)  He was likely referring to the counsel that he gave to “keep a record of this people” in which he promised that the Lord would “keep and preserve for a wise purpose in him” and “show forth his power unto future generations” (Alma 37:2, 14).  After this question and a couple others, Alma told Helaman about a rather unusual prophecy regarding the future of the Nephites.  He said to Helaman, “Behold, I perceive that this very people, the Nephites, according to the spirit of revelation which is in me, in four hundred years from the time that Jesus Christ shall manifest himself unto them, shall dwindle in unbelief” (Alma 45:10). Why would Alma tell Helaman this?  What purpose did it serve for Helaman to know this?  It almost seems that it would be more discouraging than anything else to know that the people you are working so hard for would in later generations eventually all lose their way.  I think that perhaps what Alma was trying to say with this discussion of records and apostasy was, “Helaman, these records are more important than you can possibly imagine and they will be preserved.  Later generations of this people will need the records even more than you can possibly realize—so be sure to keep the record and keep it sacred!”  Earlier Alma had told Helaman that the records would be kept “for a wise purpose in [God], that he may show forth his power unto future generations” (Alma 37:14).  And of course we are now part of those future generations to which the Lord will show forth His power through the scriptures.  We should be forever grateful for prophets like Alma and Helaman who faithfully kept and preserved the scriptural records so that we would be blessed.