Remember
One
of the themes in Alma’s messages to his three sons was the invitation to “remember.” To Helaman Alma invited, “I would that ye
should do as I have done, in remembering the captivity of our fathers…. O remember, remember, my son Helaman, how
strict are the commandments of God…. And
now, remember, my son, that God has entrusted you with these things, which are
sacred…. O, remember, my son, and learn
wisdom in thy youth” (Alma 36:2, Alma 37:13-14, 35).
To his second son he said, “And now my son, Shiblon, I would that ye should remember that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day” (Alma 38:5). He likewise invited Corianton to remember the things of God. He said, “Oh, remember, and take it upon you, and cross yourself in these things…. And now remember, my son, if it were not for the plan of redemption, (laying it aside) as soon as they were dead their souls were miserable” (Alma 39:9, 42:11). So he wanted them to remember the scriptures, the commandments, the deliverance of God, and their ancestors who were in captivity. Perhaps one of the reasons that he focused so much on the idea of remembering was because of what he was taught by the angel on that first day when he turned is life around. The angel said to him, “Go, and remember the captivity of thy fathers in the land of Helam, and in the land of Nephi; and remember how great things he has done for them” (Mosiah 27:16). Alma had been taught the gospel as he was in his youth, but he had for a while failed to remember it he wandered in rebellion. After his conversion to the gospel, He did not want to forget anymore. I’m sure he must have kept those words from the angel in his mind for many years as he reflected on the great change that he went through. Remembering must have become a crucial part of his life as a disciple: remembering his former sins, remembering the words and example of his father, remembering the bondage that he and his family had been in before, and of course remembering the Savior’s atonement and mercy towards him. As he was giving his last counsel to his sons he wanted them also to realize that he would not always be around; they needed to understand what a true disciple was and remember it. Remembering was a crucial part of his existence and he wanted to be sure that his sons did not forget their God.
To his second son he said, “And now my son, Shiblon, I would that ye should remember that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day” (Alma 38:5). He likewise invited Corianton to remember the things of God. He said, “Oh, remember, and take it upon you, and cross yourself in these things…. And now remember, my son, if it were not for the plan of redemption, (laying it aside) as soon as they were dead their souls were miserable” (Alma 39:9, 42:11). So he wanted them to remember the scriptures, the commandments, the deliverance of God, and their ancestors who were in captivity. Perhaps one of the reasons that he focused so much on the idea of remembering was because of what he was taught by the angel on that first day when he turned is life around. The angel said to him, “Go, and remember the captivity of thy fathers in the land of Helam, and in the land of Nephi; and remember how great things he has done for them” (Mosiah 27:16). Alma had been taught the gospel as he was in his youth, but he had for a while failed to remember it he wandered in rebellion. After his conversion to the gospel, He did not want to forget anymore. I’m sure he must have kept those words from the angel in his mind for many years as he reflected on the great change that he went through. Remembering must have become a crucial part of his life as a disciple: remembering his former sins, remembering the words and example of his father, remembering the bondage that he and his family had been in before, and of course remembering the Savior’s atonement and mercy towards him. As he was giving his last counsel to his sons he wanted them also to realize that he would not always be around; they needed to understand what a true disciple was and remember it. Remembering was a crucial part of his existence and he wanted to be sure that his sons did not forget their God.
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