Put Their Trust in God

Towards the end of his life, Alma (the Younger) gave some important counsel to his son Helaman. Near the beginning of that message, he said this, “And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day.” After telling his own experience overcoming his many sins in his youth, he also said, “And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, God has delivered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me” (Alma 36:3, 27). I know that his testimony is true—as we trust in the Lord, He will always help us in our trials and troubles and afflictions. He may not always take away our problems, but He will support us through them as we put our trust in Him. So, the natural question is: what should we do to put our trust in Him?

                Alma highlighted three important things that Helaman needed to do, and I believe that these are crucial elements for all of us to trust the Lord. First, to trust Him we need to strive to keep His commandments. Alma said, “My son, give ear to my words; for I swear unto you, that inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land…. Ye ought to know as I do know, that inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land” (Alma 36:1, 30). He also said to Helaman, “I command you, my son Helaman, that ye be diligent in fulfilling all my words, and that ye be diligent in keeping the commandments of God as they are written” (Alma 37:20). As we strive to keep the commandments that the Lord has given us—such as paying tithing or partaking of the sacrament or keeping the Word of Wisdom—we are showing Him that we trust Him. Even when the world would suggest that those commandments are not important, as we strive to do what He has asked He can bless us and reward our efforts to trust Him.

Second, to trust Him we should also read His word. Alma was passing on the sacred records of scripture to Helaman, and he said this: “And these plates of brass, which contain these engravings, which have the records of the holy scriptures upon them, which have the genealogy of our forefathers, even from the beginning—Behold, it has been prophesied by our fathers, that they should be kept and handed down from one generation to another…. And now behold, if they are kept they must retain their brightness; yea, and they will retain their brightness; yea, and also shall all the plates which do contain that which is holy writ. Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise. And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls” (Alma 37:3-7). Alma wanted Helaman to understand how important those sacred records were for their people, and he urged Helaman to keep and preserve them properly. We of course don’t have a responsibility to preserve the scriptures like Helaman, but they can “retain their brightness” for us in our lives as we read and study them each day. Surely turning to the scriptures first, instead of only seeking out Google and AI and the other worldly sources, shows the Lord that we trust Him. His words were written for our day, and though the scriptures may seem insignificant to some, they will bring about His “great and eternal purposes.” I know that studying the scriptures each day is a powerful way to receive His help in our lives.

Lastly, Alma urged his son Helaman to turn to the Lord each day in prayer. He said, “Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever. Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day” (Alma 37:36-37). As we earnestly pray, both morning and night, we are showing Him that we place our trust in His ability to bless our lives. I know that there is great power in prayer as we sincerely turn to Him—prayer really “will change the night to day” as the hymn says. As we put our trust in Him through keeping His commandments, studying His word, and seeking Him in sincere prayer, we have this promise from Alma: we “shall be supported in [our] trials, and [our] troubles, and [our] affliction.”