Alma 36-38 Study Guide

Alma 36-38 Study Guide – to be discussed April 3
Day 1: Read Alma 36:1-16, with headnote; Proverbs 1:7; 2 Corinthians 7:8-11
1. List Alma’s instructions to his son Helaman from Alma 36:1-3. What reason(s) did Alma give for his counsel?



2. According to Proverbs 1:7, what is the fear of the Lord? How did fear open the door to spiritual knowledge for Alma? Is faith necessary for this kind of fear?



3. What was the source of Alma’s exquisite pain and inexpressible horror? How long was he racked with these pains? Were they physical? Spiritual? Emotional?


BONUS: Read 2 Corinthians 7:8-11. What indications do we have that Alma’s sorrow was “Godly” sorrow?


Day 2: Read Alma 36:17-30
4. Whose words became Alma’s seed of faith when he was in that awful state? What did he DO to exercise or nourish that seed?


5. List the results of Alma’s experiment upon the word.




6. By what power was Alma delivered from spiritual captivity, or from the bondage of sin?


BONUS: Alma recorded in verse 19 that he could no longer remember his pains, and yet he recalled them in his counsel to his son Helaman. What do you think he meant when he said he could remember them no more?


EXTRA CREDIT: Compare the last three verses of Alma 36 with the first two verses. Underline or note words, phrases or thoughts that are repeated. Now work your way to the middle of the chapter, from both ends, finding words or thoughts that mirror each other. What is Alma’s central or pivotal point, framed toward the middle of this chapter?


Day 3: Read Alma 37:1-12; D&C 64:33; D&C 123:16-17
7. As Alma continued his counsel to Helaman, he entrusted five sacred relics into Helaman’s care. Name the first two of these relics as listed in the first few verses of this chapter. Why was the proper care and keeping of these relics so important to Alma? To us?


8. Read Alma 37:6-7 with D&C 64:33 and D&C 123:16-17. What do you think Alma meant when he talked about “small and simple things”?


9. List the proofs given by Alma as evidence of the power of keeping sacred records.
Day 4: Read Alma 37:13-20; D&C 82:3; D&C 1:38
10. What did Alma want Helaman to remember?


11. What was the strict warning if Helaman failed in his stewardship? Read also D&C 82:3. Are we under the same obligation?


12. Read D&C 1:38. What promises are associated with faithful keeping of sacred records?


Day 5: Read Alma 37:21-32
13. From Alma 37:21, what were the third and fourth sacred relics consigned to Helaman? What did Alma say regarding his reasons for including them?



14. What happened, ultimately, to the Jaredites (see chapter heading for Ether 15)? Why do you think Alma entreated Helaman to keep the fate of the Jaredite nation in the memories of his people?



15. Unto whom is this land cursed?


Day 6: Read Alma 37:33-47; Hebrews 11:16
16. From Alma 37:32-37, list first what Helaman was instructed to TEACH, then list what Alma told him to DO.



17. Name the fifth sacred relic entrusted to Helaman. What do the five sacred items have in common?


18. Read Hebrews 11:16 with Alma 37:45. What is the “far better land of promise” for which this and all promised lands are a type? How do we get there?


Day 7: Read Alma 38 with headnote
19. From Alma 38:1-3, list qualities Alma saw in his son Shiblon.



20. What did Alma want Shiblon to remember?



21. In what was Alma’s testimony rooted? List elements of the powerful testimony he bore.



BONUS: What counsel did Alma give to both Helaman and Shiblon?