A father's anxiety for the future welfare of his son was evident in Alma's appeal to Helaman to always keep the Lord's commandments. He saw that in so doing, Helaman would place himself among the great throng of those who in times past had prospered according to God's promises:
2 Ne. 1:20)
And thus being prepared to meet the Lamanites, they did not prosper against us. But the word of the Lord was verified, which He spake unto our fathers, saying that: Inasmuch as ye will keep My commandments ye shall prosper in the land. (Jarom 9)
For the Lord would not suffer, after He had led them out of Jerusalem and kept and preserved them from falling into the hands of their enemies, yea, He would not suffer that the words should not be verified, which He spake unto our fathers, saying that: Inasmuch as ye will not keep My commandments ye shall not prosper in the land. (Omni 6)
And now, my sons, I would that ye should remember to search them diligently, that ye may profit thereby; and I would that ye should keep the commandments of God, that ye may prosper in the land according to the promises which the Lord made unto our fathers. (Mosiah 1:6)
And behold, all that He requires of you is to keep His commandments; and He has promised you that if ye would keep His commandments ye should prosper in the land; and He never doth vary from that which He hath said; therefore, if ye do keep His commandments He doth bless you and prosper you. (Mosiah 2:22)
Behold, do ye not remember the words which He spake unto Lehi, saying that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep My commandments, ye shall prosper in the land? And again it is said that: Inasmuch as ye will not keep My commandments ye shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord. (Alma 9:13)
Alma took an oath, swearing to Helaman that the promise of the Lord is true, and that by keeping His commandments the blessings of the Lord would follow him always.Alma reminded Helaman of the bondage in which his fathers, the Children of Israel, were held in Egypt, and that none but the God Whom they, themselves, served, even the God of Abraham, and of Isaac and Jacob, could deliver them from its awful perils. Always keep in mind the power and the might of that One Who is powerful to save "for He surely did deliver them in their afflictions," he warned Helaman.