In blessing his son, Shiblon, Alma repeated what he beforetime had promised Helaman when that worthy pronounced a father's blessing upon the head of his eldest son. To bless his sons, when age made uncertain the length of time a patriarch would dwell with his children here below, was a sacred rite which had been inherited by the Nephites from their forefathers, the Israelites who dwelt in the Land of Jerusalem. This promised blessing was first made by the Lord, Himself, to the Prophet Nephi and to all those who would keep the commandments of God, and it was oft repeated by His servants. It was that "inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land; and inasmuch as ye will not keep the commandments of God ye shall be cast off from My presence." (Mosiah 1-7)
The aged Alma, feeling that his time upon Earth was getting short, took delight, and great satisfaction in acknowledging to Shiblon that his integrity and faithfulness unto God brought his father unmeasurable joy. Shiblon was yet very young, but notwithstanding his youth, he evinced remarkable steadiness. His devotion to duty, his bearing toward those among whom he labored, his compassion for the afflicted, his patience under trial, his long-suffering when persecution threatened to rob him of his faith in God and in his calling, filled his father's heart with gladness. That Shiblon would always remain faithful in keeping the Lord's commandments was Alma's heartfelt desire, for he said, "Blessed is he that endureth to the end." Alma, a short time before this father-son episode, took Shiblon to Antionum to preach the Gospel of Christ to the Zoramites, and there he had seen manifest the rather uncommon qualities in Shiblon's character that made of him a great preacher of righteousness.
“I Trust That I Shall Have Great Joy in You”
In blessing his son, Shiblon, Alma repeated what he beforetime had promised Helaman when that worthy pronounced a father's blessing upon the head of his eldest son. To bless his sons, when age made uncertain the length of time a patriarch would dwell with his children here below, was a sacred rite which had been inherited by the Nephites from their forefathers, the Israelites who dwelt in the Land of Jerusalem. This promised blessing was first made by the Lord, Himself, to the Prophet Nephi and to all those who would keep the commandments of God, and it was oft repeated by His servants. It was that "inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land; and inasmuch as ye will not keep the commandments of God ye shall be cast off from My presence." (Mosiah 1-7)
The aged Alma, feeling that his time upon Earth was getting short, took delight, and great satisfaction in acknowledging to Shiblon that his integrity and faithfulness unto God brought his father unmeasurable joy. Shiblon was yet very young, but notwithstanding his youth, he evinced remarkable steadiness. His devotion to duty, his bearing toward those among whom he labored, his compassion for the afflicted, his patience under trial, his long-suffering when persecution threatened to rob him of his faith in God and in his calling, filled his father's heart with gladness. That Shiblon would always remain faithful in keeping the Lord's commandments was Alma's heartfelt desire, for he said, "Blessed is he that endureth to the end." Alma, a short time before this father-son episode, took Shiblon to Antionum to preach the Gospel of Christ to the Zoramites, and there he had seen manifest the rather uncommon qualities in Shiblon's character that made of him a great preacher of righteousness.