Shiblon survives his brother by only three years. In about 55 BC Shiblon needs to pass on the plates and the responsibility for them. He is unable to pass them to his brother Corianton, for Corianton is one who has gone north. It should be noted, however, that Corianton was apparently deemed worthy of consideration. This suggests that he turned his life around after the incident during the preaching to the Zoramites, about which his father gave him such explicit charge in Alma 39-42.
Without an appropriate same-generation family member to whom the plates may be entrusted, Shiblon turned to the next generation. While it is possible that Shiblon did not have sons to whom the responsibility could be passed, it is also possible that Shiblon was caring for the plates in the stead of his brother. The “rights” to the plates would still pass through Helaman even though they were temporarily in the care of his brother, Shiblon.