War Ends and Alma Questions Helaman

The Nephites were very happy because the Lord had delivered them from their enemies again. They thanked the Lord their God, fasted and prayed often, and worshiped Him with great joy. In 73 BC, the nineteenth year of judges’ reign, Alma visited his son, Helaman, and asked, “Do you believe what I said about the records that have been kept?” Helaman answered, “Yes, I believe.” Alma then asked, “Do you believe in Jesus Christ, who will come?” “Yes, I believe all the words you have spoken,” answered Helaman. Alma asked, “Will you keep my commandments?” Helaman answered, “Yes, I will keep your commandments with all my heart.” Then Alma said, “You are blessed, and the Lord will prosper you in this land. I have a prophecy to tell you, but do not tell it to anyone, for it must not be known until it is fulfilled. For now, only write it down. This is the prophecy: I perceive that this very people, the Nephites, (according to the spirit of revelation in me), will falter in unbelief 400 years after Jesus Christ shows Himself to them. At that time, they will have wars, pestilences, drought, and bloodshed—even until they become extinct! This will happen after they receive great light and knowledge, for not even four generations will pass before they become unbelieving, and work in darkness, and become full of all types of sinfulness. When that great day comes, the time is near when our descendants will no longer be counted with the Nephites. Our Nephite descendants who survive that great and dreadful day will be counted with the Lamanites, and will become like them, except for a few—the Lord’s disciples, all of whom the Lamanites will hunt down and kill. And because of great sinfulness, this prophecy will be fulfilled.”

After Alma said this to Helaman, he blessed him, and also his other sons. Then Alma blessed the earth for the sake of the righteous. He said, “The Lord God says, ‘This land will be cursed to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—even to destruction—who become fully ripe in wickedness.’ It will be as I have said, for this is God’s cursing and blessing upon the land. The reason for this curse is that the Lord cannot allow any degree of sin to be acceptable in His sight.”

After blessing the earth, Alma blessed those in the church who would stand firm in the faith from that time forward. Then Alma left the land of Zarahemla and went toward the land of Melek. He was never heard of again, and we know nothing of his death or burial.

We know that he was a righteous man. Among the church members, it was widely believed that Alma was taken up by the Spirit, or buried by the hand of the Lord, like Moses.

In the beginning of 73 BC, Alma’s son Helaman went among the people to declare God’s word to them. Because of their wars with the Lamanites, and because of the many little dissensions and disturbances that had been among the people, it became necessary for God’s word to be declared, and for the church to be regulated.

Helaman and his brothers established the church once again, appointing priests and teachers in every city throughout all the Nephite lands. But after the church was established, a dissension arose among those who refused to listen to Helaman or his brethren. They grew proud, lifting themselves up because of their great riches. They grew rich in their own eyes, and would not listen to God’s words nor walk uprightly before Him.