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Book of Mormon Commentary
Alma Chapter 30
MANY LEADERS DIED, AND THERE WERE MIGRATIONS NORTHWARD, VER. 1-21
Alma 30:1 And it came to pass in the commencement of the thirty and sixth year of the reign of the
Judges over the people of Nephi, that Shiblon took possession of those sacred things which had been
delivered unto Helaman by Alma;
Both Shiblon and his older brother Helaman were spoken of by their father Alma as being in their
youth when they went to preach to the Zoramites. Helaman died eighteen years later, and his
successor in the custody of the sacred records lived only four years longer. This indicates a short
life span for both of them. (See A. 16:84; 29:63; 30:14.)
Concerning Shiblon, the historian said: "He was a just man, and he did walk uprightly before God"
(2).
In the thirty-sixth year "Moroni died also" (3). During the following year five thousand and four
hundred men, women, and children emigrated from Zarahemla to the land northward. The same
year Hagoth, “an exceeding curious man," built a large ship, loaded it "with much provisions" and
also many adventurous Nephites, and “launched it forth into the west sea, by the narrow neck
which led into the land north- ward" (6,7).
Alma 30:9 And in the thirty and eighth year, this man built other ships.
He seems to have been a successful shipbuilder, and doubtless these ships carried many of the
Nephites to a land vaguely referred to by position only as, "the land northward." The first large
ship returned, took on a second band of emigrants with provisions, and "they were never heard of
more, and we suppose that they were drowned up in the depths of the sea" (9-11). The record tells
of one other ship that went out and disappeared (12).
Shiblon died in the thirty-ninth year, and since Corianton, his younger brother, had gone on a
provision ship to the land northward and was not available, "the sacred things" were conferred by
Shiblon on his nephew, Helaman (14, 15).
Alma 30:16 Now behold, all those engravings which were in the possession of Helaman, were written
and sent forth among the children of men throughout all the land, save it were those parts which had
been commanded by Alma should not go forth.
The historian adds, "Nevertheless these things were to be kept sacred, and handed down from one
generation to another" (Alma 30:7). The copies made for distribution were held in reverence.
Because they had to use manual reproduction, they would not have been plentiful, nevertheless the
extra copies seemed to serve a good purpose, since they could be made available to more people.
Alma 30:18 And it came to pass also in this year, that there were some dissenters who had gone forth
unto the Lamanites; and they were stirred up again to anger against the Nephites.
The usual thing happened: the fighting blood of the Lamanites sent them again into Nephite land
against the army of Moronihah. And as usual, "they were beaten, and driven back to their own
lands, suffering great loss" (19).