Book of Mormon Commentary - Alma 63

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
Commentary & Explanation
Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
             CHAPTER 63

Shiblon and later Helaman take possession of the sacred records—Many Nephites travel to the land northward—Hagoth builds ships, which sail forth in the west sea—Moronihah defeats the Lamanites in battle. [Between 56 and 53 B.C.]

Shiblon, son of Alma, and later Helaman, son of Helaman son of Alma, take possession of the Nephite sacred things and records—Many Nephites and Lamanites travel into the land northward—Hagoth builds ships, which sail forth into the west sea to the land north and some that are 'lost'—Moronihah defeats the Lamanites in battle. [Between 56 and 53 B.C.]
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 aShiblon took possession of those bsacred things which had been delivered unto Helaman by Alma.
2 And he was a just man, and he did walk uprightly before God; and he did observe to do good continually, to keep the commandments of the Lord his God; and also did his brothera.

 2a also did his brother Corianton's story of repentance is a success story. Helaman had died, the records were given to righteous Shiblon and in passing it is memtioned that like Shiblon, his brother Corianton did keep the commandments of the Lord his God also.  1* [56 B.C.]
   a Alma 38:1-2; Alma 49:30
   b Mosiah 1:3; Alma 37:1 (1-12);
      TG Sacred
3 And it came to pass that aMoroni died alsoa. And thus ended the thirty and sixth year of the reign of the judges.
4 And it came to pass that in the *thirty and seventh year of the reign of the judges, there was a large company of men, even to the amount of five thousand and four hundred men, with their wives and their children, departed out of the land of Zarahemla into the land which was anorthward.

 3a Moroni died also Moroni dies in the 36th year of the judges, which was about 56 B.C. Now Zoram was the chief captain from at least 81 B.C. to 78 B.C. And Moroni was age 25 when he was made chief captain over the Nephite army which is recorded in Alma chapter 43 at the date of 74 B.C. Whether Moroni was appointed that same year or before is not exactly clear, but Moroni would have been only in his 40's between 43-47 years old regardless when he died. [((78-56=22)+25= 47) to ((74-56=18)+25= 43)]. Now Moroni had fought in many battles and had received wounds. And thus it must be considered as a likely cause of his realatively early death. It also means that his son Moronihah was of a young age when he became the next chief captain, likely only in his 20's as well.  3a See Alma chapters 43-63 for his
     great contributions
 4* [55 B.C.]
   a Alma 22:31; Alma 46:17; Hel. 3:3
5 And it came to pass that Hagoth, he being an aexceedingly curious man, therefore he went forth and built him an exceedingly large ship, on the borders of the land bBountiful, by the land Desolation, and launched it forth into the west seaa, by the cnarrow neck which led into the land northward.
6 And behold, there were many of the Nephites who did enter therein and did sail forth with much provisions, and also many women and children; and they took their course northward. And thus ended the thirty and seventh year.

NOTE: This simple map of the narrow neck, the land of Bountiful, the supposed landing of Lehi and departure of Hagoth, is not to be presumed to be totally accurate as actual geography will understandably vary from any such simpification. 		 5a on the borders of the land Bountiful, by the land Desolation, and launched it forth into the west sea When Joseph Smith states the Lehi landed a little south of the Isthmus of Darien (TPJS p.267), and the Book of Mormon records that Hagoth launched his ship(s) into the west sea on the border of Bountiful by the land Desolation, it must be considered that Hagoth did launch his ships back into the Pacific aproximately in the same land regions of Lehi's landing, the 'bounteous' land of Bountiful (1 Nephi 18:23-24). That the distance from the east sea to the west sea across the narrow neck at the northern border of the land between Bountiful an Desolation was at this time before the time of Christ was one and a half day's travel distance for a Nephite is established by he Book of Mormon (Alma 22:32). A later statement concerning another more southern such distance across the 'narrow neck' on a line of defense, likely from the city Bountiful was of a lesser travel distance of a day and a half for a Nephite is also recorded (Helaman 4:7).  5a Hel. 3:10, 14
   b Alma 53:3-4; Hel. 1:23
   c Alma 22:32; Morm. 2:29; Ether 10:20

Currents and Trade Winds 
The currents and trade winds along the Isthmus of Darien and the Americas either favor sailing up or down the coast of Central America depending upon the season. Upon the occasion, when the season changes a ship may be carried out to sea, out upon the Pacific Ocean and away from land. The ONLY occasion upon which the current and trades come from the west and toward the western coast of the Isthmus is during the time of El Nino, such as when Nephi & Lehi landed from the west. A Polynesian tradition is that it is when such a change in the normal trades and winds does occur out in the Islands of the Pacific, that they are able to sail back to the land from whence they came, their original home land, America.
7 And in the thirty and eighth year, this man built aother ships. And the first ship did also return, and many more people did enter into it; and they also took much provisions, and set out again to the land northward.
8 And it came to pass that they were never heard of more. And we suppose that they were drowned in the depths of the sea. And it came to pass that one other ship also did sail forth; and whither she did go we know not.
9 And it came to pass that in this year there were many people who went forth into the land anorthward. And thus ended the thirty and eighth year.

 7a Hel. 3:10
 9a Hel. 3:12 (11-12); Hel. 6:6
10 And it came to pass in the *thirty and ninth year of the reign of the judges, aShiblon died also, and Corianton had gone forth to the land northward in a ship, to carry forth provisions unto the people who had gone forth into that land.
11 Therefore it became expedient for aShiblon to confer those sacred things, before his death, upon the son of bHelaman, who was called cHelaman, being called after the name of his father.

 10* [53 B.C.]
     a Alma 31:7
 11a Alma 63:1
     b See heading Book of Helaman
     c Hel. 3:37
12 Now behold, all those aengravings 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 bnot go forth.
13 Nevertheless, these things were to be kept sacred, and ahanded down from one generation to another; therefore, in this year, they had been conferred upon Helaman, before the death of Shiblon.

 12a Alma 18:36; 3 Ne. 1:2
     b Alma 37:27-32
 13a Alma 37:4
14 And it came to pass also in this year that there were some dissenters who had gone forth unto the Lamanites; and they were astirred up again to anger against the Nephites.
15 And also in this same year they came down with a numerous army to war against the people of aMoronihah, or against the army of Moronihah, in the which they were beaten and driven back again to their own lands, suffering great loss.

 14a Alma 51:9; Hel. 4:4
 15a Alma 62:43
16 And thus ended the thirty and ninth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.
17 And thus ended the account of aAlma, and Helaman his son, and also Shiblon, who was his son.

 17a Alma 1:2 (1-2)
* Verse 1 [56 B.C.]; Verse 4 [55 B.C.]; Verse 10 [53 B.C.].
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