Alma 45

In this extraordinarily intimate account, Alma passes on the plates to his son Helaman, and prophesies the destruction of the Nephite nation, the fall of the great and spacious building at the end of Nephi’s dream.  I think that Alma named Helaman for his best friends’ uncle, the brother of Mosiah II–what kind of a man was he?  I imagine a prince, highly educated, trained in diplomacy and war.  Alma’s son Helaman seems to be the one who most appreciated his father’s literary interests, the types and shadows, the symbolism of their own people’s epic journey.  I wonder, if Helaman had lived in more peaceful times, whether he’d have been a poet.  As it was, of course, he was the first choice for commander of the young Anti-Nephi-Lehites, the sons of Helaman, and led them to their incredible victories, backed by their invincible faith.

Alma becomes the first of five Nephites (that we know of) to be translated.  In Alma 29, Alma cries,

O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!  Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth.  But behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish; for I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me.  I ought not to harrow up in my desires, the firm decree of a just God, for I know that he granteth unto men according to their desire, whether it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills, whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction. (Alma 29:1-4)

Alma got his heart’s desire.  We see him again some 2000 years later, again in the context of Nephi’s vision of the Tree of Life, working with another translated being, Siddhārtha Gautama.

(Edit, 2009-01-26: Karen guessed the reference above: Indiana Jones and the Tree of Life )