Alma 50:38

nevertheless, he had refused Alma to take possession of those records and those things which were esteemed by Alma and his fathers to be most sacred; therefore Alma had conferred them upon his son Helaman.

But he had said no when Alma asked him to take care of the records and the sacred things that Alma and his fathers had kept. So Alma gave them to his son Helaman.

He had declined to take possession of the sacred records and treasures that Alma and his fathers considered most holy. Alma had given them instead to his son Helaman.