# Alma 63

*Paraphrase*

### Shiblon Receives the Sacred Records

At the start of the thirty-sixth year of the judges’ reign, Shiblon took charge of the sacred things that Alma had passed down to Helaman. He was a good man who lived right before God. He kept the Lord’s commandments consistently, and so did his brother. That same year, Moroni died. And so the thirty-sixth year came to a close.

### Hagoth’s Ships Sail North

The next year, a large group—5,400 men plus their wives and children—left Zarahemla and headed north. A man named Hagoth was extremely inventive. He built a huge ship on the coast of Bountiful, near the land of Desolation, and launched it into the West Sea by the narrow neck that led north. Many Nephites boarded the ship with plenty of supplies, along with women and children, and sailed north. That was the end of the thirty-seventh year.

The following year, Hagoth built more ships. The first ship returned, and even more people boarded it with fresh supplies and set out again for the north. They were never heard from again. We believe they drowned in the deep sea. Another ship also sailed out, but we don’t know where it went. That year, many more people traveled north. And so the thirty-eighth year ended.

### The Records Pass to Young Helaman

In the thirty-ninth year, Shiblon died. Corianton had already gone north by ship, carrying supplies to the people who had settled there. Before he died, Shiblon passed the sacred things on to Helaman’s son, who was also named Helaman after his father.

All the engravings that Helaman had were copied and shared throughout the land—except for the parts Alma had commanded should not be made public. Still, these things had to be kept sacred and passed down through the generations. So that year, before Shiblon died, they were given to Helaman.

### Conflict Flares Again

Also that year, some Nephite rebels went over to the Lamanites and stirred up anger against the Nephites again. They came down with a large army to attack Moronihah’s people. But they were defeated and driven back to their own lands with heavy losses. And so the thirty-ninth year of the judges came to an end. This closes the record of Alma, his son Helaman, and his son Shiblon.

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*Source: [The Book of Mormon](https://bookofmormon.com/paraphrase/alma/63)*
