Shiblon

According to the Book of Mormon, Shiblon (/ˈʃɪb.lʌn/^[1]) was a Nephite missionary and record-keeper. He was the second son of Alma the Younger, who was the first chief judge. Circa 74 BC (17th year of the reign of the judges), Shiblon went with his father, younger brother Corianton, and 5 others (Amulek, Zeezrom, Ammon, Aaron, Omner, and Himni),^[2] on a mission to proselytize to the Zoramites in Antionum, while his older brother Helaman stayed behind. The group witnessed the peculiar worshiped of the Zoramites in their congregations, including praying to the Rameumptom.

Zoramite mission

At the beginning of the Zoramite mission, Alma prayed for Shiblon and the group for the Lord to sustain and guide them. Afterwards as Alma clapped his hands on them and each was filled with the Holy Spirit; each went separate ways to begin their missions.^[3] Through faith and prayer, they succeeded among the poorer classes, who had been shunned from other churches because of their lowly appearance.^[4]

Alma's counsel

In 73 BC, during Shiblon's mission to the Zoramites, Alma gave him counsel and advice.^[5] From these instructions, we learn that Shiblon was held in bonds and stoned for the Word's sake. According to Alma, Shiblon bore all things with patience because the Lord was with him. We also discover the following strengths and weaknesses that Shiblon may have possessed through the words of counsel that Alma gives:

Strengths

• Steady and faithful to God since youth
• Diligent, patient, and long-suffering

Possible weaknesses

• Remember to trust God
• Continue to preach, do not be idle
• Be diligent and temperate, do not be overpassionate
• Do not be proud or boastful, be humble and sober
• Be bold but do not domineer

Importance of continual encouragement

Shiblon appears to obey his father's teachings; Alma advises that adult children need continual direction and encouragement from their fathers regardless of the child's maturity and station.

Record-keeping in later years

Circa 56 BC (36th year of the judges), Shiblon inherited the records and other items from his brother Helaman. He kept them for three years, then realized he would soon die. Because he could not deliver them to Corianton who had gone north in a ship, he gave them to his nephew Helaman II. As he predicted, he died shortly afterwards, circa 53 BC.

Family tree

Name origin and other uses

LDS scholar Hugh Nibley stated both names are probably related to the Arabic word shibl, "lion cub", and argued that Shiblon may have been a variant of Shiblom. His student Benjamin Urrutia further connected it with "Jaguar Cub" imagery of the Olmec people.^[6]

Shiblon is also a Nephite word for a weight of silver, equal to half a senine of gold, or a senum of silver. See Book of Mormon weights and measures.

See also

• Book of Mormon
• Alma the Younger

Notes