If you remember anything about Corianton, maybe you remember that he’s the son of Alma who abandoned missionary work and messed up in sinful ways (see Alma 39:2–4).
But don’t forget this really important and awesome thing about Corianton: He repented!
Right after Alma has a talk with his son, we read that “the sons of Alma” resumed preaching (Alma 43:1–2)—apparently including Corianton. And every subsequent time that Alma’s sons are mentioned, they’re described as righteous.1
After Helaman died, the plates were passed to Shiblon. A few years later, “Shiblon died also, and Corianton had gone forth to the land northward in a ship, to carry provisions unto the people…. Therefore it became expedient for Shiblon to confer those sacred things, before his death, upon the son of Helaman” (Alma 63:10–11).
The implication is that if he hadn’t been out of the country on official business, Corianton would have received the plates next.
Whatever Alma and Corianton’s father-son relationship was like, these chapters of loving but stern correction are the only record we have. But it seems the heart-to-heart conversation worked!
Corianton is someone to admire.