Alma praised his son Shiblon for his “steadiness and…faithfulness” (Alma 38:2). He later urged another of his sons, Corianton, to observe Shiblon’s “steadiness…, his faithfulness, and his diligence in keeping the commandments of God,” and to follow his example (Alma 39:1).
Alma had experienced firsthand the prosperity that a group of people can enjoy when they are steady (Alma 1:29).
Relationships are built on trust, and trust is earned by reliable behavior. When you see a person make wise decisions consistently over time, you trust them to make similar decisions in the future. Their steadiness gives you confidence.
It’s often said that trust is hard to gain but easy to lose. That’s because we are only willing to predict behavior when we have observed a consistent pattern of behavior over time. If the behavior is erratic, or if we see an action that contradicts the pattern, we don’t know what to predict any more.
Elder Richard J. Maynes has emphasized the importance of consistency in earning the trust of God:
Earning the Lord’s trust comes as a result of being true to the covenants we have made in the waters of baptism and in the holy temple. When we keep our promises to the Lord, His trust in us grows.
He also emphasized steadiness as a requirement to earn and retain the trust of others. One of his daughters wrote:
One of the most important things to me is knowing that as my husband goes about his day, he is making choices that show respect and love toward me. When we can trust each other in this way, it brings peace to our home, where we can enjoy raising our family together (“Earning the Trust of the Lord and Your Family,” General Conference, October 2017).
Today, I will remember that my steadiness forms the foundation for all of my relationships. I will remember the importance of behaving consistently with integrity so that others can trust me. I will also remember that keeping my covenants with God enables me to earn His trust.
Book of Mormon Study Notes 