Alma Ch37

After his conversion story, Alma tells Helaman about the records he was given by King Mosiah and have been adding to since then. Some of the records contain stories of the Jaredites and many counsels from the Lord from previous prophets. Just like the Liahona that guided Lehi's family, the scriptures are a guide for men on earth.
Helaman is given charge of the records that have been kept since Nephi, and told to keep a record of the happenings of the people for a wise purpose being handed down from generation to generation telling the mysteries of God (v1-4). It is important to keep them hidden from the majority of the people because they are holy writ and will be the means that great workings of the Lord will come to pass to bring salvation to many souls (v5-7). Keeping records like this helps the people remember the past and learn from them, just like how Ammon converted the people of Lamoni, and how many more will be converted according to the words of God because only He knows what they will be used for in the future (v8-12).
Then Helaman is reminded that when you are given a commandment and entrusted with sacred things, you have the responsibility to do as commanded lest ye be cut off from His presence and the sacred things be taken away from you (v13-15). On the other hand, for being faithful you will be blessed and made sure that no power of earth or hell can take them from you ever (v16-18). The Lord wants His children to return to Him and be blessed, and these records are the tool He plans (and does) use to give everyone the chance to be saved (v19-20).
There have been times in the past that the people have been so wicked they were destroyed, and among the records that are handed down to Helaman, there is the record of the Jaredites who were one of those wicked people (v21). They kept records of secret combinations and ended up loosing the blessings of prosperity because they would not give up their secret works and repent (v22-26). When their wicked ways and evil oaths had been revealed, they did not hide their abominations or change their ways, and they would kill any prophet who tried to save them (v27-30). Because of their awful wickedness, the people were cursed and destroyed (v31).
From theses records, we should learn to teach our children and people to have an everlasting hatred against sin and iniquity and to always repent, humble themselves, withstand temptation, always do good works, and remember to keep the commandments of God (v32-35). When we pray for help on all these things, we are directed and counseled by the lord to help us live day by day with the Lord by our side and in our hearts (v36-37). Just as the Lehona guided Lehi and his family by faith, we can be guided by the Lord according to the faith we place in Him (v38-40). At times we may be lazy and slip in our diligence in following by faith the guidance we receive, but we can pick ourselves back up and learn from our afflictions (v41-45). Yes, it is easier to be lazy, but in the end it will not make us happy (v46-47).