Alma Ch4

There are thousands of new converts in the chapter but also iniquity that hinders the progression of the church. With that, Alma quits his job as chief judge and devotes himself to preach to the church members full time.

The wars had stopped in year 6 but there was the effects of the wars of the previous year upon the people because of their losses (v1-2). They were humbled thinking that this was a punishment for their wickedness and many were more devoted to the church and others joined the church through baptism (v3-4). With in a year, there was now 3,500 church members and the whole of year 7 passed in peace but year 8 brought pride within the church because of their prosperity (v5-6). Alma was very sad to see the church members struggle with this pride through year 8 and start to contend with each other, and most grievously persecute others which caused the progress of the church to fail (v7-10).

Alma witnessed the example of church members leading nonbelievers to iniquity in year 9, he knew that the people who were transgressing were in danger for their unwillingness to help the needy (v11-13). The humble followers of Christ were persecuted, but the Spirit of the Lord was with them and their leader, Alma, who quit his job and let Nephihah, a wise man, to be elected as the new chief judge over the people of Nephi (v14-18). Alma devoted himself to saving the members of the church by bringing them to a remembrance of the word of God and bearing a pure testimony against the sins they were committing (v19-20). In the chapters to come, we will see the different sermons he gives in different cities and the reaction of the people in those cities.