Review of Alma(2)'s Sermon to the Church in Gideon

After preaching to the church in Zarahemla, Alma(2) left to check on the status of the church in Gideon.  While there, he gave a powerful sermon.

He explains to the church in Gideon he was not able to come sooner because of his responsibilities as the chief judge.  He is there because he resigned the chief judge position.

He came hoping the church would be strong in Gideon, unlike Zarahemla, which had many problems.  He expresses his joy that they are a righteous people. 

Alma(2) changes subjects by talking about the coming of the Savior.  He said that the time is soon coming when the Redeemer will come among his people.

He tells them he will not come among the Nephites at this time. He teaches that Christ will be born in the old world, the land from which they came. 

He would be born of a virgin, named Mary.  He would suffer both hardship and temptations.  He would die, and through His death, He would defeat death.  Through his death, we will be able to obtain forgiveness of our sins.

He tells the people they must repent, be baptized, and born again, if they hope to inherit the kingdom of heaven. Through repentance and baptism they will cleans their sin.  The result will be that they will have eternal life.

During this sermon, Alma(2) frequently testifies as to the truthfulness of his words.  He had received these words from the Holy Spirit.  He bears testimony based on his experiences and knowledge.

He testifies that the Lord cannot walk in crooked paths.  The paths of the Lord are straight.  He does not dwell in unholy temples.  No unclean thing can enter into the kingdom of God.  All must remove their filthiness or remain forever in their filthiness.

He tells the people to be humble, submissive, gentle, willing to help those in need, be patient and long-suffering, temperate in all things, diligent in keeping the commandments of God.  They are to have faith, hope, and charity, and constantly have good works.

He leaves them with the peace of God according to their faiths and good works, now and forever.

Alma(2) ends his visit and leaves to preaching in Melek.

In the October 1998 General Conference, Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin emphasized the importance of faith, hope, and charity.

“These divine attributes should become fixed in our hearts and minds to guide us in all of our actions … Charity can be the outward expression of faith and hope. If sought and obtained, these three foundation elements of celestial character will abide with us in this life and beyond the veil into the next life. Remember that the ‘same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that [you] go out of this life … will have power to possess your body in [the] eternal world.’ (Alma 34:34)  We should not wait a single day to intensify our personal efforts to strengthen these virtuous, lovely, and praiseworthy attributes.

“When we keep the Lord’s commandments, faith, hope, and charity abide with us ...  we prepare ourselves to stand with confidence before our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, ‘without blemish and without spot.’ (1 Peter 1:19)

“… I see that developing faith, hope, and charity within ourselves is a step-by-step process. Faith begets hope, and together they foster charity … These three virtues may be sequential initially, but once obtained, they become interdependent. Each one is incomplete without the others. They support and reinforce each other …

“These are the virtuous, lovely, praiseworthy characteristics we seek …”

In the April 2002 General Conference, Elder M. Russell Ballard discussed the peace of God.

“At one time or another I believe everyone yearns for the ‘peace of God, which passeth all understanding’ (Philip. 4:7). That peace for our troubled hearts only comes to us as we follow the Light of Christ …  it leads us to repent of sins and seek forgiveness … In every home, neighborhood, and community, we ought to strive for peace and never be party to stirring up contention or division.

“Throughout scriptural history, the Lord has promised peace to His followers … Just hours before He was to begin that glorious yet awful process of the Atonement, the Lord Jesus Christ made this significant promise to His Apostles: ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you’  (John 14:27).

“Was He promising His beloved associates the kind of peace the world recognizes—safety, security, with the absence of contention or tribulation? Certainly the historical record would suggest otherwise. Those original Apostles knew much of trial and persecution throughout the remainder of their lives, which is probably why the Lord added this insight to His promise: ‘Not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid’ (John 14:27) …

“Peace—real peace, whole-souled to the very core of your being—comes only in and through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. When that precious truth is discovered and gospel principles are understood and applied, great peace can distill in the hearts and souls of our Heavenly Father’s children. …”

These are powerful words.  The promises and teachings of Alma(2) are every bit applicable to us today as they were to the people of Gideon.  He tells of things we must do; he tells us of ways we must live; all he teaches us he does under the commandment of God. 

He bears testimony as to the truthfulness of his words.  If we “listen with our spiritual ears,” we will also learn the truthfulness of Alma(2)’s words.

Alma 7:14-27

14  Now I say unto you that ye must repent, and be born again; for the Spirit saith if ye are not born again ye cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye may be washed from your sins, that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness.

15  Yea, I say unto you come and fear not, and lay aside every sin, which easily doth beset you, which doth bind you down to destruction, yea, come and go forth, and show unto your God that ye are willing to repent of your sins and enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandments, and witness it unto him this day by going into the waters of baptism.

16  And whosoever doeth this, and keepeth the commandments of God from thenceforth, the same will remember that I say unto him, yea, he will remember that I have said unto him, he shall have eternal life, according to the testimony of the Holy Spirit, which testifieth in me.

Alma 7:14-16 (Emphasis mine)

After prophesying about Christ’s life, he reminds them they must be born again to inherit the kingdom of heaven.  The keys acts that must be performed are repentance and baptism.

Baptism is important because it is a witness to ourselves, the world, and God of our commitment to Christ.  It means we are willing to repent and promise to keep his commandments.

Noel Reynolds writes about the importance of this act.

“Not only must the repentant sinner cease sinning, he must make a positive commitment to the Savior to keep his commandments, to walk the straight and narrow path, as he comes unto Christ. This covenant to remember Christ always, to take the name of Christ upon himself, and to keep all of Christ's commandments, is part of this process of turning and coming-and therefore a crucial element of repentance. This is the covenant that is witnessed to God and all the world by the convert through the baptism of water. Alma articulates this plainly to the Nephites in Gideon when he invites them to ‘lay aside every sin" and "show unto your God that ye are willing to repent of your sins and enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandments, and witness it unto him this day by going into the waters of baptism’ (Alma 7:15; cf. 2 Nephi 31:7, 13—14).” (Emphasis mine)

The True Points of My Doctrine, Noel B. Reynolds, Maxwell Institute, accessed August 29, 2011.

Hugh Nibley writes:

“This is the object; this is what we're after. We're going to find out that everybody's going to have eternal life anyway. They cannot die, we learn later on. The resurrection has been taken care of. So why are we so worried about eternal life? Well, if it's going to be eternal, the quality's going to be rather important, isn't it? Where you spend it and how you spend it has a great deal to say if it's going to be eternal. The [point] is not to go on living in the sewer. That's the difference. ‘And now my beloved brethren, do you believe these things?’ he asks you. As I said before, there's never been any dispute about the atonement. It's a very interesting thing; even among the doctors of the church, that word has never been debated. ‘Do you believe these things?’ I know them by the spirit, he says.” (Emphasis mine)

Lecture 47: Alma 5-10, Hugh W. Nibley, Maxwell Institute, accessed August 29, 2011.

17  And now my beloved brethren, do you believe these things?  Behold, I say unto you, yea, I know that ye believe them; and the way that I know that ye believe them is by the manifestation of the Spirit which is in me.  And now because your faith is strong concerning that, yea, concerning the things which I have spoken, great is my joy.

18  For as I said unto you from the beginning, that I had much desire that ye were not in the state of dilemma like your brethren, even so I have found that my desires have been gratified.

19  For I perceive that ye are in the paths of righteousness;

       I perceive that ye are in the path which leads to the kingdom of God;

           yea, I perceive that ye are making his paths straight.

20  I perceive that it has been made known unto you,

        by the testimony of his word,

    that he cannot walk in crooked paths;

           neither doth he vary from that which he hath said;

           neither hath he a shadow of turning from the right to the left,

           or from that which is right to that which is wrong;

      therefore, his course is one eternal round.

21  And he doth not dwell in unholy temples; neither can filthiness or anything which is unclean be received into the kingdom of God; therefore I say unto you the time shall come, yea, and it shall be at the last day, that he who is filthy shall remain in his filthiness.

Alma 7:17-21 (Emphasis mine)

(Formatting in verses 19-20 found in The Book of Mormon – A Reader’s Edition by Grant Hardy, pg. 270.)

Alma(2) is pleased with the people.  The Spirit testified to him that the people of Gideon believe in his words and have been living the gospel.  They are on the strait and narrow path that leads to heaven. 

He then reminds them that no unclean things can be received into the kingdom of God.  All who are filthy shall remain in their filthiness forever.

16  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

17  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (Emphasis mine)

19  What?  know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

1 Corinthians 6:19 (Emphasis mine)

22  And now my beloved brethren, I have said these things unto you that I might awaken you to a sense of your duty to God, that ye may walk blameless before him, that ye may walk after the holy order of God, after which ye have been received.

23  And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.

24  And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works.

Alma 7:22–24 (Emphasis mine)

Alma(2) is beginning the end part of his sermon.  He explains to them that his words are so they may someday walk blameless for God. 

He gave the people of list of traits they should show.

• Humility
• Be submissive and gentle
• Easy to be entreated (willing to do things when asked)
• Be full of patience and long-suffering
• Be temperate (moderate) in all things
• Be diligent in keeping the commands at all times
• Ask for what things you need (both spiritual and temporal)
• Return thanks to God for what we receive
• Have faith, hope, and charity

This is quite a list.  If we are striving to live the way we should, these are things we all should be doing in our lives.

12  Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

Proverbs 18:12 (Emphasis mine)

25  And may the Lord bless you, and keep your garments spotless, that ye may at last be brought to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the holy prophets who have been ever since the world began, having your garments spotless even as their garments are spotless, in the kingdom of heaven to go no more out.

26  And now my beloved brethren, I have spoken these words unto you according to the Spirit which testifieth in me; and my soul doth exceedingly rejoice, because of the exceeding diligence and heed which ye have given unto my word.

27  And now, may the peace of God rest upon you, and upon your houses and lands, and upon your flocks and herds, and all that you possess, your women and your children, according to your faith and good works, from this time forth and forever.  And thus I have spoken.  Amen.

Alma 7:25–27 (Emphasis mine)

Alma(2) closes with a blessing on the people. 

14  Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

2 Peter 3:14 (Emphasis mine)

8  I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.

Psalms 85:8 (Emphasis mine)

1  MY son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

2  For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

Proverbs 3:1-2 (Emphasis mine)

27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 14:27 (Emphasis mine)

33  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

John 16:33 (Emphasis mine)

The sermon and blessings left my Alma(2) are all the more powerful because of his background.  M. Catherine Thomas writes:

“Perhaps among all the important things that one could learn from Alma, the account of his life gives us hope that there is a mighty power that can take a lost and fallen person and work a miraculous transformation. As one who has been redeemed, Alma can teach about the process of redemption and strengthen our faith that if we learn to work the principles that he did, we too can be born again and experience the joy promised in the scriptures, no matter who or what we have been.”

Alma the Younger, Part 2, M. Catherine Thomas, Maxwell Institute, accessed August 29, 2011.

Mosiah 21:17-36

17  Now there was a great number of women, more than there was of men; therefore king Limhi commanded that every man should impart to the support of the widows and their children, that they might not perish with hunger; and this they did because of the greatness of their number that had been slain.
18  Now the people of Limhi kept together in a body as much as it was possible, and secured their grain and their flocks;
19  And the king himself did not trust his person without the walls of the city, unless he took his guards with him, fearing that he might by some means fall into the hands of the Lamanites.
20  And he caused that his people should watch the land round about, that by some means they might take those priests that fled into the wilderness, who had stolen the daughters of the Lamanites, and that had caused such a great destruction to come upon them.
21  For they were desirous to take them that they might punish them; for they had come into the land of Nephi by night, and carried off their grain and many of their precious things; therefore they laid wait for them.

Mosiah 21:17-21 (Emphasis mine) 

 

As we learned in the last post, there had been wars and many of the army of Limhi had died.  One of the consequences of this was that the number of widows increased.  There were many who could not provide for themselves and their families now they were alone.

 

Limhi understood this and told his people that it is there responsibility to help  with the widows and their families.  Providing for them and their needs was a community responsibility.

 

James emphasizes the importance of taking care of the widows.  In his epistle, he wrote:  "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." (James 1:27/Emphasis mine)

In the October 2008 General Conference, Elder Richard G. Scott said:

"Be sensitive to the promptings of the Spirit in the use of that consummate privilege of acting in the name of the Lord through your priesthood. Be more aware of how you can make greater use of the power of the priesthood in the lives of those you love and serve. I am thinking particularly of individuals such as a widow in need who likely could benefit from the help of an understanding, compassionate priesthood bearer. Many such will never request help. Be aware of the range of challenges you could help meet in her home, such as the relief of anxieties through an inspired priesthood blessing or the need for small repairs." (Emphasis mine)

President Thomas S. Monson said that "... there are those who are lonely, including widows and widowers, who long for the company and the concern of others. May we ever be mindful of the needs of those around us and be ready to extend a helping hand and a loving heart." (Emphasis mine)

The Lamanites were still a concern.  Limhi would not leave the city without guards.  

 

Our old friends, Noah's priests continue to make their presence known.  They were raiding the land of Nephi, stealing grains and other things.  The people kept watch in hopes they could catch these priests and have them answer for all they had done.

22  And it came to pass that there was no more disturbance between the Lamanites and the people of Limhi, even until the time [about 121 B.C.] that Ammon and his brethren came into the land.
23  And the king having been without the gates of the city with his guard, discovered Ammon and his brethren; and supposing them to be priests of Noah therefore he caused that they should be taken, and bound, and cast into prison.  And had they been the priests of Noah he would have caused that they should be put to death.
24  But when he found that they were not, but that they were his brethren, and had come from the land of Zarahemla, he was filled with exceedingly great joy.

Mosiah 21:22-24 (Emphasis mine)

One day, Limhi was outside the walls of the city and came across a group of men.  Believing them to be the priests, he had them arrested and put into prison.  It was his intent that they be executed.  

Fortunately, it was learned that they were not the priests but that they had come from Zarahemla.  The leader of this group was named Ammon.

 

Who was this Ammon and what was he doing there?  We need to go back to an earlier chapter in Mosiah to understand Ammon and what he was doing. 

 

1 ...  [Mosiah] was desirous to know concerning the people who went up to dwell in the land of Lehi-Nephi, or in the city of Lehi-Nephi; for his people had heard nothing from them from the time they left the land of Zarahemla; therefore, they wearied him with their teasings.
2  And it came to pass that king Mosiah granted that sixteen of their strong men might go up to the land of Lehi-Nephi, to inquire concerning their brethren [about 121 B.C.].
3  And it came to pass that on the morrow they started to go up, having with them one Ammon, he being a strong and mighty man, and a descendant of Zarahemla; and he was also their leader.
Lehi-Nephi; therefore they wandered many days in the wilderness, even forty days did they wander.
5  And when they had wandered forty days they came to a hill, which is north of the land of Shilom, and there they pitched their tents.
6  And Ammon took three of his brethren, and their names were Amaleki, Helem, and Hem, and they went down into the land of Nephi.
7  And behold, they met the king of the people who were in the land of Nephi, and in the land of Shilom; and they were surrounded by the king's guard, and were taken, and were bound, and were committed to prison.

Mosiah 7:1-7 (Emphasis mine)

After all these years, and all the suffering the people of Limhi had been through, it is now wonder that they were delighted to see Ammon and his men.  They had not been forgotten.  There was hope for them now.

25  Now king Limhi had sent, previous to the coming of Ammon, a small number of men to search for the land of Zarahemla; but they could not find it, and they were lost in the wilderness.
26  Nevertheless, they did find a land which had been peopled; yea, a land which was covered with dry bones; yea, a land which had been peopled and which had been destroyed; and they, having supposed it to be the land of Zarahemla, returned to the land of Nephi, having arrived in the borders of the land not many days before the coming of Ammon.
27  And they brought a record with them, even a record of the people whose bones they had found; and it was engraven on plates of ore.
28  And now Limhi was again filled with joy on learning from the mouth of Ammon that king Mosiah had a gift from God, whereby he could interpret such engravings; yea, and Ammon also did rejoice.

Mosiah 21:25-28 (Emphasis mine)

Here we read of another reason for their joy.  Limhi had sent out a group in an attempt to find Zarahemla.  They got lost, but found a place with dead bodies and destruction.  They thought they had found what was left of Zarahemla.

Amongst the devastation, they found plates of ore with a record.  They were not able to read the writings on the plates.  These were what would be called "the plates of Ether."  (see Ether 1:2)  They were hidden by Ether before the final destruction of the Jaredites.  

"And the Lord spake unto Ether, and said unto him: Go forth.  And he went forth, and beheld that the words of the Lord had all been fulfilled; and he finished his record; (and the hundredth part I have not written) and he hid them in a manner that the people of Limhi did find them."

Ether 15:33 (Emphasis mine)

They returned and shared what they believed was the devastating news of the destruction of Zarahemla.

29  Yet Ammon and his brethren were filled with sorrow because so many of their brethren had been slain;
30  And also that king Noah and his priests had caused the people to commit so many sins and iniquities against God; and they also did mourn for the death of Abinadi; and also for the departure of Alma and the people that went with him, who had formed a church of God through the strength and power of God, and faith on the words which had been spoken by Abinadi.
31  Yea, they did mourn for their departure, for they knew not whither they had fled.  Now they would have gladly joined with them, for they themselves had entered into a covenant with God to serve him and keep his commandments.
32  And now since the coming of Ammon, king Limhi had also entered into a covenant with God, and also many of his people, to serve him and keep his commandments.
33  And it came to pass that king Limhi and many of his people were desirous to be baptized; but there was none in the land that had authority from God.  And Ammon declined doing this thing, considering himself an unworthy servant.
34  Therefore they did not at that time form themselves into a church, waiting upon the Spirit of the Lord.  Now they were desirous to become even as Alma and his brethren, who had fled into the wilderness.
35  They were desirous to be baptized as a witness and a testimony that they were willing to serve God with all their hearts; nevertheless they did prolong the time; and an account of their baptism shall be given hereafter.
36  And now all the study of Ammon and his people, and king Limhi and his people, was to deliver themselves out of the hands of the Lamanites and from bondage.

Mosiah 21:29-36 (Emphasis mine)

After stories had been shared, there was sadness on the part of Ammon and his group.  They were saddened by the deaths, by the wickedness of the people, and by the departure of Alma(1).  

The people of Limhi were ready to be baptized and be organized into a church like Alma(1) and his followers; however, Ammon, for whatever reason, did not feel himself to be worthy to baptize the people, so they would have to wait.

Then they planned a way to escape and obtain their freedom.

Mosiah 18:12-16

12  And now it came to pass that Alma took Helam, he being one of the first, and went and stood forth in the water, and cried, saying: O Lord, pour out thy Spirit upon thy servant, that he may do this work with holiness of heart.
13  And when he had said these words, the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he said: Helam, I baptize thee, having authority from the Almighty God, as a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve him until you are dead as to the mortal body; and may the Spirit of the Lord be poured out upon you; and may he grant unto you eternal life, through the redemption of Christ, whom he has prepared from the foundation of the world.
14  And after Alma had said these words, both Alma and Helam were buried in the water; and they arose and came forth out of the water rejoicing, being filled with the Spirit.

Mosiah 18:12-14 (Emphasis mine)

After the people indicated their desire to be baptized, Alma(1) took Helam  into the water.   He offered a prayer asking the Lord to pour his spirit upon him as he does this work.  Then, after a baptismal prayer, Alma and Helam were "buried in the water" (v14). 

We don't know anything about Helam nor why he was the first.  The  only other reference to a Helam is the land of Helam.  This land was named by Alma(1)'s group sometime after the baptisms.  Was the land named in honor of Helam?  We don't know.  All we know of Helam is that he was a faithful follower of Alma(1) and was the first baptized.

I've discussed the importance of baptism in a prior post.  Still, it is important to remember that this was and still is an essential ordinance.  Christ was baptized, and as Nephi(1) said:  "...  if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!" (2 Nephi 31:5, emphasis mine).  Here are a few thoughts about the importance of baptism that I would like to share.

Noel Reynolds writes: 

"The Book of Mormon accounts make clear that  ... At the waters of Mormon, Alma includes in the baptismal prayer itself the characterization of baptism 'as a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve him [the Almighty God] (sic) until you are dead as to the mortal body' (Mosiah 18:13, cf. 18:10) ... In baptizing Helam, Alma includes in the ritual prayer the statement that the covenant witnessed through baptism includes serving God 'until you are dead as to the mortal body' (Mosiah 18:13). Referring back to these events, Alma the Younger affirms that his father's converts had remained 'faithful until the end,' and that consequently 'they were saved' (Alma 5:13)." (Emphasis mine)

The True Points of My Doctrine, Noel B. Reynolds, Maxwell Institute, accessed July 25, 2011. 

Richard Lloyd Anderson writes: 

"In the Book of Mormon, the baptismal contract is best outlined when Alma reestablished the Church near the wilderness waters. He explained baptism as a 'testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve him' throughout life (Mosiah 18:13). These inspired doctrines were well known when Jesus later came to the New World." (Emphasis mine)

Religious Validity: The Sacrament Covenant in Third Nephi, Richard Lloyd Anderson, Maxwell Institute, accessed July 25, 2011.

Daniel Peterson writes:

"[Alma1] was ordained validly by Noah, who was ordained validly by his father ... The fact that Noah was not righteous and that Alma himself seems to have violated the laws of God during his early ministry has nothing to do with Alma's priesthood authority. Unless and until superior priesthood authority withdraws permission to exercise priestly functions, a legitimately ordained holder of the priesthood may continue to perform valid priesthood ordinances—however unrighteous he may personally be, however dead to spiritual promptings, and however unlikely it may be that he will ever actually exercise his priesthood  ... Alma, in fact, claimed to have authority from God (Mosiah 18:13), a claim that the later editor implicitly acknowledges as valid (Mosiah 18:18; Alma 5:3) ... It was Alma who ordained priests and teachers for his outcast people, among whom he was in fact the sole human source of authority (Mosiah 18:18; 23:17) ..."

"The baptisms that Alma performed required power and authority from God (Mosiah 18:17) ..."

Authority in the Book of Mosiah, Daniel C. Peterson, Maxwell Institute, accessed July 25, 2011.

15  And again, Alma took another, and went forth a second time into the water, and baptized him according to the first, only he did not bury himself again in the water.
16  And after this manner he did baptize every one that went forth to the place of Mormon; and they were in number about two hundred and four souls; yea, and they were baptized in the waters of Mormon, and were filled with the grace of God.

Mosiah 18:15-16 (Emphasis mine)

 

Alma then went about baptizing all of his followers.  When he was finished, he had baptized 204 people.  This is the amount of people that consisted of his followers.

In the October 2000 session of General Conference, Elder Robert D. Hales talked about the importance of baptism.

". We are reminded from the Book of Mormon that our baptism is a covenant to 'stand as witnesses of God [and His kingdom] at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life' (Mosiah 18:9; emphasis added) ... Each week in sacrament meeting we promise to remember the atoning sacrifice of our Savior as we renew our baptismal covenant. We promise to do as the Savior did—to be obedient to the Father and always keep His commandments. The blessing we receive in return is to always have His Spirit to be with us." (Emphasis mine)

In the April 2007 session of General Conference, Elder David A. Bednar said this about the importance of baptism.

"We begin the process of being born again through exercising faith in Christ, repenting of our sins, and being baptized by immersion for the remission of sins by one having priesthood authority. 'Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life' (Romans 6:4).  And after we come out of the waters of baptism, our souls need to be continuously immersed in and saturated with the truth and the light of the Savior’s gospel. Sporadic and shallow dipping in the doctrine of Christ and partial participation in His restored Church cannot produce the spiritual transformation that enables us to walk in a newness of life. Rather, fidelity to covenants, constancy of commitment, and offering our whole soul unto God are required if we are to receive the blessings of eternity."  (Emphasis mine)

The Book of Mormon contains many great and wonderful truths.  We have this great example set for us by Alma(1) and the members of the church he has organized.  The people made great and powerful commitments when they decided to be baptized.  Much would be expected of them.  This is a great and powerful example for us to follow.  The spirit and faith of these people are powerful and strong.  They offer us a great example we should follow.

For Alma(1), the work was just beginning!