The work of God will continue as long as there are people who are receptive to his word. It is only when, collectively, the “people had rejected every word of God, and they were ripe in iniquity” (1 Nephi 17:35, see also Genesis 15:16) that he totally withdraws his Spirit and “the judgements of God will overtake the wicked; and it is by the wicked that the wicked are punished” (Mormon 4:5). Alma secretly carried on the work of God to those who did believe in his words (Mosiah 18:2–3). Abinadi had planted, Alma watered, “but God gave the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:6)