Mormon notes that Alma "repented of his sins and iniquities" (Mosiah 18:1). Just how long it took for Alma1 to complete this process is not known. Did he spend time reading through the scriptures? Was writing the words of Abinadi (Mosiah 17:4) part of this process? Notice in Mosiah 23:10 that Alma himself says that this repentance took place "after much tribulation." [Alan C. Miner, Personal Notes]