The first to go down into the waters of Mormon for baptism were Alma and a fellow believer named Helam. When they entered the water Alma lifted his voice in prayer, and besought the Lord for His Holy Spirit. This blessing having been bestowed, Alma proceeded with the sacred ordinance. The words of the ordinance which were later given by the Risen Redeemer to His servants in the Land Bountiful are different from those delivered by Alma on this occasion. Alma included a prayer for, we surmise, the benefit of Helam and also to impress on him and the others who waited for this glorious ministration, the importance of the covenant they made at that time. Alma then baptized Helam, immersing himself simultaneously.
Others, even unto the number of 204 souls, followed Helam into the waters of baptism, but in all these cases Alma did not again bury himself beneath the wave, but only the repentant sinners, or those who evidenced their determination to serve God. From this time we may date the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ in that land, and henceforth its members assembled for worship and testimony once a week.