As a small band, Alma's new church practiced a form of welfare which resembles the united order. The latter was definitely practiced after Christ's ascension, on both continents (3 Nephi 26:19, Acts 2:44). We see from this passage, that although the Nephites were living according to the Law of Moses, they often lived the greater law in many respects. In this case, they made sure that there were no hungry, needy, or naked among them, imparting to one another both temporally and spiritually according to their needs and their wants (v. 29).