There are “waters of Mormon” in the wilderness of our lives. Whether it is Provo, Utah; Boston, Massachusetts; Denver, Colorado; the Sea of Galilee or Jerusalem, Israel; or Santiago, Chile—we often have a particular place that becomes sacred because it is there that we came to a knowledge of our Redeemer, having experiences that changed our life. To use Isaiah’s words, mah nauvoo—“how beautiful” are those places and those experiences to us!
There are also “Almas” in our lives—those whom we look upon as providing the beginnings of our experience in the Lord’s Church. A synopsis of Alma’s activities recounted in this chapter alone is impressive: (1) he continued Abinadi’s preaching in private; (2) he baptized 204 individuals; (3) he established the Church of Jesus Christ in his area; (4) he ordained priesthood holders; (5) he established a lay ministry, not a paid one; and (6) he instituted the laws or practices of a Zion society (compare Moses 7:18). Who are the Almas in your life? Are you striving to be an Alma to someone else?