This section of the story ends, but the chapter will not. This part of the story concerned the creation of the church near the waters of Mormon. The next part of the story is their flight to a new land. That story begins when the king discovers that some larger number of people are often leaving and returning. Of course, it wasn’t the king himself, but the use of his title to indicate officials of the king.
Spies are sent to find out what is happening, and that is when they discover that Alma has established a division. It is not surprising that they equated that division with a possible rebellion. Therefore, the king sends an armed force to destroy them. Alma’s people are warned, and they flee to safety.
There is no chapter break in the 1830 edition, but there is a logical break in that when Alma’s people flee the story returns its focus to Noah and the actions on the home front. We will see Alma’s people again, but at this point Mormon has told enough of their story and returns to important events in the city.