This chapter and the one following take the reader back to the account of Alma and his people. Having successfully fled from King Noah and his armies, they established their society in a beautiful and pleasant land. As with every other society, the availability of pure water was of paramount importance.
The Lord strengthened them because of their righteousness. As Isaiah said:
“He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength… .
“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:29, 31).
People possessing the Spirit of the Lord are naturally industrious, in contrast to the Lamanites, who are described as lazy (Mosiah 9:12), and to the priests of Noah, who were supported in their laziness by taxes imposed on the people (Mosiah 11:6).