Alma reminded his people of the oppression of King Noah, and that along with the wickedness of Noah's priests they had been brought into the bondage of iniquity, which, in itself, is worse than being a slave. And now, Alma says, "Ye have been delivered by the power of God out of these bonds," meaning the bonds that once held them in physical servitude and the bonds of iniquity and sin. He also told them to remain "firm and steadfast" in the freedom that comes to those who keep God's commandments. They were counseled to remember, "He whose law we obey is indeed the God of all goodness, the Father of all men, that to serve Him is perfect freedom and to worship Him the soul's purest happiness." Alma also adds this thought, see that "Ye trust no man to be a king over you."