The Lord told Alma that "I will stop the Lamanites in this valley [of Alma] that they come no further in pursuit of this people" (Mosiah 24:23). What was so significant about the valley of Alma that the Lamanites would choose to turn back? When the Lamanites came to the valley of Alma, did they find evidence of an overnight stay by Alma's people? If so, why wouldn't they continue? Perhaps the valley of Alma lay at a crossroads and the Lamanites did not know which way Alma's group went. Or perhaps the Lamanites knew in which direction Alma and his people had gone but were fearful because Alma's group were heading into Nephite-controlled lands (see Words of Mormon 1:13-14). [Alan C. Miner, Personal Notes]