In the time of king Zedekiah of Judah, the council of elders—a centuries-old institution—was overthrown. Proud and aspiring men assumed the powerful judgment seats, then systematically abused their power, oppressed the nation of Israel, and suppressed criticism of their own unrighteous actions. The idea of ruling judges was not new, according to Hugh Nibley, who explains that in 1085 b.c., one called Korihor, Ammon’s chief priest, had seized the Egyptian throne, and the priests of Ammon ran the country as judges. Lehi and his descendants would have been familiar with the concepts of judges and judgment seats, so the smooth transition from kings to judges in the Book of Mormon is perfectly comprehendible. (See Echoes, 467–468.)
“Alma the Younger, Tireless Champion of Faith”
Alma was the son of Alma the Elder, who had been at the court of wicked King Noah when the prophet Abinadi preached his ultimate sermon there on repentance before being burned at the stake. The elder Alma fled with his righteous followers via the Waters of Mormon and eventually reached Zarahemla. Like the sons of King Mosiah, young Alma is initially “numbered among the unbelievers” (Mosiah 27:8) and “the very vilest of sinners” (Mosiah 28:4). But the Lord has an important calling for him and his young colleagues. When a heavenly messenger intervenes and brings about their spiritual transformation (sometime between 100 b.c. and 92 b.c.—see Mosiah 27:11–18), they redirect their lives toward service and honor. Young Alma is appointed chief judge of the land (around 91 b.c.) and commences his service by overcoming the forces of incipient priestcraft in the land. Then, as we shall see, he defeats the conspirator Amlici, who has designed the overthrow of the government. A few years later, Alma is consecrated high priest of the Church by his father (see Alma 4:4; 5:3) and subsequently delegates his judgment office to another, that he “might go forth among his people, or among the people of Nephi, that he might preach the word of God unto them, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty, and that he might pull down, by the word of God, all the pride and craftiness and all the contentions which were among his people” (Alma 4:19).
Alma reforms the Church in Zarahemla and then travels to other cities in the region, preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and bringing order and harmony into the fold. In the city of Ammonihah around 82 b.c., however, Alma is rejected outright and forced to abandon his mission. An angel of the Lord intervenes and commands him to return to the city. He returns “speedily” (Alma 8:18) and is met by Amulek, whom the angel had commissioned to receive and house the traveling prophet. Alma delivers his timeless speech on faith (Alma 32). From that point he and Amulek continue to preach repentance and the Atonement to the hard-hearted citizens and warn them of the impending destruction of the city, but they are again rejected by the local leadership (including the lawyer Zeezrom). Alma and Amulek are cast into prison to suffer for days until they are liberated through the power of God. Zeezrom is converted and returns with them to Zarahemla.
Alma’s ministry thereafter consists of a long sequence of valiant achievements, including making arrangements for the safety and settlement of the righteous Lamanites (the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi, or the people of Ammon, who were converted by the sons of Mosiah), confounding of the sign-seeking anti-Christ Korihor, preaching in the regions round about, and providing remarkable counsel and blessings for his sons, Helaman, Shiblon, and Corianton around 73 b.c. Shortly thereafter, Alma sets off for the land Melek but is never heard of again, presumably being translated after the manner of Moses (see Alma 45:18–19).