Rhetoric: Alma, using the experience of the Almaites and Lehites, invites his congregation to see the application of that model for their own salvation. The earlier congregation was saved because they believed Yahweh’s word through a prophet. Alma does not position himself as that prophet but reminds his audience of Abinadi, whom they already accept as a true prophet. Alma1 believed that prophet’s words, and it wrought a “mighty change” in him. (See commentary accompanying Mosiah 17:2.) Alma also believed—not only Abinadi’s words but his father’s in affirming: “Behold I say unto you that this is all true.” Without specifying what “this” or “all” might be, Alma is modestly reminding his listeners of his own mighty change. He knows firsthand what is required to change from a persecutor of Yahweh’s church to its leader. His audience would not have missed Alma’s double meaning in this declaration of truth.
Translation: The particular phrasing of the “mighty change” reflects terminology popular in the religious revivals with which Joseph was familiar. See also commentary accompanying Alma 5:26.