Alma warned against creating a brother with scorn or contempt. On them that delight in deriding a brother, thus making him the butt of mirth or derision and thereby holding him up for ridicule in his efforts in keeping the Lord's commandments, he pronounced wo, which, he implied, would surely follow such ungodly actions. Alma further denounced any attempt made to belittle a brother in the eyes of the Saints. He cautioned Church members of the greatness of the sin committed in so doing, and called upon the offenders to repent without delay.
Plainly, we can see by Alma's exhortations that he knew, by the spirit of prophecy, the time was near for the advent of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. By that same spirit he called upon the transgressors to abjure all pretense of evil and to prepare themselves to join the vast numbers of righteous men and women who take delight in serving the Lord. "The time is not far distant," he declared, when the Lord, the mighty King of Heaven shall come down from the Courts of Glory and shall redeem His people. Therefore, Alma cried, "Repent, repent," and be ready for that day which is soon to come; the coming of which is sure "for the Lord God hath spoken it!"
Alma's appeal had a great effect upon his listeners, for they realized that unless they cast away all sinful pleasures and took joy in His service, they "cannot be saved."