Alma was resolute in the appeal he made; unhesitatingly, he called on them that heard his voice for good works. His audience was sympathetic to the demands he made; they understood his warning, but, nevertheless, there were some, who, because of their pride, rejected his words. To them, Alma was most direct in his denunciation. He likened them, as did Isaiah, when that Prophet was confronted with similar stragglers, to "sheep having gone astray." They once knew their shepherd's voice and followed it; now, he implied, they go their own way. Once, they saw the right and did it; now they offer all manner of pretexts and excuses for not so doing. (See COMMENTARY ON THE BOOK OF MORMON, Volume II, p. 160; also Isaiah 53:6; p. 62, v. 17; p. 78 ff.; p. 85, vv. 1-2; p. 260, vv. 19-24)
Therefore, Alma drew the only logical conclusion, "If a man bringeth forth good works he hearkeneth unto the voice of the Good Shepherd, and he doth follow him." Conversely so, "Whosoever bringeth forth evil works, the same becometh a child of the devil, for he hearkeneth unto his voice, and doth follow him." (See, Comments v. 25)