Rhetoric: This verse depends upon the last line of the previous verse. Alma has indicated, concerning Zarahemla: “[God]… hath given unto me the exceedingly great joy of knowing that they are established again in the way of his righteousness.” The important concept is Alma’s “exceedingly great joy,” which he now applies to the people of Gideon. He trusts, “according to the Spirit of God[,]… that I shall also have joy over you.” Thus, Alma’s joy for those in Gideon comes from the same divine source as his joy over the repentant Zarahemlaites.
After this comparison of the similarities (God-given joy for both peoples) Alma now highlights the contrasts. The joy over Zarahemla came after tears—“after wading through much affliction and sorrow.” In Gideon, he expects the joy without the sorrow, for they have not strayed and need not be recalled to the way.