Alma was a very honest servant of God. Several times during his ministry he pulled himself up short to make certain that he was not teaching anything beyond what he has been told. In this instance he was authorized to tell the people that the presence of the Savior was to be manifest among them very shortly. However, he was not certain that this has reference to his coming in the flesh, although he knows that eventually that great miracle will occur. Just to be safe, Alma decides to tell the people exactly what the Lord commanded him to tell them, and he wants to quote it word for word:
“But behold, the Spirit hath said this much unto me, saying: Cry unto this people, saying -- Repent ye, and prepare the way of the Lord, and walk in his paths, which are straight; for behold, the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and the Son of God cometh upon the face of the earth.”