Weary in body and sick at heart because of the iniquity of the people of Ammonihah, after many fruitless efforts, fervent prayers and long fastings, Alma sought some other people who were more worthy of Salvation’s priceless gifts. On his way to the City of Aaron whence he now journeyed, an angel of the Lord—that same angel that beforetime had been the agent in his conversion to God—stood before him and blessed him. The angel told Alma to lift up his heart and rejoice, for because of his faithfulness he had great cause to do so. The angel then directed him to return to the sin-cursed city which he had just left, and proclaim unto its citizens the awful message that except they repented, the Lord would destroy them.
The angel further warned Alma that at that very moment the wickedly guided people of Ammonihah were giving great consideration as to how they might “destroy the liberty of thy people.” The angel declared that such taking away of the rights of the Lord‘s people was against God’s commandments, for His statutes and judgments prohibited force in any behavior. Free agency, to be free to choose one’s own actions had been decreed throughout eternity, and now the sin-stained people of Ammonihah worked to bring to naught God’s holy purposes.