To understand this verse, we should see it in the context of the last phrase of verse 1:
"I would that ye should remember that the Lord God ordained priests, after his holy order, which was after the order of his Son, to teach these things unto the people. 2 And those priests were ordained after the order of his Son, in a manner that thereby the people might know in what manner to look forward to his Son for redemption."
Alma is setting up his appeal to ancient authority. The first point he makes is that when God set up the priests (those with authority) he did so "after the order of his Son." This is an important point for Alma, because the Ammonihahites do not recognize this aspect of the Messiah. Not only does Alma claim and ancient authority, but by linking it to the Son, he denies that authority to the lawyers of Ammonihah.
These priests were ordained in a manner that would teach people to look forward to the mission of the Atoning Messiah. While this might indicate a form of ordination that might be symbolic (or a "type" in Book of Mormon terms) Alma will nevertheless give a very specific definition of what he means in the next few verses. Alma will create a story of their ordination that parallels the concepts he has taught about the second death. Thus he will use the priests as his touchstone of authority, and from that touchstone, use that authority to strengthen the points he as already made.
Translation: Verse 1 saw the word "forward" being used to indicate an event in the past. In this verse it is looking to the future: "to look forward to his Son for redemption."