In the preceding 12 verses, Mormon records that Alma and Amulek were struck by their accusers on at least 7 different occasions. Yet, they had suffered in complete silence. They had been mocked, humiliated, stripped of their clothing, spat upon, bound, confined, and suffered hunger and thirst. Their question, ’how long shall we suffer?’ is a fair one to ask. The Lord’s answer is evident from the subsequent events—they had suffered long enough! While in Liberty Jail, Joseph Smith asked the same question but received a different answer, see DC 121.