It should be noted that the missionary travels of Alma (Alma 4:18 ---> Alma 17:1) and the missionary travels of the sons of Mosiah (Alma 17:5 ----> Alma 27:16) occupy the same time period. In Alma 17:4 it says “they had been teaching to word of God for the space of fourteen years.” Both Alma and the sons of Mosiah recorded their missionary journeys separately and these records were later put into the book of Alma. [Alan C. Miner, Personal Notes] [See Appendix A]
“He and His Brethren Met Alma”
Alma 27:16 states that “as Ammon was going forth into the land [of Zarahemla], that he and his brethren met Alma, over in the place of which has been spoken.” The reference here is to Alma 17. If Alma was not far from the valley of Gideon “journeying from the land of Gideon southwhard, away to the land of Manti,” (Alma 17:1), then this phrase might be read such: From their camp on the borders of the wilderness, Ammon and his brethren met Alma (over the mountains from where their camp was) and (in a valley near Gideon). The route of descent of Ammon and his brethren into the land of Zarahemla might have been a regular canyon route from Manti. [Alan C. Miner, Personal Notes]