The sons of Mosiah had been spiritually strengthened, not weakened, by their fourteen years in a very difficult mission field among both political and religious enemies. How did they fortify themselves against the cultural forces in which they found themselves? They had turned to Yahweh’s word and “searched the scriptures diligently.”
Redaction: As an editor, Mormon understands that we have been following Alma’s story, so he reminds us of these men’s identity to clarify the relationship between their two stories. He includes their relationship to Alma and his conversion and their current spiritual relationship. His emphasis on their continued faithfulness is important for two reasons. First, like Alma, they had been enemies of the church only fourteen years before. Their conversion was as profound as his; they had not backslid into their previous apostasy. Second, they have been fourteen years among the Lamanites, among those who believed differently and perhaps were the source of some of the beliefs the sons of Mosiah held during the time they persecuted the church.