The tenuous nature of the Zoramite allegiance to the Nephite hegemony was not lost on the rulers in Zarahemla. They, even more rapidly than we, could discern the potential danger in having the Zoramites so close to the Lamanites, and a potential defection to the Lamanites would significantly weaken the Nephite Eastern defensive line. Sorenson describes the military significance of the Zoramite-held land of Antionum:
“…Alma, the high priest, with friends and two of his own sons, addressed an adjacent problem area with strategic implications. The party traveled into the land of Antionum. (See map 12.) There they sought to reclaim a group called the Zoramites who were wavering in their loyalty to Nephite rule. Antionum was located “east of the land of Zarahemla, which lay nearly bordering upon the seashore, which was south of the land of Jershon, which also bordered upon the wilderness south, which wilderness was full of the Lamanites” (Alma 31:3). If Alma could anchor the Zoramites within the Nephite political and cultural sphere, it might forestall war.
The highland Lamanite culture centers were then expanding into the lowlands—to the Nephites “the wilderness south.” To attack the Nephites in that sector, they needed a base, and allies. The Zoramites in Antionum offered both. Thus, “the Nephites greatly feared that the Zoramites would enter into a correspondence with the Lamanites” (verse 4). Political allegiance and religious orthodoxy were closely connected, as in all the ancient world, and the high priest‘s first concern was for the Zoramites’ faith.
Upon coming among them, Alma was shocked to find how far the Zoramites had veered from the Nephite ideal. Despite some preaching success “among the poor class of people” (Alma 32:2), the missionaries were finally forced by the Zoramite elite to leave the land for Nephite Jershon. Their converts followed (Alma 35:1-6).” (John L. Sorenson, An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon [Salt Lake City and Provo: Deseret Book Co., Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1985], 239-40).