When Alma heard their appeal he recognized that it came from brethren in distress. His soul was filled with joy for he saw and realized that the afflictions that had so plagued them had brought them down to the depths of despair, and of humility. They were in a proper condition to hear the Gospel preached, and to accept it. Alma, at this juncture, refused more to exhort the sullen Zoramites who with a feeling of self-righteousness mocked the servants of God standing before them. Not defeated by their coarse accusations and undismayed by their false charges, he turned himself about, directly facing his newly found friends; stretching forth his hand, apparently as a sign of brotherhood, Alma, moved by the sincere aspect which showed in their faces, began to commend the course they had begun to pursue.