Context for Zenos: Zenos’s “wilderness” would, naturally, have been in the Old World, and his enemies were most likely enemies of Israel rather than personal opponents. Sorenson speculates that the brass plates were a northern kingdom record, positioning this wilderness north of Jerusalem.
Context for Alma’s discourse: Alma is preaching to a people who are not city dwellers but farmers surrounding the city. They have created cultivated fields but are near a wilderness. They would therefore understand that Zenos is praying outside the city.