We remind ourselves that 74 B.C. was the year of Alma’s great mission to the apostate Zoramites. It turned out to be Alma’s last mission. He had desperately hoped he could convert the Zoramites before they allied themselves with the Lamanites and launched another avalanche of hatred and civil war against the Nephites, The Zoramites had once been members of the Church but after their apostasy they went over to the region east of the Sidon river to a land of Antionum. To try and win over the Zoramites, Alma took with him on this mission three of the sons of king Mosiah, two of his own sons -- Shiblon and Corianton, and two of his favorite converts -- Amulek and Zeezrom -- who were living in a western city called Melek. On the fly-leaf of volume three of Treasures from the Book of Mormon we had a suggested map indicating approximately where all of the various cities were located.
Unfortunately this final mission of Alma left him somewhat brokenhearted. It is true he had made many converts, but only among the poor and persecuted Zoramites. The Zoramite leaders sneered at Alma and the missionaries. This was partially due to the fact that Alma’s youngest son, Corianton, turned out to be a miserable missionary. He abandoned his calling and allowed himself to be seduced by a Zoramite harlot. The two of them ended up at a beach resort. Meanwhile, Alma’s other son, Shiblom, was captured, placed in bonds and stoned. But eventually the Lord rescued him.
Of course this mission to the Zoramites produced some of the greatest missionary sermons in the entire Book of Mormon, but Alma was disappointed that he hadn’t converted the Zoramite leaders as he had hoped. But Amulek at least had an opportunity to preach his glorious sermon on the Atonement and then the story continues:
It will be recalled that Jershon was occupied by the converted Lamanites who had been taught by Ammon and the other three sons of King Mosiah. Originally they were called the Anti-Nephi-Lehies but now they were called the Ammonites after their great leader, Ammon. Meanwhile, we can’t help wondering what had happened among the Zoramites after Alma and the missionaries departed from their midst.