Internal reference: While the reference is so fleeting as to be of uncertain connection, the very presence of other references to the foundational stories of the Nephites in this sermon make it probable that Alma’s theme of “small means” is meant to echo another incident from those foundational stories. When the Liahona is discovered, Nephi says of it:
1 Nephi 16:29
29 And there was also written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it. And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things.
Nephi’s statement contains the contrasting set “small [physical] things”/ great [spiritual] things. We have precisely that contrast in Alma. By small physical means, such as the brightness of the plates, the Lord brings about great spiritual things, or the “salvation of many souls.” We see here confirmed the hypothesis that Alma links the brightness to the promise of the value of the plates, as he clearly equates them here. The brightness is a small thing; the salvation of souls is clearly a great thing.