You can read the entire chapter at the following link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/alma/4?lang=eng
The next two years after the events described in Alma 2-3 are thankfully free of bloodletting (verse 1). During this time of reflection, the Nephite people as a whole make an effort to consider how they can live their lives in line with God’s will so they can stay connected with Him, maximize blessings, and minimize needless suffering. They won’t be able to avoid opposition or other trials of mortality that we all face, but they want to do everything they can to prevent hardships that stem from rebellion or rationalization. In verse 3, Mormon expresses that the people “were awakened to a remembrance of their duty.”
It is a time where more are making sacred covenants with the Lord. Alma records 3,500 souls uniting themselves to the church of God through baptism. Continual peace is the result (verses 4-5).
But not for very long. As is borne out in so many scriptural and historical examples, within a year the prosperity that comes from humility, societal unity, and diligent hard work lays a snare because the people start focusing on the material benefits rather than the virtues that produced the benefits (verse 6). For some reason, we mortals face serious challenges in reminding ourselves that material well-being doesn’t make us better than others. If we don’t prepare ourselves for how to be stewards and sharers of our bounties, selfishness and pride are the natural consequences.
Alma and the other people he has felt inspired to ordain to responsible positions in the church are “sorely grieved” at the wickedness they see. Beyond whatever inconvenience it may cause them, this anguish comes from genuine sadness that dear friends and fellows in the effort to follow the Lord are choosing to turn away from His teachings and bring contention among them (verses 7-8).
Indeed, the contention and malice is so severe that the people in the church become more prideful than those outside it. Understandably, as a result any inclination that those outside of the church have for joining it disappear quickly. Instead, the example of the church goads them to indulge all their most destructive and hateful tendencies in their relationships with one another. Lack of compassion for those in need becomes the norm as this general hardening of hearts plays out (verses 9-11)
But as in most cases where a society generally loses its way, there remain dedicated, loving Saints who are a total inspiration. These humble people suffer “all manner of afflictions” and yet are “filled with great joy because of the resurrection of the dead, according to the will and power and deliverance of Jesus Christ from the bands of death” (verses 13-14). They recognize that Christ’s Resurrection is very meaningful for themselves personally because He provides the means for their immortality and eternal life. If we are mindful of this eternal perspective, we are going to feel joy regularly because Christ really has done the hardest work for us. We just give our hearts to Him and our Heavenly Father, and we’re in good shape!
As Alma surveys the situation of his people, he comes to a realization that if he tries to remain both chief judge (political leader) and high priest (spiritual leader) of the people, he won’t be able to address the urgent spiritual crisis that his people are facing. So he has to identify the number one priority and give up the effort to play those multiple roles. This is instructive for us in terms of sometimes needing to drop a responsibility or two in order to make sure we can concentrate on what is centrally important. And it’s additionally instructive that in figuring out the proper balance, Alma ultimately relies on the Holy Ghost: “nevertheless, the Spirit of the Lord did not fail him” (verse 15).
It is important to note that the spiritual responsibility is the priority for Alma. If any of us are in a similar situation, it is probably best to err on the side of choosing what is spiritual as our priority over what is temporal. That said, Alma doesn’t ignore the need to provide for the worldly administration of his people. He is careful to find a wise man—Nephihah—who also is a faithful priesthood leader in the church to take the role of chief judge. Mormon writes that Alma gave Nephihah power according to the voice of the people. I don’t know whether that means people actually voted on Nephihah’s appointment, or Alma somehow otherwise took the people’s expressed views into account (verses 16-18).
Freed from the weighty obligations of overseeing the everyday affairs and general law and order among the Nephites, Alma is able to concentrate solely on his holy calling as high priest of the church. He feels a great need to go to his people where they are and remind them of what is true and important, and what they have committed to for their own sake and that of their families. Mormon phrases it so well, it is almost musical in its power, though filled with the gravity of the moment. He says that in stirring the people up in remembrance of their duty, Alma seeks to “pull down, by the word of God, all the pride and craftiness and all the contentions which were among his people, seeing no way that he might reclaim them save it were in bearing down in pure testimony against them” (verse 19). Alma knows that through pure testimony, he can invite the Holy Ghost to pierce the people’s hearts, allowing each person then to choose whether to heed or to disregard that reminder of the truth that saves, heals, enlightens and warms all at the same time.
There is a great two-minute video clip that encapsulates Alma’s decision here.
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