Now it came to pass in the sixth year13 of the reign of the judges over the people of Nefi, there were no contentions nor wars in the land of Zerach’mla. But the people were afflicted, yes, greatly afflicted, for the loss of their brothers, and also for the loss of their flocks and herds, and also for the loss of their fields of grain, which were trampled underfoot and destroyed by the Lamanites. And so great were their afflictions that every soul had cause to mourn. And they believed that it was the judgments of Elohim sent upon them because of their wickedness and their abominations; therefore they were awakened to a remembrance of their duty, and they began to strengthen the assembly more fully. Yes, and many were immersed in the waters of Tzidon and were joined to the assembly of Elohim; yes, they were immersed by the hand of Alma, who had been consecrated the Kohen HaGadol over the people of the assembly by the hand of his father, Alma.
And it came to pass in the seventh year of the reign of the judges, there were about three thousand five hundred souls that united themselves to the assembly of Elohim and were washed by immersion. And thus ended the seventh year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nefi; and there was continual shalom in all that time.
And it came to pass in the eighth year of the reign of the judges that the people of the assembly began to grow proud because of their exceeding riches, and their fine silks, and their fine-twined linen, and because of their many flocks and herds, and their gold, and their silver, and all manner of precious things, which they had obtained by their industry. And in all these things were they lifted up in the pride of their eyes, for they began to wear very costly apparel. Now this was the cause of much affliction to Alma, yes, and to many of the people whom Alma had consecrated to be teachers, and kohanim, and elders, over the assembly. Yes, many of them were sorely grieved for the wickedness which they saw had begun to be among their people. For they saw and beheld with great sorrow that the people of the assembly began to be lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and to set their hearts upon riches and upon the vain things of the world, that they began to be scornful one towards another. And they began to persecute those that did not believe according to their own will and pleasure. And thus, in this eighth year of the reign of the judges, there began to be great contentions among the people of the assembly; yes, there were envyings, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and pride, even to exceed the pride of those who did not belong to the assembly of Elohim. And thus ended the eighth year of the reign of the judges. And the wickedness of the assembly was a great stumbling block to those who did not belong to the assembly; and thus the assembly began to fail in its progress.
And it came to pass in the commencement of the ninth year, Alma saw the wickedness of the assembly, and he also saw that the example of the assembly began to lead those who were unbelievers on from one piece of iniquity to another, thus bringing on the destruction of the people; yes, he saw great inequality among the people, some lifting themselves up with their pride, despising others, turning their backs upon the needy, and the naked, and those who were hungry, and those who were thirsty, and those who were sick and afflicted — now this was a great cause for lamentations among the people — while others were humbling themselves, relieving those who stood in need of their relief, such as imparting their substance to the poor and the needy, feeding the hungry, and suffering all manner of afflictions for Mashiach’s sake,14 who should come according to the spirit of prophecy, looking forward to that day, thus retaining a remission of their sins, being filled with great joy because of the resurrection of the dead, according to the will, and power, and deliverance of Yeshua HaMashiach from the bands of death.
And now it came to pass that Alma having seen the afflictions of the humble followers of Elohim, and the persecutions which were heaped upon them by the remainder of his people, and seeing all their inequality, began to be very sorrowful; nevertheless, the spirit of yhwh did not fail him. And he selected a wise man, who was among the elders of the assembly, and gave him power according to the voice of the people, that he might have power to enact laws, according to the laws which had been given, and to put them in force according to the wickedness and the crimes of the people. Now this man’s name was Nefihah, and he was appointed chief judge; and he sat in the judgment seat to judge and to govern the people. Now Alma did not grant unto him the office of being Kohen HaGadol over the assembly, but he retained the office of Kohen HaGadol unto himself, but he delivered the judgment seat unto Nefihah. And this he did that he himself might go forth among his people, or among the people of Nefi, that he might preach the word of Elohim unto them, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty, and that he might pull down, by the word of Elohim, all the pride and craftiness, and all the contentions which were among his people, seeing no way that he might reclaim them except it were in bearing down in pure testimony against them. And thus, in the commencement of the ninth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nefi, Alma delivered up the judgment seat to Nefihah, and confined himself wholly to the High Priesthood of the Holy Order of Elohim,15 to the testimony of the word, according to the spirit of revelation and prophecy.16