156 And there began to be much peace again in the land; and the people began to be very numerous, and began to scatter abroad upon the face of the earth;
157 Yea, on the north and on the south, on the east and on the west, building large cities and villages in all quarters of the land.
158 And the Lord did visit them, and prosper them, and they became a large and a wealthy people.
159 Now the sons of Mosiah were numbered among the unbelievers; and also one of the sons of Alma was numbered among them, he being called Alma, after his father; nevertheless he became a very wicked man and an idolatrous man.
160 And he was a man of many words, and did speak much flattery to the people: therefore he led many of the people to do after the manner of his iniquities.
161 And he became a great hinderment to the prosperity of the church of God; stealing away the hearts of the people, causing much dissension among the people; giving a chance for the enemy of God to exercise his power over them.
162 And now it came to pass that while he was going about to destroy the church of God: for he did go about secretly with the sons of Mosiah, seeking to destroy the church, and to lead astray the people of the Lord, contrary to the commandments of God, or even the king;
163 And as I said unto you, as they were going about rebelling against God, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto them; and he descended as it were in a cloud; and he spake as it were with a voice of thunder, which caused the earth to shake upon which they stood;
164 And so great was their astonishment, that they fell to the earth, and understood not the words which he spake unto them.
165 Nevertheless he cried again, saying, Alma, arise, and stand forth, for why persecuteth thou the church of God?
166 For the Lord hath said, This is my church, and I will establish it; and nothing shall overthrow it, save it is the transgression of my people.
