3 I, Alma, having been consecrated by my father Alma, to be a high priest over the church of God, he having power and authority from God to do these things, behold, I say unto you, that he began to establish a church in the land which was in the borders of Nephi;
4 Yea, the land which was called the land of Mormon; yea, and he did baptize his brethren in the waters of Mormon.
5 And behold, I say unto you, They were delivered out of the hands of the people of King Noah, by the mercy and power of God.
6 And behold, after that, they were brought into bondage by the hands of the Lamanites, in the wilderness; yea, I say unto you, They were in captivity, and again the Lord did deliver them out of bondage by the power of his word;
7 And we were brought into this land and here we began to establish the church of God throughout this land also.
8 And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, you that belong to this church, Have you sufficiently retained in remembrance the captivity of your fathers?
9 Yea, and have you sufficiently retained in remembrance his mercy and long suffering towards them?
10 And moreover, have ye sufficiently retained in remembrance that he has delivered their souls from hell?
11 Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awaked them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God.
12 Behold they were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word;
13 Yea, they were encircled about by the bands of death, and the chains of hell, and an everlasting destruction did await them.
