RCE Verse Context

11 Now this was the cause of much affliction to Alma, yea, and to many of the people which Alma had consecrated to be teachers and priests and elders over the church;

12 Yea, many of them were sorely grieved for the wickedness which they saw had begun to be among their people,

13 For they saw and beheld with great sorrow that the people of the church 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,

14 That they began to be scornful, one toward another, And they began to persecute those that did not believe, according to their own will and pleasure.

15 And thus in this eighth year of the reign of the judges there began to be great contentions among the people of the church;

17 And thus ended the eighth year of the reign of the judges; And the wickedness of the church was a great stumbling block to those who did not belong to the church; And thus the church began to fail in its progress.

18 And it came to pass in the commencement of the ninth year, Alma seeing the wickedness of the church, And seeing also that the example of the church began to lead those who were unbelievers on from one piece of iniquity to another, thus bringing on the destruction of the people,

19 Yea, seeing 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 which were hungry, and those which were athirst, and those which were sick and afflicted -

20 Now this was a great cause for lamentations among the people; While others were abasing themselves, succoring those who stood in need of their succor, Such as imparting their substance to the poor and the needy, feeding the hungry, And suffering all manner of afflictions for Christ's sake, which should come according to the spirit of prophecy, looking forward to that day; Thus retaining a remission of their sins,

21 Being 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 -