3 And it came to pass that they fled eight days' journey into the wilderness;
4 And they came to a land, yea, even a very beautiful and pleasant land, a land of pure water.
5 And it came to pass that they pitched their tents and began to till the ground and began to build buildings, etc., Yea, they were industrious and did labor exceedingly.
6 And it came to pass that the people were desirous that Alma should be their king, for he was beloved by his people;
7 But he saith unto them: "Behold, it is not expedient that we should have a king, for thus saith the Lord: ' Ye shall not esteem one flesh above another, or one man shall not think himself above another '; Therefore I say unto you, it is not expedient that ye should have a king.
8 "Nevertheless, if it were possible that ye could always have a just man to be your king, it would be well for you to have a king;
9 But remember the iniquity of King Noah and his priests; And I, myself, was caught in a snare and did many things which were abominable in the sight of the Lord, which caused me sore repentance.
10 "Nevertheless, after much tribulation the Lord did hear my cries and did answer my prayers, And hath made me an instrument in His hands in bringing so many of you to a knowledge of His truth.
11 "Nevertheless, in this I do not glory, for I am unworthy to glory of myself.
12 "And now I say unto you, as you have been oppressed by King Noah and have been in bondage to him and his priests and have been brought into iniquity by them, Therefore, ye were bound with the bands of iniquity.
13 "And now as ye have been delivered by the power of God out of these bonds,