Alma 4

The sixth year of elected judges was free of war, but the Nephites were burdened by the loss of so many people, livestock, and crops. Some wondered whether God had sent these burdens to them as a sign of his displeasure with their sinfulness. As a result, there was a flurry of baptisms and a renewal of the church. In the seventh year of elected judges, peace prevailed, and 3,500 souls were baptized in the church of God. [85 BC]

In the eighth year of elected judges, members of the church displayed signs of pride because of their restored wealth. They wore fine silks and linen, and decorated themselves with gold and silver. Alma, the priests, and the elders of the church were troubled to see these signs of wickedness emerging. The people became ostentatious in their displays of wealth, arrogance towards each other, and abusive responses to those who questioned their behavior. These changes brought about dissension, envy, mean and petty behavior, persecutions, and pridefulness that was often greater within the church than outside of it. Because of this the church began to fail.

In the ninth year of elected judges, Alma saw these examples set by church members extending beyond the church and leading towards the destruction of the people. Great inequalities were developing. The rich turned their backs on the poor, the needy, and the sick. The righteous and faithful members of the church were saddened by what they saw, did what they could to redress these grievances, and looked toward the joy of Jesus Christ and his deliverance from death. Alma remained steadfast in his faithfulness to God. He resigned from his position as the chief judge so that he could devote himself to the affairs and needs of the church.

A new chief judge, named Nephihah, was appointed by the people to rule the land. Acting as the high priest in the church, Alma went out evangelizing among the people and asking them to remember their duties to God. He hoped to reverse their slide into sinfulness and to reclaim their devotion to the church through his direct testimony to them. [83 BC]