4:3-4 - "...they were awakened to a remembrance of their duty. And they began to establish the church more fully..."
They were awakened to a remembrance of their duty.
We should realize that it is also our duty to establish the church more fully, so we should be continually searching to build up the church and its members more fully.
4:15 - "...Alma, having seen the afflictions of the humble followers of God, and the persecutions which were heaped upon them by the remainder of his people, and seeing all their inequality, began to be very sorrowful; nevertheless the Spirit of the Lord did not fail him..."
This is very important. We see tough times, and go through them. This does not mean that we can let the Spirit go or have permission to do things that drive away the Spirit, including over-extreme sorrow. We must act in faith to work to follow the Spirit, even though it is very tempting to wallow in self pity or sorrow during those moments.
4:19 - "...that he might pull down, by the word of God, all the pride and craftiness and all the contentions which were among his people, seeing no way that he might reclaim them save it were in bearing down in pure testimony against them..."
Alma saw no way to reclaim the people save it were in bearing down in pure testimony against them.
This was the model that worked at this time. It's important to realize that what will work for teaching some people will not work for teaching others...or even those same people but at a different time!
We must be continually following the Spirit so we know what needs to be done, said, taught, etc. at the right time.
Well said!
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