1Now it came to pass that in the first year of the reign of the

2And it came to pass that in the first year of the reign of Alma in

3And he had gone about among the people, preaching to them that

4And he also testified unto the people that all mankind should be

5And it came to pass that he did teach these things so much that

6And he began to be lifted up in the pride of his heart, and to wear

7And it came to pass as he was going, to preach to those who

8Now the name of the man was Gideon; and it was he who was an

9Now, because Gideon withstood him with the words of God he was

10And the man who slew him was taken by the people of the church,

11And it came to pass that he stood before Alma and pleaded for

12But Alma said unto him: Behold, this is the first time that

13And thou hast shed the blood of a righteous man, yea, a man who

14Therefore thou art condemned to die, according to the law which

15And it came to pass that they took him; and his name was Nehor;

16Nevertheless, this did not put an end to the spreading of

17Nevertheless, they durst not lie, if it were known, for fear of

18And they durst not steal, for fear of the law, for such were

19But it came to pass that whosoever did not belong to the church of

20Yea, they did persecute them, and afflict them with all manner of

21Now there was a strict law among the people of the church that

22Nevertheless, there were many among them who began to be proud,

23Now this was in the second year of the reign of Alma, and it was a

24For the hearts of many were hardened, and their names were blotted

25Now this was a great trial to those that did stand fast in the

26And when the priests left their labor to impart the word of God

27And they did impart of their substance, every man according to

28And thus they did establish the affairs of the church; and thus

29And now, because of the steadiness of the church they began to be

30And thus, in their prosperous circumstances, they did not send

31And thus they did prosper and become far more wealthy than those

32For those who did not belong to their church did indulge

33And it came to pass that by thus exercising the law upon them,