Escape into the Wilderness
The Lord warned Alma that King Noah’s armies were coming for them. Alma told his people right away. They rounded up their flocks, grabbed what grain they could carry, and fled into the wilderness before Noah’s soldiers arrived. The Lord gave them strength. Noah’s people couldn’t catch them or wipe them out. They traveled eight days deep into the wilderness.
Then they found a place—a beautiful, welcoming land with clean, pure water. They set up their tents and got to work. They farmed the land and started building. They worked hard and never stopped.
Alma Refuses to Be King
The people loved Alma so much they wanted him to be their king.
But he told them, “Listen, it’s not a good idea for us to have a king. The Lord says: Don’t put one person above another. Don’t let anyone think they’re better than everyone else. So I’m telling you—we shouldn’t have a king.”
“Now, if you could guarantee that you’d always have good men as kings, then sure—having a king would be fine.”
“But remember the evil King Noah did, and his priests? I got caught up in it myself. I did things that were disgusting to God. It tore me apart. But after everything I went through, the Lord heard me crying out. He answered my prayers. He’s made me a tool in his hands to bring so many of you to know the truth. Still, I don’t take pride in that. I’m not worthy to boast about myself.”
“Here’s what I want you to understand: King Noah oppressed you. You were trapped under him and his priests. They dragged you into sin. You were bound by it. But God’s power set you free from those chains—free from Noah and his people, and free from the grip of sin itself. So hold onto this freedom. Don’t let anyone become king over you. And don’t trust anyone to be your teacher or minister unless they’re walking with God, following his path, and keeping his commandments.”
That’s how Alma taught his people: love your neighbor as yourself. Don’t let conflict tear you apart.
A People of Righteousness
Alma became their high priest. He had founded their church. No one was allowed to preach or teach unless Alma gave them authority from God. He set apart all their priests and teachers. Only good men were chosen. So they looked after their people and fed them with what was right and true.
They started thriving in the land. They named it Helam. They multiplied and flourished in the land of Helam. They built a city and called it Helam.
But the Lord saw fit to test his people. He stretched their patience and their faith. Still, anyone who puts their trust in him will be lifted up in the end. That’s how it was with these people. Because I’m going to show you how they were taken into slavery—and how only the Lord their God could rescue them. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And he did rescue them. He showed them his mighty power, and their joy was overwhelming.
The Lamanites Arrive
Here’s what happened: while they were living in Helam, working their fields around the city, a Lamanite army appeared at the edge of the land. Alma’s people ran from their fields and crowded into the city. They were terrified when they saw the Lamanites.
But Alma went out and stood before them. He urged them not to panic. “Remember the Lord your God,” he said. “He will save you.” So they calmed their fears and started praying to the Lord, asking him to soften the Lamanites’ hearts—to spare them, their wives, and their children. And the Lord did soften the Lamanites’ hearts. Alma and his people went out and surrendered. The Lamanites took control of Helam.
Amulon and the Wicked Priests
Now, the Lamanite army that had been chasing King Limhi’s people had been lost in the wilderness for days. They’d stumbled on King Noah’s old priests in a place called Amulon. The priests had settled there and started farming.
The leader of those priests was named Amulon. Amulon begged the Lamanites for mercy. Then he sent out his wives—who were Lamanite women—to plead with their relatives not to kill their husbands. The Lamanites felt sorry for Amulon and his men. Because of their wives, they didn’t kill them.
Amulon and his group joined up with the Lamanites. They were traveling through the wilderness looking for the land of Nephi when they discovered Helam, where Alma and his people lived.
A Broken Promise
The Lamanites made a deal with Alma and his people: “Show us the way to the land of Nephi, and we’ll let you live. We’ll set you free.”
But after Alma showed them the way, the Lamanites broke their promise. They posted guards all around Helam to keep Alma and his people trapped.
The rest of the army went on to the land of Nephi. Then some of them came back to Helam, bringing the wives and children of the guards they’d left behind. The Lamanite king made Amulon king and ruler over the people in Helam. But Amulon had no power to do anything against the Lamanite king’s will.