Let us return to the account of the unbelievers. Many of them turned from their wicked ways, and were blessed and prospered of the Lord. They set about to obey Mosiah's proclamation. Still it required a greater power than an earthly king's to bring to naught the evil intents of the unbelievers. They had been greatly encouraged in their misdeeds by the fact that the king's four sons and one of Alma's own sons were their leaden.
Frequent and fervent were the prayers offered by Mosiah and the elder Alma in behalf of their rebellious sons, and these prayers prevailed with Him who sits on heaven's Eternal Throne.
Notwithstanding the fact of Alma's, the Elder's, devotion to God's laws, and the responsibilities he carried as the High Priest of the whole Church, his son Alma became a very "wicked and an idolatrous man!" Because Alma, the Younger, was a fine speaker, he flattered the people, and by it lead many to do the things he chose to do. Because of his relationship to the High Priest, Alma was looked upon as an example, one whom to follow. "And he became a great hinderment to the prosperity of the whole church."