We owe Alma a great debt of gratitude. Without his diligence, we would not have the teachings of Abinadi. Obviously, Abinadi did not have an opportunity to record his story. This job was to be done by his only convert and pupil, Alma.
"To remember and record 'all the words of Abinadi' would have required divine assistance. Jesus explained that the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, will bring to our remembrance that which has been taught us (John 14:26).
"President Wilford Woodruff, one of the greatest scribes and note takers of this dispensation, described his own experience in recalling and recording the words of Joseph Smith: 'There is one subject I wish to speak upon and that is the keeping of a journal with respect to the dealings of God with us. I have many times thought the Quorum of the Twelve and others considered me rather enthusiastic upon this subject; but when the Prophet Joseph organized the Quorum of the Twelve, he counseled them to keep a history of their lives, and gave his reasons why they should do so. I have had this spirit and calling upon me since I first entered this Church. I made a record from the first sermon I heard, and from that day until now I have kept a daily journal. Whenever I heard Joseph Smith preach, teach, or prophesy, I always felt it my duty to write it; I felt uneasy and could not eat, drink, or sleep until I did write; and my mind has been so exercised upon this subject that when I heard Joseph Smith teach and had no pencil or paper, I would go home and sit down and write the whole sermon, almost word for word and sentence by sentence as it was delivered, and when I had written it it was taken from me, I remembered it no more. This was the gift of God to me.' (Matthias F. Cowley, Wilford Woodruff: History of His Life and Labors, pp. 476-77; italics added.)" (McConkie and Millet, Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 2, p. 249)