Rhetoric: Alma is bearing testimony by invoking his own conversion experience, which the congregation is certain to know. However, Alma may also intend a dual meaning to his question: “Do ye not suppose that I know these things of myself?” For the purposes of his testimony, he surely knows of the “things which are to come” (v. 44) because of his own experience. However, he was converted from evil to good. Alma may be alluding the pathway of those who choose to follow Satan. Alma knew that road intimately prior to his conversion. He is preaching, not only of his listeners’ fate if they choose to follow Satan, but also from personal experience. Fortunately, he also preaches powerfully from personal knowledge of the power of repentance.
Variant: The earliest text reads: “do ye suppose that I know not these things of myself.” Joseph Smith moved the word not during his editing for the 1837 edition. There is no change in meaning.