This is an example of the Hebraistic and separating a subordinate present participial clause from its following main clause. Joseph Smith removed this and in his editing for the 1837 edition. The critical text will, of course, restore such uses of and. See the discussion under Alma 2:30 as well as under hebraisms in volume 3.
Summary: Restore in Alma 9:1 the original Hebraistic and that followed the present participial clause.