23:15 Thus did Alma teach his people, that every man should love his neighbor as himself, that there should be no contention among them. 23:16 And now, Alma was their high priest, he being the founder of their church. 23:17 And it came to pass that none received authority to preach or to teach except it were by him from God. Therefore he consecrated all their priests and all their teachers; and none were consecrated except they were just men. 23:18 Therefore they did watch over their people, and did nourish them with things pertaining to righteousness. 23:19 And it came to pass that they began to prosper exceedingly in the land; and they called the land Helam. 23:20 And it came to pass that they did multiply and prosper exceedingly in the land of Helam; and they built a city, which they called the city of Helam. 23:21 Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith. 23:22 Nevertheless—whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was with this people. 23:23 For behold, I will show unto you that they were brought into bondage, and none could deliver them but the Lord their God, yea, even the God of Abraham and Isaac and of Jacob. 23:24 And it came to pass that he did deliver them, and he did show forth his mighty power unto them, and great were their rejoicings. 23:25 For behold, it came to pass that while they were in the land of Helam, yea, in the city of Helam, while tilling the land round about, behold an army of the Lamanites was in the borders of the land. 23:26 Now it came to pass that the brethren of Alma fled from their fields, and gathered themselves together in the city of Helam; and they were much frightened because of the appearance of the Lamanites. 23:27 But Alma went forth and stood among them, and exhorted them that they should not be frightened, but that they should remember the Lord their God and he would deliver them. 23:28 Therefore they hushed their fears, and began to cry unto the Lord that he would soften the hearts of the Lamanites, that they would spare them, and their wives, and their children. 23:29 And it came to pass that the Lord did soften the hearts of the Lamanites. And Alma and his brethren went forth and delivered themselves up into their hands; and the Lamanites took possession of the land of Helam. 23:30 Now the armies of the Lamanites, which had followed after the people of king Limhi, had been lost in the wilderness for many days. 23:31 And behold, they had found those priests of king Noah, in a place which they called Amulon; and they had begun to possess the land of Amulon and had begun to till the ground. 23:32 Now the name of the leader of those priests was Amulon. 23:33 And it came to pass that Amulon did plead with the Lamanites; and he also sent forth their wives, who were the daughters of the Lamanites, to plead with their brethren, that they should not destroy their husbands.