A few days after this decisive battle, another invading Lamanite army appeared. This one advanced along the east bank of the Sidon. Alma, having been wounded, sent one of his officers, who met the hosts of the Lamanites, and drove them back to their own lands. CHAPTER XXIV. ALMA RESIGNS THE CHIEF JUDGESHIP--NEPHIHAH CHOSEN--ALMA MINISTERS IN ZARAHEMLA, GIDEON, MELEK AND AMMONIHAH--CONDITION OF THE LAST NAMED CITY--IT REJECTS THE MESSAGE ALMA BEARS--AN ANGEL MEETS HIM--AMULEK--THE LAWYER ZEEZROM--THE GREAT CONTROVERSY--ZEEZROM CONVERTED AND CAST OUT--THE MARTYRDOM OF THE BELIEVERS--ALMA AND AMULEK IN PRISON--THEIR DELIVERANCE. (ALMA CHAP. 4 TO 14.) The great losses sustained by the Nephites in this war, not of warriors alone, but of women and children, together with the vast amount of their property destroyed, had the effect of humbling them and softening their way-ward hearts, so that many thousands, during the next few years, were added to the church by baptism. But the recollection of their former disasters was gradually worn away by time and prosperity. Three years later we find great inequality in the church--some poor and some rich, the more powerful abusing and oppressing their weaker brethren. This course proved a great stumbling-block to those who were not numbered with the church, as well as being the cause of much sorrow and ill-feeling amongst its members. Finding that no man could properly attend to the duties of his many offices, Alma determined to resign the chief judgeship, and devote his entire time to his duties as the earthly head of the church. Preparatory to this resignation, he selected one of the leading elders, named Nephihah, to be his successor as chief judge. This choice was confirmed by the people. (B. C. 83.) Alma now gave his entire attention to the duties of his calling as a preacher of righteousness. He commenced his labors in Zarahemla. Thence he went to the city of Gideon. After ministering there for some time, he returned for rest to his home in the capital city.