Alma 5:1 - 5:5

Alma 5:1 Now it came to pass that Alma began to deliver the word of God unto the people, first in the land of Zarahemla, and from thence throughout all the land.

Alma begins his ministry by preaching in Zarahemla and the area around about. He is going to use pure testimony to try and encourage the people to live the gospel as they know they should.

Alma 5:2 And these are the words which he spake to the people in the church which was established in the city of Zarahemla, according to his own record, saying:

This is the record of a sermon delivered by Alma to the people who lived in Zarahemla itself.
Always have wondered how this and all the other sermons in the Book of Mormon were recorded. Did Alma write this down before the sermon or did someone transcribe it as he spoke and who was that?

Alma 5:3 I, Alma, having been consecrated by my father, Alma, to be a high priest over the church of God, he having power and authority from God to do these things, behold, I say unto you that he began to establish a church in the land which was in the borders of Nephi; yea, the land which was called the land of Mormon; yea, and he did baptize his brethren in the waters of Mormon.

Alma begins to remind the church members where he got his authority to be the leader of the church. He recounts the establishment of the church by his father Alma senior. How Alma senior started by establishing the church when he live in the Land of Nephi at a place called the land of Mormon. It was there, in the waters of Mormon, that he baptized those who believe on his words.

Alma 5:4 And behold, I say unto you, they were delivered out of the hands of the people of king Noah, by the mercy and power of God.

In the land of Mormon, Alma was found out and he and his followers had to flee. It was by the power of the Lord that they were able to escape king Noah and his army out of the land of Nephi.

Alma 5:5 And behold, after that, they were brought into bondage by the hands of the Lamanites in the wilderness; yea, I say unto you, they were in captivity, and again the Lord did deliver them out of bondage by the power of his word; and we were brought into this land, and here we began to establish the church of God throughout this land also.

However, Alma Sr. and his followers were not to be completely delivered. They were discovered by the Lamanites by accident and were made slaves to them for a time. But, in due time, the Lord delivered them from the Lamanites as well and were lead to the land of Zarahemla. It was in the land of Zarahemla that Alma Sr. was able to establish the church.