Alma 4:1 - 4:5

Alma 4:1 Now it came to pass in the sixth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, there were no contentions nor wars in the land of Zarahemla;

The sixth year end with no attacks from the Lamanites or any internal strife among the Nephites.

Alma 4:2 But the people were afflicted, yea, greatly afflicted for the loss of their brethren, and also for the loss of their flocks and herds, and also for the loss of their fields of grain, which were trodden under foot and destroyed by the Lamanites.

However, the loss of so many people in the last war with the Amlicites and the Lamanites was deeply felt by the Nephites. So many were affected by the loss of the head of the family and their also the loss of their grain storage and loss of their flocks and herds.

Alma 4:3 And so great were their afflictions that every soul had cause to mourn; and they believed that it was the judgments of God sent upon them because of their wickedness and their abominations; therefore they were awakened to a remembrance of their duty.

The people came around to the thought that it was their wicked behavior of the recent past that was the cause of their problems. They were now convinced that the Lord allowed all this destruction to come upon them because of their failure to live the commandments.

Alma 4:4 And they began to establish the church more fully; yea, and many were baptized in the waters of Sidon and were joined to the church of God; yea, they were baptized by the hand of Alma, who had been consecrated the high priest over the people of the church, by the hand of his father Alma.

People began to attend church and those who were not members of the church were coming forward to seek baptism under the hand of Alma who was the leader of the church and who had been put in that position the Alma’s father Alma serior.

Alma 4:5 And it came to pass in the seventh year of the reign of the judges there were about three thousand five hundred souls that united themselves to the church of God and were baptized. And thus ended the seventh year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi; and there was continual peace in all that time.

By the end of the seventh year of the reign of the judges, 3500 people had joined the church and were baptized. There were no contentions or wars during this year.