Alma 6 - 8

While teaching the people of Gideon, Alma said -

"...there be many things to come; and behold, there is one thing which is of more importance than they all..." (Book of Mormon Alma 7:7)

It was that -

"...the time is not far distant that the Redeemer liveth and cometh among his people." (Book of Mormon Alma 7:7)

And -

"...he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God." (Book of Mormon Alma 7:10)

"...he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death..." (Book of Mormon Alma 7:12)

And also -

"...the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance..."
(Book of Mormon Alma 7:13)

To have our sins blotted out, Alma said -

"...ye must repent, and be born again; for the Spirit saith if ye are not born again ye cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye may be washed from your sins, that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness.
15 Yea, I say unto you come and fear not, and lay aside every sin, which easily doth beset you, which doth bind you down to destruction, yea, come and go forth, and show unto your God that ye are willing to repent of your sins and enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandments, and witness it unto him this day by going into the waters of baptism." (Book of Mormon Alma 7:14 - 15)

Most Christians believe that the Savior suffered for our sins. But Alma also teaches an additional truth that many may not understand -

"And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people...and he will take upon him their infirmities..." (Book of Mormon Alma 7:11 - 12)

Why did he do that?

"...that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." (Book of Mormon Alma 7:12)
Alma specifically states that he will take upon himself these things only for "his people". Who are his people? Abinadi asks much the same question -

"...who shall declare his generation? Behold, I say unto you, that when his soul has been made an offering for sin he shall see his seed. And now what say ye? And who shall be his seed?" (Book of Mormon Mosiah 15:10)

Abinadi answers himself -

"...whosoever has heard the words of the prophets, yea, all the holy prophets who have prophesied concerning the coming of the Lord—I say unto you, that all those who have hearkened unto their words, and believed that the Lord would redeem his people, and have looked forward to that day for a remission of their sins, I say unto you, that these are his seed, or they are the heirs of the kingdom of God.
12 For these are they whose sins he has borne; these are they for whom he has died, to redeem them from their transgressions. And now, are they not his seed?" (Book of Mormon Mosiah 15:11 - 12)

I love the closing words of Alma as he admonishes the people of Gideon -

"...I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.
24 And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works.
25 And may the Lord bless you, and keep your garments spotless, that ye may at last be brought to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the holy prophets who have been ever since the world began, having your garments spotless even as their garments are spotless, in the kingdom of heaven to go no more out." (Book of Mormon Alma 7:23 - 25)