According to Brant Gardner, there are three elements in Alma 5:5, and each one is a planned and important point in Alma's sermon. Alma needs to establish the important elements of connection between their current situation and that of his father's church by the Waters of Mormon. The first point Alma makes is that they were in bondage to the Lamanites. While this is certainly historically accurate, it is also a point that Alma wants to make for the current situation with the Amlicite contention. The social ideas of the Nehors were precisely the types of changes that King Noah had made in Lehi-Nephi, and they are precisely the things that would have led to a similar bondage with the Amlicites. Alma the Elder's people and Alma the younger's people were both delivered from bondage through the power of God, but that power relies on continued faith. Alma's final comment is that after his father's people came to the land of Zarahemla they established churches, thus implying that those who were present had this same responsibility to continue establishing churches. [Brant Gardner, "Book of Mormon Commentary," at [http://www.frontpage2k.nmia.com/~nahualli/LDStopics/Alma/] Alma5.htm, pp. 3-4]