169 "And thus it is if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, Ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life;
170 But if ye will nourish the word - Yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence and with patience - looking forward to the fruit thereof, And it shall take root; And behold, it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life!
171 "And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, Behold, by and by, ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure,
172 And ye shall feast upon this fruit, even until ye are filled that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst;
173 Then my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith and your diligence and patience and longsuffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you."
174 Now after Alma had spoken these words, they sent forth unto him desiring to know whether they should believe in one God, that they might obtain this fruit of which he had spoken, Or how they should plant the seed, or the word of which he had spoken, which he said must be planted in their hearts, Or in what manner they should begin to exercise their faith.
175 And Alma saith unto them: "Behold, ye have said that ye could not worship your God because ye are cast out of your synagogues.
176 "But behold, I say unto you, if ye say that ye cannot worship your God, ye do greatly err and ye had ought to search the scriptures, For if ye suppose that they have taught you this, ye do not understand them.
177 "Do ye remember to have read what Zenos, the prophet of old, hath said concerning prayer or worship?
178 For he saith: 'Thou art merciful, O God, For Thou hast heard my prayer, even when I was in the wilderness. 'Yea, Thou wast merciful when I prayed concerning those which were mine enemies, And Thou didst turn them to me.
179 'Yea, O God, and Thou wast merciful unto me when I did cry unto Thee in my field, when I did cry unto Thee in my prayer, And Thou didst hear me.