It is hardly surprising that Alma’s most important and most consistent message is the necessity of believing in the coming Messiah. That is the essential Nephite religious message and it is one of the first things lost in Nephite apostasies. It was certainly lost among the Zoramites (see Alma 31:16–17). Alma began by quoting Zenos on the ability to worship anywhere. Then he used Zenos to focus on the Messiah as the center of such worship.
Now, Alma expands the scriptural references. He quotes Zenock, and then cites the experience where Moses raised the serpent on the staff so that those bitten by a serpent might look upon it and live. He will use that as a type of Christ.