3 I, Alma, having been ^aconsecrated by my father, Alma, to be a ^bhigh priest over the church of God, he having power and ^cauthority from God to do these things, behold, I say unto you that he began to establish a church in the ^dland which was in the borders of Nephi; yea, the land which was called the land of Mormon; yea, and he did baptize his brethren in the waters of Mormon.