"the people of the church began to be lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and to set their hearts upon riches and upon the vain things of the world, that they began to be scornful, one towards another, and they began to persecute those that did not believe according to their own will and pleasure... there began to be great contentions among the people of the church; yea, there were envyings, and strife, and malice, and persecutions, and pride... the wickedness of the church was a great stumbling-block to those who did not belong to the church; and thus the church began to fail in its progress... Yea, he saw great inequality among the people, some lifting themselves up with their pride, despising others, turning their backs upon the needy and the naked and those who were hungry, and those who were athirst, and those who were sick and afflicted." - Alma 2:13-17, 19 RAV; 4:8-10, 12 OPV