It was among those who professed to belong to the church

In Helaman chapter 4 we read that in the 54th year some dissenters from the Nephites went to the Lamanites:

3 And it came to pass that they did endeavor to stir up the Lamanites to war against the Nephites; but behold, the Lamanites were exceedingly afraid, insomuch that they would not hearken to the words of those dissenters.

But in the next year:

4 But it came to pass in the fifty and sixth year of the reign of the judges, there were dissenters who went up from the Nephites unto the Lamanites; and they succeeded with those others in stirring them up to anger against the Nephites; and they were all that year preparing for war.

I've talked about anger before in a few other posts. I believe this is a key point which we are passing, and beyond it is destruction.

Think about it this way. A little bit of anger begins to cause us to loss some of our reasoning, but, if we allow ourselves to, we can lose our anger if we allow the Spirit to guide us.

However, there is a point, beyond which, where anger blinds us. It deafens our ears to the Spirit. It causes us to lose our reasoning and ability to try to understand others. It causes us to believe we are right and justified, and the other person is wrong, even despite any and all evidence and facts which may be against our point of view.

The Lamanites often experienced this. Nephite dissenters would come over and "stir them up to anger" so they would go to war against the Nephites. It was because those dissenters didn't get their way that they turned to others to seek revenge, and to try to get their way.

Verse 3 was clear, the Lamanites were afraid to go to war. They didn't want to. But after more dissenters came the next year, more voices stirring them up to anger, their hearts were hardened, they were "stirred up to anger," and they lost their reasoning. They lost their fear. They were blinded by the half truths and lies of the dissenters to a point they wanted to go to war.

And when the Lamanites attacked, the Nephites were is a state of wickedness, pride, contention, and abomination.

What is most disappointing is the following:

11 Now this great loss of the Nephites, and the great slaughter which was among them, would not have happened had it not been for their wickedness and their abomination which was among them; yea, and it was among those also who professed to belong to the church of God.

Note that the wickedness and abomination was "among those also who professed to belong to the church of God." The next verse continues this declaration.

12 And it was because of the pride of their hearts, because of their exceeding riches, yea, it was because of their oppression to the poor, withholding their food from the hungry, withholding their clothing from the naked, and smiting their humble brethren upon the cheek, making a mock of that which was sacred, denying the spirit of prophecy and of revelation, murdering, plundering, lying, stealing, committing adultery, rising up in great contentions, and deserting away into the land of Nephi, among the Lamanites—
13 And because of this their great wickedness, and their boastings in their own strength, they were left in their own strength; therefore they did not prosper, but were afflicted and smitten, and driven before the Lamanites, until they had lost possession of almost all their lands.

Because it was a continuation from the previous verse, the members of the church were prideful, oppressed the poor, withheld food from the hungry, mocked what was sacred, denied the spirit of prophecy and revelation. They were also the ones who lied, stole, committed adultery. And, it seems, it was likely the most wicked of those members who went among the Lamanites and caused them to go to war.

While I don't think we have members leaving to stir up others to a physical war of bloodshed, there certainly are those who have dissented and are stirring up the enemies of the Church, as well as the general public, against the Church and its members.

And there are an increasing number of Church members who are prideful, often as a result of their prosperity.

It's not uncommon to read of Church members who have taken advantage of others, often using their standing and appearance of righteousness as a means to do so.

Homelessness is increasing along the Wasatch Front. There are increased number of children who do not have sufficient to eat. While there are many who do reach out to those in need, it is a telling sign when these numbers increase.

I don't have any numbers, but I believe crime is also increasing. I know drug use has increased.

There has been increasing support of alternative lifestyles. I'm not referring to reaching out with kindness to these people. I'm referring to advocating and support for their "right" to not only do as they choose to privately--to actively live in a manner contrary to the commandments of God--but to force everyone to accept it, and even embrace it, as socially acceptable.

I think we will get an idea of how pervasive the lies and acceptance is in Utah after the November election.