Nephi returns from the north countries to find the Nephites in a state of wickedenss. The Gadiantons have taken over the government. Nephi gets on his tower and crys out to his God regarding the wickedness of the people. People hear him and start gathering around. Does Nephi want them to hear him or is this his custom when he prays? Nephi calls them to repentance. The people are marveling because they don't even know that they have digressed that far regarding righteousness. (v.15) The people are not aware that what the are doing is wicknessness. I bet they are going to church every week and eating and drinking and giving in marriage - being quite normal. They have done something to harden their hearts (v.18).
They had forgotten that the Lord has delivered them from the hands of their enemies(v.20). Unless they repent they will not have the strength of the Lord with them to protect them and will become meat for dogs and wild beasts (v.19).
What were the peoples' iniquities? In Helaman 7:21 we read:
21 But behold, it is to get gain, to be praised of men, yea, and that ye might get gold and silver. And ye have set your hearts upon the riches and the vain things of this world, for the which ye do murder, and plunder, and steal, and bear false witness against your neighbor, and do all manner of iniquity.
The sin is that they have their hearts set upon riches and the vain things of this world. They want to get gain and be praised of men. Their pride results in doing all sorts of natual man things (murder, stealing, bearing false witness, etc.). The natural man does what ever it takes to stay in control. People will do almost anything to keep their riches, be praised, or maintain their place in society.
So, having one's heart set on riches is the problem. It breeds all sorts of evil in our hearts. Since one cannot serve both God and Mammon we will always hate the one and love the other (Mathew 6:24). There isn't any middle ground. Isn't it interesting that riches creates a false sense of security in most people. Instead of securing themselves in the Lord, they replace the Lord with riches and power. 'They do not desire that the Lord their God...should rule...over them....' (Helaman 12:6)
We Americans have unsatiable wants. It seems like an uncontrollable urge. If we have more we want more. If we don't have riches, we hope to obtain them in order to spend it on that which perishes. We covet that which we have not received. (Mosiah 4:25) Jacob tells us that when we obtained a hope in Christ, that our desires change. Riches are no longer used to try to satisfy that which cannot be satisfied (2 Nephi 10:51). We seek and obtain riches for the intent to do good - which is to help those in need (Jacob 2:19). If we can say this in our hearts (with or without riches), we stand blameless before God.
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