The people of Nephi’s day were caught in this vicious circle to such an extent that the Gadianton robbers usurped almost complete control of the government. According to Nephi, the commandments of God were laid aside, and justice ceased to exist for a time. The righteous were persecuted “because of their righteousness,” while the guilty were usually permitted to escape “because of their money” (Helaman 7:5). All manner of wickedness set in. It was while Nephi contemplated the people’s rapid return to such wickedness that he was led to lament aloud in his garden.