The people will be infuriated at the voice of a true prophet crying repentance (v. 26) and attempt to kill him, but the flattering voice of a false prophet defining away their sins they will not only listen to but reward.
Culture: They had already treated true prophets just as Samuel had described. Therefore, it seems likely that verses 27–28 are also reporting the Nephites’ current beliefs. The way Samuel describes this particular sin confirms the return of the old Nephite nemesis. These people have embraced the order of Nehor. (See “Excursus: Religion of the Nehors,” following Alma 1.)
The first description of current Nephite belief is that they believe the man who preaches: “Walk after the pride of your own hearts… and do whatsoever your heart desireth.” This is exactly the assurance Nehor had given them: “And he also testified unto the people that all mankind should be saved at the last day, and that they need not fear nor tremble, but that they might lift up their heads and rejoice; for the Lord had created all men, and had also redeemed all men; and, in the end, all men should have eternal life” (Alma 1:4).
Nehor taught that “all mankind should be saved at the last day.” Because of this universal salvation, there was no cause for worry in this life, no need to “fear nor tremble.” There was no need to repent because their salvation was already assured. Nehorism is the direct conceptual ancestor to Samuel’s assertion that the Nephites believe they can do whatever their heart desires. Certainly they have adopted the Nehorite philosophy of universal salvation.
Even more important, however, is their response to this worldly preacher. “Ye will lift him up,” accuses Samuel, “and ye will give unto him of your substance; ye will give unto him of your gold, and of your silver, and ye will clothe him with costly apparel.” In fact, Nehor went “among the people, preaching to them that which he termed to be the word of God, bearing down against the church; declaring unto the people that every priest and teacher ought to become popular; and they ought not to labor with their hands, but that they ought to be supported by the people” (Alma 1:3).
The conceptual antecedents are clear. Nehor is the very model of the flattering priest who receives wealth and status from the people. As a result, Nehor was “lifted up in the pride of his heart” and wore “very costly apparel” (Alma 1:6).
The order of the Nehors had flourished briefly in the days of Alma2 but was rejected. Now, less than a hundred years later, Nehorism is being embraced.