Nephi describes the wickedness of the Gentiles at the time the testimony of the Nephites whispers out of the dust to restore the original message of the gospel. At this time there will be many churches the wisdom of men rather than the gospel of Christ. As a result, they will be bitterly quarreling among themselves and many will have entered into secret combinations to acquire control over the people by deception and the threat or actual commission of murder. By these devices Satan binds them down and engages them in works of darkness rather than the light of the gospel.