Nephi told his wicked brothers that “the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center” (1 Nephi 16:2). This is why King Noah and his priests sought the life of Abinadi, just as the Jews in Jerusalem had sought to take away Lehi’s life (see 1 Nephi 1:19–20), and the wicked people of Zarahemla would seek to kill Samuel (see Helaman 16).False prophets and corrupt priests so often flourish among a wicked people because they soothe the conscience. They not only teach that there is no wickedness in the people’s actions, but they actually approve these acts as acceptable to God (see 2 Nephi 28:8, Helaman 13:24–28).
