The dissenters were socially segregated, “a separate people.” Ironically, while Alma’s churches provided a tighter community of believers inside a larger community, they also allowed for an obvious distinction between church-men and non-church-men. Prior to the institution of the church, religion occurred on a community level, and the individual participation could be overlooked. Once institutions required individual allegiances, dissenters became conspicuous. This polarization would increase cohesiveness among the nonbelievers in almost the same way that membership in the churches increased believers’ cohesiveness.
Mormon’s conclusion that the dissenters remained separate “ever after” is somewhat problematic since he promptly tells the stories of some who did not. Why would Mormon make a statement of such pessimistic finality, then immediately contradict it? Obviously it is that Alma2 and the sons of Mosiah are the most important exceptions to the rule he has enunciated. Nevertheless, the general trend was the creation of a religious division in Nephite society that afflicted the people “ever after.” Indeed, it is quite likely that Mormon was continuing to witness some of the same problems created by the Nephite apostasy.