Priestcraft and the natural man go hand in hand. In their fallen state, many of Alma’s people followed their carnal and sensual desires for riches and honor (v. 16). Their fear of the law prompted them to lie to cover themselves, and when they couldn’t lie they preached false precepts taking advantage of the law for freedom of religion (v. 17). While their actions would have been punishable by law, they used freedom of speech as an excuse to persecute and afflict the church members “with all manner of words” (v. 20). Their church meanwhile had a law similar to one of our Articles of Faith: “We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may” (A of F, 11). Many of the church members were too proud to resist the evil of persecution and retaliated physically against their adversaries (v. 22). They did not follow the higher law that Christ gave in his mortal ministry. “Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift” (Matthew 5:44; also given to the Nephites, 3 Nephi 12:44). Their retaliation led to some members being excommunicated and others falling away (Alma 1:24). Such were the conditions in the second year of the reign of Alma (v. 23). Those outside of the church and many within were not seeking the welfare of Zion. They followed priestcraft instead of priesthood.