The story of Nehor was a necessary prelude to the story of Amlici. Amlici is “after the order of the man that slew Gideon by the sword, who was executed according to the law.” This circumlocutous reference to Nehor tells us much about Amlici before we read any more about him. We know what his political and economic ideas are, and we know that they are considered subversive in Nephite culture. Mormon’s rather unsubtle reference to Nehor’s execution sets up Amlici as an undesirable man even before we truly meet him.
Amlici was far more important to Nephite history than Nehor was. While Mormon appears to give Nehor top billing, Amlici had a much greater negative impact on Zarahemla. In addition to learning that Amlici is after the order of the Nehors (without mentioning that name) we learn also that Amlici is a “wise man as to the wisdom of the world,” a condition that appears directly related to being after the order of the Nehors. It would appear that there is a tight correlation between the ideals of the “Nehors” and the learning of the world.
To what world does Mormon refer? If we read this in a modern sense it might be a church/secular division. That does not fit Mormon’s worldview. It is clearly a reference to a competing idea, but in Mormon’s world that division was not between church and secular but between completely different competing politico-religious systems. The Nehors fit into a complex of ideas that mesh well with the general nature of Mesoamerican culture. The Nehors are king-men who espouse not only kings, but the social stratification that attends kingdoms. These are also they who are accused of wearing “fine clothing,” which we have also seen as a key element of social stratification. To what world does Mormon refer? He refers to the competing religions and social systems of the various cultures that surround the Nephite society in Zarahemla.
Chronology: The fifth year of the reign of the judges would make this 87 B.C.