What does it mean to "come out in open rebellion against God" (Alma 3:18)? It is very interesting to compare what the various writers in the Book of Mormon associate with rebellion. The following possible characteristics of those in "open rebellion against God" have been compiled from verses in the Book of Mormon containing the word "rebel":
They "harden" their hearts and will not hear (Alma 10:6).
They "listeth to obey the evil spirit" (Mosiah 2:37).
They know the commandments of God and will not keep them (Mosiah 15:26; 3 Nephi 6:18).
They persist in their "own carnal nature" (Mosiah 16:5).
They are cursed "even with a sore curse" (1 Nephi 2:21).
They are "cut off from the presence of the Lord" (1 Ne 2:21).
They "mark themselves" (Alma 3:18).
They teach their children "that they should not believe" (4 Nephi 1:38).
They "joy in your afflictions" (Alma 61:3).
They build up secret combinations "to get power and gain" (Ether 11:15).
They heap up for themselves "wrath against the day of judgment" (Helaman 8:25).
They become "an enemy to all righteousness" (Mosiah 2:37).
They seek to "destroy the liberty of the people" (Helaman 1:8).
They "take up arms" against the people of God (Alma 24:2).
They will "be destroyed from off the face of the earth" (Alma 9:24).
They "remain in a fallen state and the Devil hath all power over" them (Mosiah 16:5).
[Alan C. Miner, Personal Notes]