The progress of the church slows down. Mormon attributes it to the pride of some of the members. While that is certainly possible, the end of the famine and return to prosperity that is the impetus to the pride of the members is equally to blame. That adoption of the trappings of the world would tell those outside the church that the real goal of many was to follow the same worldly way that these people outside the church were following in any case. It is little wonder that the progress of the church halts when the famine that forced humility is abated, and those inside the church begin to be more worldly than those who do not join. The church would have ceased to offer anything to these people, who could get the trappings of the world without the church.