On a social level, the contention between the church and the opposing religion focuses on social stratification manifested in the costly apparel and personal wealth. On the purely religious level, the contention is between those who believe in the Atoning Messiah and those who deny the Atoning Messiah. It is in that context of conflicts that Mormon describes these good members of the church. Those who believed in economic egalitarianism also did believe in the coming of the Atoning Messiah. That is how Mormon is describing them here.