In Ammonihah, Alma finds that “Satan had gotten great hold upon the hearts of the people of the city of Ammonihah.” Since the confrontation focuses on the mission of the Atoning Messiah, the obvious “problem” is that the Ammonihahites do not accept this aspect of Nephite religion despite its nominal political affiliation to Zarahemla. Alma 14:16 discloses that the order of the Nehors is present (and probably prevalent) in Ammonihah. Thus, Satan’s “great hold” is almost certainly the inhabitants’ adoption of the apostate order of the Nehors, with all of the associated ideological and economic trappings. (See “Excursus: Religion of the Nehors,” following Alma 1.) It is logical that Ammonihah would be particularly susceptible to these outside influences if for no other reason than its distance from Zarahemla, which would assure infrequent contact. In Mesoamerica, even twelve miles was, during the Book of Mormon period, a sufficient separation for two independent and powerful cities.