The dissension described led to pride and wickedness which ushered in the scourge of Lamanite armies. Had the Nephites followed the counsel of Helaman and his brethren, Captain Moroni, would have been remembered as a “peace-time general.”
“It is noteworthy that dissension in the Nephite church was associated with contention in the nation (Alma 45:21-46:7; Helaman 4:1). In other words, there may be a spill-over effect…For instance, dissension within the church preceded (and perhaps spiritually caused) the great civil dissensions that soon plagued the entire Nephite nation as it plunged into a terribly destructive series of wars with the Lamanites, who were led and strengthened by Nephite dissenters (Alma 45:20-24; Alma 46-62).” (Lynn D. Wardle, FARMS, vol. 3 No. 1—Spring 1994, p. 69)