So many of Mormon’s lessons are set up according to a time of righteousness that leads to pride, and that leads to dissentions and to wars. Their prosperity will also lead to problems. What is slightly different about this description of their prosperity is that Mormon spends more time noting that there were more riches, and more crops, flocks and herds. There is great prosperity, both in their living standard and in the things that are useful in trade. Mormon’s references to the north will become more important. He begins now to tell a story about the eventual destruction of the Nephite government and way of life due to the influence of the Gadiantons.
Mormon had introduced the Gadiantons early in the book of Helaman, and then had them disappear. After that point, Mormon began to write more about the north than he ever had. He will see the Gadiantons being associated with the north. This prosperity that comes with the greater trade with the north will also increase the numbers of Gadiantons in the Nephite lands.