“The Poor, the Meek and the Humble Followers of God”

Brant Gardner

Gadianton dominance creates social classes marked by the elites’ exploitation and contempt toward the non-elites. As proponents of the Nephite egalitarian ideal, church members naturally were not strong contenders for luxury goods and therefore automatically fell to a lower rung on the social ladder consisting of visible display. These distinctions in social order created “rich” and “poor” classes; the rich would shun and despise the “followers of God” who did not make such displays—or care to.

Second Witness: Analytical & Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 5

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