Mormon, no stranger to the shifting patterns and cycles of behavior displayed in the records of the people over the generations, inserts a point of wisdom into his account, that no barrier to continuing prosperity exists except for transgression. He writes at a time well after the Nephite nation has passed through generations of righteousness following the ministry of the Savior and now faces certain extinction—because of wickedness. Mormon is therefore an authority on the relationship between righteousness and prosperity on the one hand, and apostasy and destruction on the other. After the great victory over the forces of evil, the Nephites return to their own places of residence throughout the land and enjoy an abundance of prosperity. This is when they come face-to-face with their nemesis: “And now there was nothing in all the land to hinder the people from prospering continually, except they should fall into transgression” (verse 5).