I get thinking about what Nehor was trying to accomplish in selling his social and theological ideas and some things stand out. He wanted priests to be supported by the people (a change in their society) but that has the effect of encouraging doctrine that is pleasing to the people (the more people like what you teach the more they will support you) thus reinforcing the idea that truth is relative (determined by individuals or collective agreement) rather than absolute (determined by God). Even if a preacher teaches that truth is absolute they practice the idea of relativism if they reinforce the practice of each individual choosing and supporting their preferred source of doctrine.
Note that Alma warned against the dangers of priestcraft but it wasn’t illegal and he didn’t punish Nehor for practicing it. He punished Nehor for what he did that was against the law, namely killing Gideon.
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