I can’t decode if it would be easier to be righteous while living in the midst of great wickedness or while living in the must of great wilderness. In the one car you would have ample opportunity to benefit and collaborate with others in meeting the material needs of your family but you would be swimming against the current to raise your children in righteousness. In the other case you would be without contrast to teach the truths of the gospel and would also be forced to meet all your material needs without assistance but your children would have little or no outside influences trying to twist your teachings or draw them away after wicked practices.
Nephi was in the latter circumstance (although he had the wickedness of his brothers as spiritual opposition even in the wilderness). I imagine that which circumstance is harder will depend on your personality.
Nephi thrived in his circumstance as evidenced by his experience of the vision of eternity while he was still very young. He believed his prophet-father but then went to inquire for himself and the result was that he was taught by an angel about the plan of salvation and the course of history.
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