Now it came to pass in the sixth year. . .the people were afflicted, yea, greatly afflicted for the loss of their brethren, and also for the loss of their flocks and herds, and also for the loss of their fields of grain
. . .and they believed that it was the judgments of God sent upon them because of their wickedness and their abominations; therefore they were awakened to a remembrance of their duty.
And they began to establish the church more fully; yea, and many were baptized. . .and it came to pass in the seventh year of the reign of the judges there were about three thousand five hundred souls that united themselves to the church of God and were baptized.
And it came to pass in the eighth year of the reign of the judges, that the people of the church began to wax proud
. . .And it came to pass in the commencement of the ninth year, Alma saw the wickedness of the church. . .yea, he saw great inequality among the people, some lifting themselves up with their pride, despising others, turning their backs upon the needy and the naked and those who were hungry, and those who were athirst, and those who were sick and afflicted.
From this example, and I anticipate there are others much similar to it, it seems that the impetus for change here was effective in the short term, but not in the long term.
In other words, when someone believes the judgments of God are upon them, it may motivate them to righteousness, but only long enough to get out from underneath those perceived judgments.
Thus, this belief seems to create a manipulation of behavior that only maintains its effect while the manipulation is in place, not an inspiration of behavior that can change a heart for a lifetime.
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