Here, Mormon tells us that the Lord had told him, that the people of his day were the most wicked group there had ever been! That is HUGE! They were more wicked than those who crucified Christ. More wicked than any previous generation of Nephites. How did they get there? A couple scriptures in chapters 4 and 5 give us one clue. Their reliance on themselves left no room for them to have any faith or hope in Heavenly Father. But as you an I come to know Heavenly Father more, the better able we are to rely on Him.