Turning Away

The Content
Alma 43
Verse 6

And now, as the Amalekites were of a more wicked and murderous disposition than the Lamanites were, in and of themselves, therefore, Zerahemnah appointed chief captains over the Lamanites, and they were all Amalekites and Zoramites.

The Comments:

The captains of the Lamanites were ex-Nephites (Amalekites) and Zoramites.

What makes a person want to kill their people?

Something terrible must happen when a person makes the conscious decision to turn away from the Savior and the gospel.  Those who turn away can become more embittered (<--is that even a word?) anyone else.

The scriptures talk a lot about hard hearts.  I wonder if this is what happened here-some sort of defense mechanism against God/good.  Without a soft heart, the Spirit cannot touch you.