Considering the changes, what was the likely persecution? Mosiah 27:4

Considering the changes, what was the likely persecution? Mosiah 27:4

King Mosiah deals with some problems in the church. I'll highlight some things and comment on them.

1 And now it came to pass that the persecutions which were inflicted on the church by the unbelievers became so great that the church began to murmur, and complain to their leaders concerning the matter; and they did complain to Alma. And Alma laid the case before their king, Mosiah. And Mosiah consulted with his priests.

2 And it came to pass that king Mosiah sent a proclamation throughout the land round about that there should not any unbeliever persecute any of those who belonged to the church of God.

3 And there was a strict command throughout all the churches that there should be no persecutions among them, that there should be an equality among all men;

4 That they should let no pride nor haughtiness disturb their peace; that every man should esteem his neighbor as himself, laboring with their own hands for their support.

Answer:

It seems like the unbelievers were probably persecuting the believers by somehow subjecting them to additional labor. Maybe this was the end of whatever vestigial remnants of feudalism (or something like that) existed in their society. Or maybe it wasn't a remnant, but some kind of new creation. Regardless, it seems like the new system was much more fair towards both unbelievers and believers.

I know that here "men" probably means "men and women" - but it is still such an irritating limitation of my stupid language that there isn't a better way to express this idea. I am kind of sick about discourse about how equal and great everything is whilst simultaneously failing to recognize the big, fat, slightly-more-than-half-the-population-sized elephant in the room. Or elephants? Hmm. I dunno.

Sigh. There's nothing I can do to change any of that.