The Book of Mormon

Alma 1:3

1830 Edition

and he had gone about among the people, preaching to them that which he termed to be the word of God, bearing down against the church; declaring unto the people that every priest and teacher had ought to become popular; and they ought not to labor with their own hands, but that they had ought to be supported by the people;

Changes

aAnd he had gone about among the people, preaching to them that which he termed to be the word of God, bearing down against the church; declaring unto the people that every priest and teacher had ought to become popular; and they ought not to labor with their own hands, but that they had ought to be supported by the people;.

Simple English

He had gone around teaching people what he called God’s word. But he spoke against the church. He told people that all priests and teachers should be popular. He said they should not work with their hands. Instead, the people should pay them.

Paraphrase

He’d been traveling around preaching what he called God’s word, attacking the church. He told people that priests and teachers should be popular celebrities, that they shouldn’t have to work for a living but should be supported by the people.