Alma 17:14

And assuredly it was great, for they had undertaken to preach the word of God to a wild, and a hardened, and a ferocious people; a people which delighted in the murdering the Nephites, and robbing, and plundering them; and their hearts were set upon riches, or upon gold, and silver, and precious stones; yet they sought to obtain these things by murdering and plundering, that they might not labor for them with their own hands:

It was a big job. They were going to preach God’s word to a wild, hard, and fierce people. These people loved to murder the Nephites and rob and steal from them. Their hearts wanted riches, gold, silver, and precious stones. But they wanted to get these things by murdering and stealing, not by working for them.

And it was. They were trying to preach God’s word to a fierce, hardened, violent people—a people who loved killing Nephites, stealing from them, and plundering them. Their hearts were set on treasure: gold, silver, precious stones. But instead of working for these things, they’d rather murder and rob to get them.