The Nephites disbelief in the spirit of prophecy (v. 23) tells us they had been centered in Christ. The spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus (see Revelation 19:10 and TPJS, 119). Their disbelief in the spirit of revelation (v. 23) tells us they were governing the church by the reasoning of men and not by revelation from God (see D&C 8:2–3). King Mosiah warned his subjects that when “the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you” (Mosiah 29:27). Thus the Nephites were facing such judgment (Helaman 4:23).
Without the Spirit of the Lord (v. 24) man is left with only his natural instincts, but is also subject to the devil (see Mosiah 3:19). The body is “the temple of God” or “the temple of the Holy Ghost” (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19). The Spirit of the Lord withdraws when the body is involved in evil deeds. Thus the Lamanite and Nephite armies were on equal ground, but the Lamanites had the greater advantage because of their numbers (vv. 25–26).