Persecute, persecution are words used for afflicting people. Jacob addressed those who had “afflicted your neighbor, and persecuted him because ye were proud in your hearts” of things God had given them (Jacob 2:20). He also said that some who had obtained riches “persecute your brethren because ye suppose that ye are better than they” (Jacob 2:13).
Those outside the church of God “began to persecute those that did belong to the church of God, and had taken upon them the name of Christ” (Alma 1:19). They did “persecute them, and afflict them with all manner of words” because of their humility and because they imparted the word of God “without money and without price” (Alma 1:20). Pride also led to “the persecution of many of their brethren,” while the humble suffered persecutions and affliction (Helaman 3:34).