Mosiah 29
When
Mosiah asked his people who should be king
They
replied that Aaron, his son, should be ruling.
But
none of his sons were willing to take the throne,
So
Mosiah made a new system of his own.
“O, my
people, I know that you want a monarch
“But I
have a new plan. Listen to my remarks:
“Many
kings have caused contention, bloodshed and sin.
“Let us
now be wise and not have a king again.
“Our
system of government will have fewer flaws.
“We
will have judges who will govern by the law.
“In
this land there should be no inequality.
“No!
Instead, it should be a land of liberty.
“But
even this type of government will fail when
“The
majority of people choose wicked men.”
All the
people gathered to vote and make their choice.
Judges
were appointed and everyone rejoiced.
Alma
was the chief judge they voted for that day.
It
would not be long till his dad would pass away.
He had
recently turned the age of 82.
And,
soon afterward, King Mosiah would die, too.
Alma 1
That
first year the chief judge, Alma, heard of Nehor.
He was
such a problem he couldn’t be ignored.
Nehor
went about teaching people false doctrine.
He was
successful until he met Gideon.
Gideon
withstood him with the word of the Lord.
So
Nehor got angry and slew him with his sword.
Though
Nehor was executed for this great crime
Men
continued preaching like he had all the time.
Sadly, there were members
who would withdraw their names
From
church records and tormented those who remained.
Though
this was a trial for those who chose to stay
They
were given peace and prospered in every way.
Alma 2
Only
four years later a man named Amlici
Was, a
lot like Nehor, a very cunning guy.
He
persuaded many that they should make him king
But
church members found this idea quite alarming.
So the
people voted, to see if he should rule.
When he
was rejected, Amlici lost his cool.
All his
followers, who called themselves Amlicites,
Armed themselves so they
could fight against the Nephites.
Strengthened by the Lord,
the Nephites won that first fight,
So the
Amlicites fled and joined the Lamanites.
Now
their force was huge. They wanted to keep fighting,
So they
met the Nephites at the river Sidon.
Alma
led his men in the strength of the Lord.
He
personally slew Amlici with the sword.
Though
they were outnumbered, the brave Nephites prevailed.
All the
Amlicites ran away; their plan had failed.
Alma 3
After
the battle the Nephites buried the dead
And
noticed a mark on the Amlicites’ foreheads.
They
had used this red mark to set themselves apart.
More
importantly, it showed the state of their hearts.
God has
promised that those who rebel will be cursed
(It’s
in First Nephi 2 in the twenty-third verse.)
God has
said that all who are cursed will have a mark,
Like
the Lamanites, whose countenances seemed dark.
This
was so that God’s people could stay far away
From
others who would attempt to lead them astray.
But
this doesn’t mean that they’re all forever cursed.—
Any who
repent will learn it can be reversed.
We
should be careful when we choose our dates and friends.
We
should make sure they’ll help us keep our covenants.
Alma 4
Lamanites
attacked and were beaten yet again,
As the
fifth year of the judges came to an end.
There
were no more wars or contentions the next year
But for
all their losses, the families shed tears.
For a
time their sorrow led them to be more wise;
In the
next two years, many people were baptized.
But in
the eighth year of the judges they grew proud
Because
of the riches with which they were endowed.
All the
faithful saints were dismayed to see these sins
Not
only outside the church, but also within.
In
fact, Alma learned, church members were often worse.
There
was so much strife, Alma thought his heart would burst.
Alma
wanted to devote all his time to preach,
So he
asked Nephihah to fill his judgment seat.
© 2020 by N. Noelle Maes
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