Catching Up in Zarahemla ~ Government Reform

Mosiah's sons did not want to be king.

After their participation in Alma's theophany, none of the sons of Mosiah had any desire to be king.  Instead, they chose to serve missions (we will talk more about these missions at a later date.) 

Sorensen writes of this time prior to Mosiah's death:  Clues to the growth [of Zarahemla] are scattered throughout accounts . . . "The people began to be very numerous, and began to scatter abroad upon the face of the earth, yea, on the north and on the south, on the east and on the west . . .  in all quarters of the land" (Mosiah 27:6.)

With increasing dispersion it became impossible to hold assemblies of all his people anymore.  This is evident in Mosiah's procedure when the issue arose on who should be the new king to replace him.  This time he did not call a meeting,  Instead, he merely "sent out" among the people . . . "even a written word" (Mosiah 29:1, 4.) (Sorensen, pp 191, 192)

Sorensen goes on to explain that with a growing and complex society, the burden of rule became overwhelming.  This prompted Mosiah to reform the government structure. (p. 192)  Mosiah, therefore, set up a system of judges throughout the land.  Alma was chosen to be the chief judge of the land.  His father, Alma the Elder, had died by this time and Alma took his place as the high priest of the church.  He served this dual role for many years.

As dissension increased in the land and the challenge of holding both positions became overwhelming, Alma gave up the judgment seat to an honest man by the name of Nephihah.  Alma chose to focus on his calling as the high priest of the church of God.  Then, and only then, did he begin his missionary travels.  He wasn't a young man, full of zeal. but still wet behind the ears, by then: he was a seasoned judge and the prophet of God.  This will be important as we study tomorrow what happened to Alma in the City of Amonihah 

Text copyright August 2013, Gebara Education

Quotes from An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon by John L. Sorensen

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