Judges and Kings

Returning to the political and religious climate in Zarahemla, I am sad to introduce one of the most troubled times in Nephite history.

The trouble was fomented by a wicked and ambitious man by the name of Amalickiah.  If you will remember, when King Mosiah's sons refused the crown, Mosiah introduced  a political system based on courts and judges and abolished kingship among the Nephites.  It had worked very well.  Until Amalickiah rose to a position of popularity.

According to Sorensen, political alliance and religious alliance were closely connected in ancient Mesoamerica just as it had been in ancient Israel and in most ancient cultures. (p. 240) The prophet Alma had served for some time as the chief judge, but as the troubles became worse, he resigned his judgment seat and focused on his calling as prophet.

Amalikiah was dangerous because of his charismatic personality and his lust for power.  He wanted to become a king and he convinced many people that his cause was just and best for the Nephite nation.  When his rebellion was put down, he and his followers, including his  equally wicked brother, made an alliance with the Lamanites.  Just as he gained followers among the Nephites, he also worked his wicked tongue among the Lamanites.  He convinced the king of the Lamanites to rise up to war against the Nephites.

But one of the Lamanite chiefs didn't want war.  He took his people to a stronghold in the mountains.  Amalickiah convinced the Lamanite king to send him to talk the rebel out of the mountains if the king made him, Amalickiah, his next-in-command.  This he did.  He convinced the rebel that he would deliver him from the wrath of the king, then betrayed this trust and killed the rebel chieftain when he came down the mountain to talk. 

When Amalickiah returned to camp, the Lamanite king came out to meet him and he killed him, too.  He laid the blame on the king's servants, who were hunted down and slaughtered.  He then wooed the Lamanite queen and married her and became King of all the Lamanites.  Now he was in position to go to war against his former brethren in Zarahemla.

Text copyright December 2013, Gebara Education

Pictures
Amalickiah from www.bookofmormonbattles.
Amalickiah and the Lamanites from www.lds.org