Alma 46:1-10

Chapter 46

Amalickiah conspires to be king—Moroni raises the title of liberty—He rallies the people to defend their religion—True believers are called Christians—A remnant of Joseph shall be preserved—Amalickiah and the dissenters flee to the land of Nephi—Those who will not support the cause of freedom are put to death. About 73–72 B.C.

With Alma’s departure, Helaman began his responsibilities as head of the church.  “And now it came to pass in the ^*commencement of the nineteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, that Helaman went forth among the people to declare the word unto them” (Alma 45:20).

Those who rejected his words came together.  In their anger, they organized under the leadership of an apostate Nephite named Amalickiah.

Amalickiah desired what most Nephite apostates desired.  He wanted to be king, to have absolute power over the people, especially over those whom he hated.  We saw this early in Alma₂’s with Amlici. “Now this Amlici had, by his cunning, drawn away much people after him; even so much that they began to be very powerful; and they began to endeavor to establish Amlici to be a king over the people” (Alma 2:2).

Amalickiah must have been a charismatic man.  Not only was he able to convince a great part of the Nephite dissenters, but he was also able to convince some of the “lower judges” who were hungry for power.

Mormon tells us Amalickiah flattered the people, promising them power over the people if they made him king.  Solomon warned against people like this. “A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet” (Proverbs 29:5). This all happened despite the efforts of Helaman and the high priests.

Many in the church became convinced by Amalickiah’s words.  We have been warned to protect ourselves from these words.  “For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue” (Psalms 5:9).

“The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things” (Psalms 12:3).

“Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues” (Psalms 78:36).

“A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin”

(Proverbs 26:28).

He was successful in leading many away from the church to follow him in his selfish, self-centered ambitions.  This followed the pattern of the followers of Amlici.  “For the hearts of many were hardened, and their names were blotted out, that they were remembered no more among the people of God.  And also many withdrew themselves from among them” (Alma 1:24).

This occurred shortly after the Nephite victory over the Lamanites.  They quickly forgot they had been delivered by the hand of the Lord.  That no longer meant a thing to them.  Power was what they desired.

Mormon breaks away from his narrative to ensure we understand the importance of what is happening.  He wants us to understand it is easy for us to quickly forget what the Lord has done for us and turn to sin.

The Israelites were quick to turn away from God during their wilderness journey.  “They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt” (Exodus 32:8).

“And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did not so” (Judges 2:17).

 “Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage” (Deuteronomy 6:12).

We turn to sin despite all the Lord has done for us.  “And now I say unto you that it was expedient that there should be a law given to the children of Israel, yea, even a very strict law; for they were a stiffnecked people, quick to do iniquity, and slow to remember the Lord their God” (Mosiah 13:29).

“Ye are swift to do iniquity but slow to remember the Lord your God.  Ye have seen an angel, and he spake unto you; yea, ye have heard his voice from time to time; and he hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, but ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel his words; wherefore, he has spoken unto you like unto the voice of thunder, which did cause the earth to shake as if it were to divide asunder” (1 Nephi 17:45).

When King Mosiah abolished the monarchy, he used King Noah as an example.  He was able to turn his people to sin and reject the Lord, leading to their destruction.  “For behold, how much iniquity doth one wicked king cause to be committed, yea, and what great destruction! Yea, remember king Noah, his wickedness and his abominations, and also the wickedness and abominations of his people.  Behold what great destruction did come upon them; and also because of their iniquities they were brought into bondage” (Mosiah 29:17-18).

The Jews also had wicked leaders.  Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Beth-el, and that were in Dan.

Mormon explains Amalickiah was cunning in how he used his words and dealt with the people.  His ultimate goal was to lead the Nephites to reject the church, destroying it.  “Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring.  And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever” (2 Nephi 1:7).

He also desired to deprive the people of their God given right to liberty. “And now it came to pass that after Alma had said these things to Helaman, he blessed him, and also his other sons; and he also blessed the earth for the righteous' sake. And he said: Thus saith the Lord God—Cursed shall be the land, yea, this land, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, unto destruction, which do wickedly, when they are fully ripe; and as I have said so shall it be; for this is the cursing and the blessing of God upon the land, for the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance” (Alma 45:15-16).

“And there had been murders, and contentions, and dissensions, and all manner of iniquity among the people of Nephi; nevertheless for the righteous' sake, yea, because of the prayers of the righteous, they were spared” (Alma 62:40).