Alma 51:1-21

Chapter 51

The king–men seek to change the law and set up a king—Pahoran and the freemen are supported by the voice of the people—Moroni compels the king–men to defend their liberty or be put to death—Amalickiah and the Lamanites capture many fortified cities—Teancum repels the Lamanite invasion and slays Amalickiah in his tent. About 67–66 B.C.

Shortly after Pahoran became chief judge, contentions arose. There was a group of people who felt that the law should be changed. They wanted to replace the position of the chief judge to a king. Those who wanted a king were called king-men.

Pahoran refused to change the laws. There were heated discussions, but they did not led to a civil war. But, there would be problems. “A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren” (Proverbs 6:19). Those who supported Pahoran were called freeman. The freeman covenanted to maintain a free government.

Eventually the people were asked if they wanted a king or wanted to keep a chief judge. The freeman prevailed and Pahoran continued as chief judge. For a time, this silenced the king-men. They did not dare to oppose the will of the people.

The king-men were among the upper class in Nephite society. They wanted to be kings and their support came from people who wanted to have authority of the people.

This contentions came at a bad time. Amalickiah was still king of the Lamanites, and he stirred up the Lamanites and gathered soldiers from all parts of his land. This is the same Amalickiah who had sworn to drink Moroni’s blood. “Yea, he was exceedingly wroth, and he did curse God, and also Moroni, swearing with an oath that he would drink his blood; and this because Moroni had kept the commandments of God in preparing for the safety of his people” (Alma 49:27).

Mormon gives us a hint of what’s coming, telling us Amalickiah’s promise to drink Moroni’s blood was rash.

He began to work to prepare his army for war.  His army was smaller because he mismanaged the previous war and lost much of his army. 

Once his army was ready, he led his army in war against the Nephites. This occurred as they Nephites were attempting to reunite after the decision was made to keep the chief judge.

The king-men showed their true colors.  Hearing the Lamanites were coming to attack, they were pleased.  They refused to take up arms and defend their land and people because they had been rejected in their attempt to establish a king.

Hearing of their refusal, Moroni was angry with them.  He asked the people to give him the authority to give them a choice – take up arms and defend their land or be executed. 

16 For it was his first care to put an end to such contentions and dissensions among the people; for behold, this had been hitherto a cause of all their destruction. And it came to pass that it was granted according to the voice of the people.

17 And it came to pass that Moroni commanded that his army should go against those king–men, to pull down their pride and their nobility and level them with the earth, or they should take up arms and support the cause of liberty.

The dissensions and contentions had to cease.  They must unit to defeat the Lamanites.  The voice of the people gave Moroni the authority he requested.  He sent his army to confront the king-men and give them their options. 

The king-men took up arms against Moroni’s army.  They suffered an overwhelming defeat.  Four thousands king-men were killed.  Their leaders who had not died in the  battle were thrown into prison.

The remainder understood Moroni’s message.  They yielded to Moroni and took up arms to defend their country. This ended the king-men.  They were thoroughly defeated.