Mosiah 26:16-24

16 Now I say unto you, that because all men are not just it is not expedient that ye should have a king or kings to rule over you.

17 For behold, how much iniquity doth one wicked king cause to be committed, yea, and what great destruction!

18 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.

19 And were it not for the interposition of their all-wise Creator, and this because of their sincere repentance, they must unavoidably remain in bondage until now.

20 But behold, he did deliver them because they did humble themselves before him; and because they cried mightily unto him he did deliver them out of bondage; and thus doth the Lord work with his power in all cases among the children of men, extending the arm of mercy towards them that put their trust in him.

21 And behold, now I say unto you, ye cannot dethrone an iniquitous king save it be through much contention, and the shedding of much blood.

22 For behold, he has his friends in iniquity, and he keepeth his guards about him; and he teareth up the laws of those who have reigned in righteousness before him; and he trampleth under his feet the commandments of God;

23 And he enacteth laws, and sendeth them forth among his people, yea, laws after the manner of his own wickedness; and whosoever doth not obey his laws he causeth to be destroyed; and whosoever doth rebel against him he will send his armies against them to war, and if he can he will destroy them; and thus an unrighteous king doth pervert the ways of all righteousness.

24 And now behold I say unto you, it is not expedient that such abominations should come upon you.

Mosiah points out they cannot be sure they will have a just man as king. Because of this, it is not a good idea they have a king. A wicked king can do a much iniquity. In 2 Samuel we read…

“But Omri wrought evil in the eyes of the Lord, and did worse than all that were before him.

“For he walked in all the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin, to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger with their vanities” (1 Kings 16:25-26).

A wicked man, Amalickiah attempted to overthrow the government, Mormon tells us, “Yea, and we also see the great wickedness one very wicked man [Amalickiah] can cause to take place among the children of men” (Alma 46:9).

Proverbs warns us about a wicked king. “It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness” (Proverbs 16:12).

In the end, a wicked king can lead to the destruction of the people.

He reminded them of what happened under the rule of the wicked king, Noah.

“And now it came to pass that Zeniff conferred the kingdom upon Noah, one of his sons; therefore Noah began to reign in his stead; and he did not walk in the ways of his father.

“For behold, he did not keep the commandments of God, but he did walk after the desires of his own heart. And he had many wives and concubines. And he did cause his people to commit sin, and do that which was abominable in the sight of the Lord. Yea, and they did commit whoredoms and all manner of wickedness” (Mosiah 11:1-2).

This eventually led to their downfall and bondage.

Having translated the Jaredite record, he may well have had them in mind. The Jaredites wanted a king. The brother of Jared warned them against having a king.

“And it came to pass that the people desired of them that they should anoint one of their sons to be a king over them.

“And now behold, this was grievous unto them. And the brother of Jared said unto them: Surely this thing leadeth into captivity” (Ether 6:22-23).

Jared convinced him to appoint a king. This put them on the road to the eventual destruction.

The only way the people of Noah were freed from bondage was through their repentance and God’s intervention; otherwise, they would still be in bondage.

They humbled themselves before Him. “And they did humble themselves even in the depths of humility; and they did cry mightily to God; yea, even all the day long did they cry unto their God that he would deliver them out of their afflictions” (Mosiah 21:14).

When they repented, He extended “the arm of mercy towards them that put their trust in him” (Mosiah 29:20). “Yea, and as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me” (Mosiah 26:30).

A wicked king can only be dethroned through the shedding of blood. He has friends supporting him and keeps his guards with him at all times. King Rehoboam is an example of this.

“And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men [OR elders], that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?

“And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever.

“But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him” (1 Kings 12:6-8).

He ignores the laws and “trampleth under his feet the commandments of God” (Mosiah 29:22).

He well enact “laws after the manner of his own wickedness” (Mosiah 29:23). He will do all he can to destroy his opponents, “[perverting] the ways of all righteousness” (Mosiah 29:23).

It is not right that these abominations should come upon the people.