51:1 And now it came to pass in the commencement of the twenty and
fifth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, they
having established peace between the people of Lehi and the people of
Morianton concerning their lands, and having commenced the twenty and
fifth year in peace;
51:2 Nevertheless, they did not long maintain an entire peace in the
land, for there began to be a contention among the people concerning
the chief judge Pahoran; for behold, there were a part of the people
who desired that a few particular points of the law should be altered.
51:3 But behold, Pahoran would not alter nor suffer the law to be
altered; therefore, he did not hearken to those who had sent in their
voices with their petitions concerning the altering of the law.
51:4 Therefore, those who were desirous that the law should be altered
were angry with him, and desired that he should no longer be chief
judge over the land; therefore there arose a warm dispute concerning
the matter, but not unto bloodshed.
51:5 And it came to pass that those who were desirous that Pahoran
should be dethroned from the judgment-seat were called king-men, for
they were desirous that the law should be altered in a manner to
overthrow the free government and to establish a king over the land.
51:6 And those who were desirous that Pahoran should remain chief judge
over the land took upon them the name of freemen; and thus was the
division among them, for the freemen had sworn or covenanted to
maintain their rights and the privileges of their religion by a free
government.
51:7 And it came to pass that this matter of their contention was
settled by the voice of the people. And it came to pass that the voice
of the people came in favor of the freemen, and Pahoran retained the
judgment-seat, which caused much rejoicing among the brethren of
Pahoran and also many of the people of liberty, who also put the
king-men to silence, that they durst not oppose but were obliged to
maintain the cause of freedom.
51:8 Now those who were in favor of kings were those of high birth, and
they sought to be kings; and they were supported by those who sought
power and authority over the people.
51:9 But behold, this was a critical time for such contentions to be
among the people of Nephi; for behold, Amalickiah had again stirred up
the hearts of the people of the Lamanites against the people of the
Nephites, and he was gathering together soldiers from all parts of his
land, and arming them, and preparing for war with all diligence; for he
had sworn to drink the blood of Moroni.
51:10 But behold, we shall see that his promise which he made was rash;
nevertheless, he did prepare himself and his armies to come to battle
against the Nephites.
51:11 Now his armies were not so great as they had hitherto been,
because of the many thousands who had been slain by the hand of the
Nephites; but notwithstanding their great loss, Amalickiah had gathered
together a wonderfully great army, insomuch that he feared not to come
down to the land of Zarahemla.
51:12 Yea, even Amalickiah did himself come down, at the head of the
Lamanites. And it was in the twenty and fifth year of the reign of the
judges; and it was at the same time that they had begun to settle the
affairs of their contentions concerning the chief judge, Pahoran.
51:13 And it came to pass that when the men who were called king-men
had heard that the Lamanites were coming down to battle against them,
they were glad in their hearts; and they refused to take up arms, for
they were so wroth with the chief judge, and also with the people of
liberty, that they would not take up arms to defend their country.
51:14 And it came to pass that when Moroni saw this, and also saw that
the Lamanites were coming into the borders of the land, he was
exceedingly wroth because of the stubbornness of those people whom he
had labored with so much diligence to preserve; yea, he was exceedingly
wroth; his soul was filled with anger against them.
51:15 And it came to pass that he sent a petition, with the voice of
the people, unto the governor of the land, desiring that he should read
it, and give him (Moroni) power to compel those dissenters to defend
their country or to put them to death.
51:16 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.
51:17 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.
51:18 And it came to pass that the armies did march forth against them;
and they did pull down their pride and their nobility, insomuch that as
they did lift their weapons of war to fight against the men of Moroni
they were hewn down and leveled to the earth.
51:19 And it came to pass that there were four thousand of those
dissenters who were hewn down by the sword; and those of their leaders
who were not slain in battle were taken and cast into prison, for there
was no time for their trials at this period.
51:20 And the remainder of those dissenters, rather than be smitten
down to the earth by the sword, yielded to the standard of liberty, and
were compelled to hoist the title of liberty upon their towers, and in
their cities, and to take up arms in defence of their country.
51:21 And thus Moroni put an end to those king-men, that there were not
any known by the appellation of king-men; and thus he put an end to the
stubbornness and the pride of those people who professed the blood of
nobility; but they were brought down to humble themselves like unto
their brethren, and to fight valiantly for their freedom from bondage.
51:22 Behold, it came to pass that while Moroni was thus breaking down
the wars and contentions among his own people, and subjecting them to
peace and civilization, and making regulations to prepare for war
against the Lamanites, behold, the Lamanites had come into the land of
Moroni, which was in the borders by the seashore.
51:23 And it came to pass that the Nephites were not sufficiently
strong in the city of Moroni; therefore Amalickiah did drive them,
slaying many. And it came to pass that Amalickiah took possession of
the city, yea, possession of all their fortifications.
51:24 And those who fled out of the city of Moroni came to the city of
Nephihah; and also the people of the city of Lehi gathered themselves
together, and made preparations and were ready to receive the Lamanites
to battle.
51:25 But it came to pass that Amalickiah would not suffer the
Lamanites to go against the city of Nephihah to battle, but kept them
down by the seashore, leaving men in every city to maintain and defend
it.
51:26 And thus he went on, taking possession of many cities, the city
of Nephihah, and the city of Lehi, and the city of Morianton, and the
city of Omner, and the city of Gid, and the city of Mulek, all of which
were on the east borders by the seashore.
51:27 And thus had the Lamanites obtained, by the cunning of
Amalickiah, so many cities, by their numberless hosts, all of which
were strongly fortified after the manner of the fortifications of
Moroni; all of which afforded strongholds for the Lamanites.
51:28 And it came to pass that they marched to the borders of the land
Bountiful, driving the Nephites before them and slaying many.
51:29 But it came to pass that they were met by Teancum, who had slain
Morianton and had headed his people in his flight.
51:30 And it came to pass that he headed Amalickiah also, as he was
marching forth with his numerous army that he might take possession of
the land Bountiful, and also the land northward.
51:31 But behold he met with a disappointment by being repulsed by
Teancum and his men, for they were great warriors; for every man of
Teancum did exceed the Lamanites in their strength and in their skill
of war, insomuch that they did gain advantage over the Lamanites.
51:32 And it came to pass that they did harass them, insomuch that they
did slay them even until it was dark. And it came to pass that Teancum
and his men did pitch their tents in the borders of the land Bountiful;
and Amalickiah did pitch his tents in the borders on the beach by the
seashore, and after this manner were they driven.
51:33 And it came to pass that when the night had come, Teancum and his
servant stole forth and went out by night, and went into the camp of
Amalickiah; and behold, sleep had overpowered them because of their
much fatigue, which was caused by the labors and heat of the day.
51:34 And it came to pass that Teancum stole privily into the tent of
the king, and put a javelin to his heart; and he did cause the death of
the king immediately that he did not awake his servants.
51:35 And he returned again privily to his own camp, and behold, his
men were asleep, and he awoke them and told them all the things that he
had done.
51:36 And he caused that his armies should stand in readiness, lest the
Lamanites had awakened and should come upon them.
51:37 And thus endeth the twenty and fifth year of the reign of the
judges over the people of Nephi; and thus endeth the days of
Amalickiah.