LAWS OF THE NEPHITES CONTINUED--THE DIVISION INTO TRIBES--THE
MESSIANIC DISPENSATION--THE FINAL CONVULSION.
We can well understand that the originating or primal cause of the
destruction of the Nephite republic was the corruption of the people,
especially of those whose duty it was to administer the law. This
class, being greedy for power, formed a secret combination (as those
of old time) to establish a kingdom; and as a means to this end,
they had the chief judge assassinated, while they selected a man
named Jacob for their king. These royalists, or kingmen, were not as
successful in obtaining the sympathy of the majority of the people
as they anticipated; they therefore decided to remove in a body to
the northernmost part of the land, and there establish the monarchy.
This design they successfully carried out. Those who remained at home
favored the division of the people into tribes, and there being none
strong enough to effectually oppose this suicidal policy, the republic
became a thing of the past.
The organization of these tribes was evidently on the patriarchal
principle; the head, or most influential member of a family, gathered
his kinsmen around him. The historian states: And the people were
divided one against another, and they did separate one from another,
into tribes, every man according to his family, and his kindred, and
friends.
Each of these tribes chose a chief, leader, or ruler, as it is written:
And every tribe did appoint a chief, or leader over them; and thus they
became tribes and leaders of tribes.
Now behold, there was no man among them, save he had much family, and
many kindreds and friends.
The laws of the various tribes were not uniform, but there was a
general understanding by which they prevented the outbreak of actual
war. It is stated that in the thirty-first year (after Christ), They
had come to an agreement that they would not go to war one with
another; but they were not united as to their laws, and their manner
of government, for they were established according to the minds of
those who were their chiefs and their leaders. But they did establish
very strict laws that one tribe should not trespass against another,
insomuch that in some degree they had peace in the land.
The destruction of the wicked, the visits of the crucified Redeemer,
the ministry of his disciples, the universal acceptance of the fullness
of the gospel by the people throughout the length and breadth of the
land, brings us to a time when there was no need of civil law; for
all men lived above the law, being controlled and guided at all times
by the higher law of heaven. There was no need of courts of law, for
there were no disputations or contentions. No judges or magistrates
were required, for there were no offenders or offenses. There were
neither envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings,
nor thefts, nor violence, nor murders. For the love of God dwelt in
the hearts of the people; they all dealt justly one with another;
temptation was removed; they had all things in common; they were one,
the children of Christ, and heirs of the Kingdom of God.
It has been said, Happy are the people who have no history, and thrice
happy were the Nephites of this era, whose history was one of continued
peace and joy. Well may it be written of them, There could not be a
happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of
God. We can scarcely conceive of such a people on this fallen world of
ours; an entire continent on which dwelt perfect peace; people among
whom there were no rich, no poor--all were alike; a race in whose hearts
dwelt the sweet influence of the Spirit of God, the wisdom of which
illumined every mind. How they must have increased; how they must have
prospered; how they covered the land with millions of human souls; how
the arts and sciences must have been developed; and how greatly must
true and heavenly knowledge been spread abroad! The law of Moses was no
longer observed, but the holy priesthood, after the order of the Son
of God, ministered in might in their midst; the faith of the people
made angels their frequent visitors; the purity of each life caused the
Holy Spirit to be the constant companion of every soul. This happy,
glorious state of holiness continued nearly two hundred years, and then
commenced the decline of the nation; rapid indeed was its descent, and
great was its fall.
The first signs of the decrease in the righteousness of the people,
recorded in the Book of Mormon, were: That some became lifted up in
pride; these took to wearing costly apparel, jewels, and the fine
things of the world. The people ceased to have their goods and their
substance in common. They began to be divided into classes; rich and
poor appeared. They commenced to deny portions of the gospel, and to
build up churches to suit their peculiar ideas; others began to deny
the true Church of Christ. They administered that which was sacred
(temple ordinances) to the unworthy; and before long they devised all
manner of wickedness, and commenced to persecute the servants of God,
even to death, when permitted to do so by the powers that rule in the
heavens.
Thus matters went on, growing worse every year, until the people were
again divided into two nations, Nephites and Lamanites, with their old
traditions and ways; which, as was natural, ultimately culminated in
war; and such a war! For savageness, brutality, and utter devilishness,
we doubt if it was ever equalled in this suffering world. But it is not
our province in this chapter to enter into historical details. The law
is our subject, and of that we can say little. If it were possible to
conceive of such a contradiction, we should say that the law of anarchy
reigned supreme. Might made right; and the more numerous Lamanites
ultimately overcame and annihilated their Nephite brethren. We can well
conceive of the nature of the laws during the fierce struggle that
preceded this dire calamity, from the light of this nation's previous
history; they were no doubt framed, enacted and administered for the
benefit of the rich and the strong, and to the injury of those in whose
bosoms burned one lingering spark of righteousness. The history of the
Nephites, from beginning to end, fully justifies the saying of the wise
man, Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any
people.