AlmaChapter51

v1.10

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

And it came to pass that they marched to the borders of the land Bountiful, driving the Nephites before them and slaying many.

But it came to pass that they were met by Teancum, who had slain Morianton and had headed his people in his flight.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

And he caused that his armies should stand in readiness, lest the Lamanites had awakened and should come upon them.

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.

In the beginning of the twenty-fifth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, they had made peace between the people of Lehi and the people of Morianton about their lands, and the year began in peace. Even so, they didn't keep that peace whole for long. A dispute arose among the people about the chief judge Pahoran, because some of them wanted a few particular points of the law changed. But Pahoran wouldn't change the law, and he wouldn't let it be changed. So he didn't listen to those who had sent in their voices and petitions about changing it. So those who wanted the law changed were angry with him, and they wanted him to be chief judge over the land no longer. A heated dispute arose over the matter, but it didn't come to bloodshed.

Those who wanted Pahoran removed from the judgment seat were called king-men because they wanted the law changed in a way that would overthrow the free government and set up a king over the land. And those who wanted Pahoran to remain chief judge over the land took the name of freemen. That was the division among them, because the freemen had sworn, or covenanted, to protect their rights and the privileges of their religion by a free government. This matter of their contention was settled by the voice of the people. The voice of the people came in favor of the freemen, and Pahoran kept the judgment seat, which brought great rejoicing among Pahoran's brothers and many of the people of liberty. They also put the king-men to silence, so that they didn't dare oppose it but were forced to support the cause of freedom.

Now those who favored kings were people of high birth, and they wanted to be kings; and they were backed by those who wanted power and authority over the people.

But this was a critical time for such disputes among the people of Nephi, because Amalickiah had again stirred up the hearts of the Lamanites against the Nephites. He was gathering soldiers from every part of his land, arming them, and preparing for war with all diligence, because he had sworn to drink Moroni's blood. But as we will see, the promise he made was rash. Still, he prepared himself and his armies to come to battle against the Nephites. Now his armies weren't as large as they had been before, because of the many thousands who had been killed by the Nephites. But in spite of their great loss, Amalickiah had gathered an amazingly large army, so large that he wasn't afraid to come down to the land of Zarahemla. Amalickiah himself came down, at the head of the Lamanites. This was in the twenty-fifth year of the reign of the judges, and it was at the very time they had begun settling the affairs of their disputes about the chief judge, Pahoran.

After the men 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. They were so angry with the chief judge and the people of liberty that they wouldn't take up arms to defend their country. When Moroni saw this and saw that the Lamanites were coming into the borders of the land, he was furious at the stubbornness of those people he had worked so hard to protect. He was furious; his soul was filled with anger against them.

So he sent a petition, with the voice of the people, to the governor of the land, asking him to read it and to give Moroni the power to compel those dissenters to defend their country or be put to death. His first concern was to put an end to such disputes and divisions among the people, because up to that point this had been a cause of all their destruction. And the petition was granted according to the voice of the people.

Moroni commanded that his army go against those king-men, to pull down their pride and nobility and level them with the earth, unless they would take up arms and support the cause of liberty. So the armies marched out against them, and they pulled down their pride and nobility. As those men lifted their weapons of war to fight against Moroni's men, they were cut down and leveled to the earth. Four thousand of those dissenters were cut down by the sword, and those of their leaders who weren't killed in battle were taken and thrown into prison because there was no time for their trials just then. The rest of those dissenters, rather than be struck down to the earth by the sword, yielded to the standard of liberty. They were forced to hoist the title of liberty on their towers and in their cities, and to take up arms in defense of their country. So Moroni put an end to those king-men, until there was no one left known by that name; and he put an end to the stubbornness and pride of those people who claimed the blood of nobility. Instead they were brought down to humble themselves like their brothers, and to fight bravely for their freedom from slavery.

While Moroni was breaking down the wars and disputes among his own people this way, bringing them to peace and order, and making regulations to prepare for war against the Lamanites, the Lamanites had come into the land of Moroni. It was in the borders by the seashore. The Nephites weren't strong enough in the city of Moroni, so Amalickiah drove them out, killing many. Amalickiah took the city and all their fortifications with it. Those who fled from the city of Moroni came to the city of Nephihah; and the people of the city of Lehi also gathered together, made preparations, and were ready to meet the Lamanites in battle. But Amalickiah wouldn't let the Lamanites go against Nephihah to battle. He kept them down by the seashore, leaving men in every city to hold and defend it.

And so he went on, taking possession of many cities: Nephihah, Lehi, Morianton, Omner, Gid, and Mulek, all of them on the east borders by the seashore. So by Amalickiah's cunning and their countless armies, the Lamanites had taken so many cities, all of them strongly fortified in the manner of Moroni's fortifications, and all of them now strongholds for the Lamanites. They marched to the borders of Bountiful, driving the Nephites before them and killing many.

But they were met by Teancum, who had killed Morianton and headed off his people as they fled. He headed off Amalickiah too, as he was marching out with his large army to take possession of Bountiful and the land northward. But he met with a disappointment because Teancum and his men drove him back. They were great warriors; every one of Teancum's men surpassed the Lamanites in strength and skill in war, so they gained the advantage over them. They harassed them so hard that they kept killing them until dark. Then Teancum and his men pitched their tents in the borders of Bountiful, and Amalickiah pitched his tents in the borders on the beach by the seashore. That is how they were driven back.

After night had come, Teancum and his servant slipped out and went into Amalickiah's camp. Sleep had overpowered the Lamanites because they were worn out from the labors and heat of the day. Teancum slipped quietly into the king's tent and put a javelin through his heart. The king died so quickly that he never woke his servants. Then he slipped back to his own camp, and his men were asleep. He woke them and told them everything he had done. He had his armies stand ready, in case the Lamanites had woken up and would come after them.

And so ended the twenty-fifth year of the reign of the judges, and so ended the days of Amalickiah.

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OriginalModern English

Even so, they didn't keep that peace whole for long. A dispute arose among the people about the chief judge Pahoran, because some of them wanted a few particular points of the law changed.

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.

But Pahoran wouldn't change the law, and he wouldn't let it be changed. So he didn't listen to those who had sent in their voices and petitions about changing it.

So those who wanted the law changed were angry with him, and they wanted him to be chief judge over the land no longer. A heated dispute arose over the matter, but it didn't come to bloodshed.

Those who wanted Pahoran removed from the judgment seat were called king-men because they wanted the law changed in a way that would overthrow the free government and set up a king over the land.

And those who wanted Pahoran to remain chief judge over the land took the name of freemen. That was the division among them, because the freemen had sworn, or covenanted, to protect their rights and the privileges of their religion by a free government.

This matter of their contention was settled by the voice of the people. The voice of the people came in favor of the freemen, and Pahoran kept the judgment seat, which brought great rejoicing among Pahoran's brothers and many of the people of liberty. They also put the king-men to silence, so that they didn't dare oppose it but were forced to support the cause of freedom.

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.

Now those who favored kings were people of high birth, and they wanted to be kings; and they were backed by those who wanted power and authority over the people.

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.

But as we will see, the promise he made was rash. Still, he prepared himself and his armies to come to battle against the Nephites.

Now his armies weren't as large as they had been before, because of the many thousands who had been killed by the Nephites. But in spite of their great loss, Amalickiah had gathered an amazingly large army, so large that he wasn't afraid to come down to the land of Zarahemla.

Amalickiah himself came down, at the head of the Lamanites. This was in the twenty-fifth year of the reign of the judges, and it was at the very time they had begun settling the affairs of their disputes about the chief judge, Pahoran.

When Moroni saw this and saw that the Lamanites were coming into the borders of the land, he was furious at the stubbornness of those people he had worked so hard to protect. He was furious; his soul was filled with anger against them.

His first concern was to put an end to such disputes and divisions among the people, because up to that point this had been a cause of all their destruction. And the petition was granted according to the voice of the people.

Moroni commanded that his army go against those king-men, to pull down their pride and nobility and level them with the earth, unless they would take up arms and support the cause of liberty.

So the armies marched out against them, and they pulled down their pride and nobility. As those men lifted their weapons of war to fight against Moroni's men, they were cut down and leveled to the earth.

Four thousand of those dissenters were cut down by the sword, and those of their leaders who weren't killed in battle were taken and thrown into prison because there was no time for their trials just then.

The rest of those dissenters, rather than be struck down to the earth by the sword, yielded to the standard of liberty. They were forced to hoist the title of liberty on their towers and in their cities, and to take up arms in defense of their country.

So Moroni put an end to those king-men, until there was no one left known by that name; and he put an end to the stubbornness and pride of those people who claimed the blood of nobility. Instead they were brought down to humble themselves like their brothers, and to fight bravely for their freedom from slavery.

The Nephites weren't strong enough in the city of Moroni, so Amalickiah drove them out, killing many. Amalickiah took the city and all their fortifications with it.

Those who fled from the city of Moroni came to the city of Nephihah; and the people of the city of Lehi also gathered together, made preparations, and were ready to meet the Lamanites in battle.

But Amalickiah wouldn't let the Lamanites go against Nephihah to battle. He kept them down by the seashore, leaving men in every city to hold and defend it.

And so he went on, taking possession of many cities: Nephihah, Lehi, Morianton, Omner, Gid, and Mulek, all of them on the east borders by the seashore.

So by Amalickiah's cunning and their countless armies, the Lamanites had taken so many cities, all of them strongly fortified in the manner of Moroni's fortifications, and all of them now strongholds for the Lamanites.

And it came to pass that they marched to the borders of the land Bountiful, driving the Nephites before them and slaying many.

They marched to the borders of Bountiful, driving the Nephites before them and killing many.

But it came to pass that they were met by Teancum, who had slain Morianton and had headed his people in his flight.

But they were met by Teancum, who had killed Morianton and headed off his people as they fled.

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.

He headed off Amalickiah too, as he was marching out with his large army to take possession of Bountiful and the land northward.

But he met with a disappointment because Teancum and his men drove him back. They were great warriors; every one of Teancum's men surpassed the Lamanites in strength and skill in war, so they gained the advantage over them.

They harassed them so hard that they kept killing them until dark. Then Teancum and his men pitched their tents in the borders of Bountiful, and Amalickiah pitched his tents in the borders on the beach by the seashore. That is how they were driven back.

After night had come, Teancum and his servant slipped out and went into Amalickiah's camp. Sleep had overpowered the Lamanites because they were worn out from the labors and heat of the day.

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.

Teancum slipped quietly into the king's tent and put a javelin through his heart. The king died so quickly that he never woke his servants.

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.

Then he slipped back to his own camp, and his men were asleep. He woke them and told them everything he had done.

And he caused that his armies should stand in readiness, lest the Lamanites had awakened and should come upon them.

He had his armies stand ready, in case the Lamanites had woken up and would come after them.

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.

And so ended the twenty-fifth year of the reign of the judges, and so ended the days of Amalickiah.

OriginalModern English

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; 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. 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. 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.

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. 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. 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.

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.

Now those who favored kings were people of high birth, and they wanted to be kings; and they were backed by those who wanted power and authority over the people.

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. 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. 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. 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.

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. 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.

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. 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.

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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

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. 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. 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. 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.

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. 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. And it came to pass that they marched to the borders of the land Bountiful, driving the Nephites before them and slaying many.

But it came to pass that they were met by Teancum, who had slain Morianton and had headed his people in his flight. 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. 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. 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.

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. 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. 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. And he caused that his armies should stand in readiness, lest the Lamanites had awakened and should come upon them.