“… the Book of Mormon is not primarily a historical record that looks to the past. Rather, this volume of scripture looks to the future and contains important principles, warnings, and lessons intended for the circumstances and challenges of our day. Hence, the Book of Mormon is a book about our future and the times in which we do now and will yet live” (David A. Bednar, October 2024 General Conference).
The Book of Mormon gives a one thousand-year history of the Nephites, an ancient American civilization. For about a century of this history (91 B.C. to 29 A.D.) the Nephites had a democratic government known as “the reign of the judges,” based on classical liberal principles. The Book of Mormon is a religious history and not a political one, so we don’t know everything about how their society was organized, but what details we do have are interesting and informative.
King Mosiah, who founded their democracy at the end of his reign, gave a treatise on government that is summarized in Mosiah chapter 29. It reads a bit like the Federalist Papers, weighing the pros and cons of monarchy versus democracy. The system he designed was relatively primitive, and did not have the separation of legislative, executive, and judicial powers like the United States Constitution does. But there were vertical checks and balances between the higher judges and lower judges. Many passages suggest that the Nephites had universal equality with individual rights, a free market, and the rule of law.
The Book of Mormon describes several constitutional crises during the reign of the judges, many of which involve contested elections. We will review a few of these.
Amlici
The first crisis occurred early, in the 5th year of the reign of the judges. A populist demagogue named Amlici gathered a large following and announced his desire to be anointed king of the Nephites. Like any good classical liberal society, the Nephites used the institutions of their free government to decide what to do with him. A contentious election was held to determine whether to continue their free government or to subject themselves to the rule of this man.
“And it came to pass that the voice of the people came against Amlici, that he was not made king over the people.
“Now this did cause much joy in the hearts of those who were against him; but Amlici did stir up those who were in his favor to anger against those who were not in his favor.
“And it came to pass that they gathered themselves together, and did consecrate Amlici to be their king.
“Now when Amlici was made king over them he commanded them that they should take up arms against their brethren; and this he did that he might subject them to him” (Alma 2:7-10)
The freedom-loving Nephites had to fight a short but fierce civil war with the Amlicites in order to preserve their free government. So many people died in the battle that they did not bother to number them.
Amalickiah
About 14 years later, in the 19th year of the reign of the judges, another charismatic leader emerged with the same proposition: make me your king.
“And Amalickiah was desirous to be a king; and those people who were wroth were also desirous that he should be their king; and they were the greater part of them the lower judges of the land, and they were seeking for power.
“And they had been led by the flatteries of Amalickiah, that if they would support him and establish him to be their king that he would make them rulers over the people.
“Thus they were led away by Amalickiah to dissensions, notwithstanding the preaching of Helaman and his brethren, yea, notwithstanding their exceedingly great care over the church, for they were high priests over the church.
“And there were many in the church who believed in the flattering words of Amalickiah […]
“Yea, we see that Amalickiah, because he was a man of cunning device and a man of many flattering words, that he led away the hearts of many people to do wickedly; yea, and to seek to destroy the church of God, and to destroy the foundation of liberty which God had granted unto them, or which blessing God had sent upon the face of the land for the righteous’ sake” (Alma 46:4-7,10).
Captain Moroni, the leader of the Nephite armies, viewed Amalickiah’s aspirations with alarm. His opposition to Amalickiah motivated him to create the title of liberty and to rally the people to the cause of freedom.
Before this situation could be brought to a vote Amalickiah defected to the Lamanites, where he conspired to become their king, and then started a war of conquest against the Nephites. This war continued off and on for many years and caused famine, massive loss of life, and destruction of property.
The King-Men
In the 25th year of the reign of the judges, while Amalickiah was still causing problems for the Nephites, another constitutional question was brought before the voters. A political movement known as the king-men wanted to revert their government back to a monarchy.
“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, 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. […]
“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” (Alma 51:7-9,13).
Captain Moroni again took decisive action in a time of crisis, marching his army against the king-men to compel them to arms. Later in the war these king-men joined forces with the Lamanites to try to overthrow the free government, and Moroni had to leave the war front to put down their insurrection.
Paanchi
The next contested Nephite election happened about 15 years later, in the 40th year of the reign of the judges.
“For behold, Pahoran had died, and gone the way of all the earth; therefore there began to be a serious contention concerning who should have the judgment-seat among the brethren, who were the sons of Pahoran.
“Now these are their names who did contend for the judgment-seat, who did also cause the people to contend: Pahoran, Paanchi, and Pacumeni.
“Now these are not all the sons of Pahoran (for he had many), but these are they who did contend for the judgment-seat; therefore, they did cause three divisions among the people.
“Nevertheless, it came to pass that Pahoran was appointed by the voice of the people to be chief judge and a governor over the people of Nephi.
“And it came to pass that Pacumeni, when he saw that he could not obtain the judgment-seat, he did unite with the voice of the people.
“But behold, Paanchi, and that part of the people that were desirous that he should be their governor, was exceedingly wroth; therefore, he was about to flatter away those people to rise up in rebellion against their brethren.
“And it came to pass as he was about to do this, behold, he was taken, and was tried according to the voice of the people, and condemned unto death; for he had raised up in rebellion and sought to destroy the liberty of the people” (Helaman 1:2-8)
The swiftness of the Nephites in handling this situation suggests that they had learned from their earlier challenges. Unfortunately the supporters of Paanchi conspired to murder the winner of the election, and this conspiracy marked the beginning of secret combinations in the Nephite nation.
Lessons and Applications
We live in a day of contested elections. Public opinion sharply diverges on a partisan basis regarding whether the 2020 election was stolen, and there are already accusations of widespread election fraud in 2024. There are recent examples of authoritarian regimes holding sham elections or falsifying election results.
“We should constantly ask ourselves, ‘Why did the Lord inspire Mormon (or Moroni or Alma) to include that in his record? What lesson can I learn from that to help me live in this day and age?’” (Ezra Taft Benson, October 1986 General Conference).
What can we learn and apply today from these stories in the Book of Mormon?
First, liberal societies will include illiberal people who will attempt to usurp power and authority. These people will try to use the institutions of liberty to weaken or overthrow the liberal regime itself. They tend to start with public debate and democratic elections, but they are quick to resort to physical violence.
Second, and related to the first, is to beware of flattery from political leaders. Expert demagogues and propagandists know how to motivate people with anger, fear, and resentment, but those who use those tactics don’t care about you and they don’t care about liberty. They are liable to join sides with your enemies when they can’t get what they want from you (and by enemies, I don’t mean the other political party, although that sometimes happens too).
Third, even good people among the Nephites were sometimes led to follow these wicked men. We should be forgiving and patient towards those with whom we disagree about politics. Always consider the possibility that you might be wrong, or at least that your perspective may be incomplete.
Fourth, liberal societies must be robust in handling these challenges. Passive acceptance by liberty-loving people would have resulted in the loss of their free society. The rule of law must be asserted, even if that requires the use of force to put down insurrections.
Finally, the Nephites were fortunate to have righteous leadership during these times of crisis, who motivated them with loyalty to freedom, religious liberty, and family. They led by example, put others before themselves, and were willing to endure hardship and privation to defend their nation. We need leaders today with this kind of character.
I am writing this in October 2024 in the United States, within the final weeks of a contentious presidential election. We have plenty of illiberal people vying to rule our liberal society, using lots of flattery, fear mongering, and propaganda.
I pray that we will have the spirit of discernment and that we will apply the lessons we learn from the Book of Mormon. Let us promote self-sacrificing leaders who are morally upstanding, and who will defend the rule of law. Let us quickly put down any insurrections and have the courage to bring their leaders to justice. Let us reach out with love and forgiveness toward our fellow citizens when we disagree. May God bless us to appreciate and uphold the liberty he has blessed us with.
Alan B. Sanderson, MD is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is a practicing neurologist.
Medicine and Faith 