Political Crisis
At the start of the twenty-fifth year of the judges’ rule, the Nephites had just settled the land dispute between Lehi’s people and Morianton’s people, and the new year began peacefully.
But the peace didn’t last. A political fight broke out over Chief Judge Pahoran. Some people wanted certain laws changed. Pahoran refused to change the law. He wouldn’t listen to those who sent petitions asking for legal reform. The people who wanted the law changed got angry. They wanted Pahoran removed as Chief Judge. A heated debate erupted—though it didn’t turn violent.
Those who wanted Pahoran removed were called “king-men” because they wanted to change the law to overthrow the free government and establish a monarchy. Those who wanted Pahoran to stay as Chief Judge called themselves “freemen.” This divided the nation. The freemen had sworn to defend their rights and religious freedom through free government.
The people voted to settle the dispute. They voted in favor of the freemen, and Pahoran kept his position. This brought great celebration among Pahoran’s supporters and all who loved liberty, and it silenced the king-men. They didn’t dare resist openly but had to support the cause of freedom.
The ones who favored monarchy were from the upper class. They wanted to be kings themselves, and they had backing from people who craved power and authority over others.
War Returns
But this was the worst possible time for such political fighting among the Nephites. Amalickiah had stirred up the Lamanites against them again. He was gathering soldiers from across his territory, arming them, and preparing for war. He’d sworn to drink Moroni’s blood.
It was a reckless promise, but he was dead serious. He prepared himself and his armies to attack the Nephites. His forces weren’t as large as before—the Nephites had killed thousands of them. But despite these losses, Amalickiah had still assembled a massive army. He wasn’t afraid to march on Zarahemla. Amalickiah himself led the Lamanites into battle. This was in the twenty-fifth year of the judges’ rule—right when the Nephites were busy settling their political crisis over Chief Judge Pahoran.
Traitors at the Gates
When the king-men heard the Lamanites were coming to attack, they were actually glad. They refused to take up arms. They were so angry with the Chief Judge and the liberty movement that they wouldn’t defend their own country.
When Moroni saw this, and saw the Lamanites crossing the border, rage burned inside him. He’d worked so hard to protect these stubborn people, and now they betrayed everything. His soul filled with fury.
He sent a petition, backed by the people’s vote, to the governor asking for authority to force these dissenters to defend their country or execute them. His first priority was ending this internal conflict. These divisions had always been what destroyed them. The governor granted his request, with the people’s approval.
Moroni ordered his army to march against the king-men. They would crush their pride and their aristocratic arrogance, or the king-men would take up arms and fight for liberty.
The armies marched against them and crushed their pride. When the king-men raised weapons against Moroni’s men, they were cut down and killed. Four thousand dissenters fell by the sword. The surviving leaders were arrested and thrown in prison—there was no time for trials right now. The rest of the dissenters, rather than die by the sword, surrendered to the banner of liberty. They were forced to raise the title of liberty on their towers and in their cities, and to take up arms defending their country. Moroni wiped out the king-men. No one would be known by that name again. He ended the stubbornness and pride of those who claimed noble blood. They were humbled and made to fight alongside their brothers for freedom from slavery.
Cities Fall to the Enemy
While Moroni was crushing the civil war among his own people, restoring peace and order, and making preparations to fight the Lamanites, the Lamanites had invaded the city of Moroni on the coast.
The Nephites didn’t have enough strength in the city of Moroni, so Amalickiah drove them out, killing many. He captured the city and all its fortifications. Those who escaped from Moroni fled to the city of Nephihah. The people of Lehi also gathered together and prepared to face the Lamanites in battle.
But Amalickiah wouldn’t let the Lamanites attack Nephihah. He kept them along the coast, leaving garrisons in every captured city to hold and defend it. He moved forward, seizing many cities: Nephihah, Lehi, Morianton, Omner, Gid, and Mulek—all along the eastern coast. Through Amalickiah’s cunning strategy, the Lamanites had captured many cities with their overwhelming numbers. All these cities were heavily fortified—built using Moroni’s own defensive designs. They gave the Lamanites powerful strongholds. They marched to the borders of Bountiful, driving the Nephites back and killing many.
Teancum Strikes
But they ran into Teancum, who had killed Morianton and stopped his people when they tried to flee. Teancum blocked Amalickiah’s advance as he marched with his massive army to take Bountiful and the lands to the north.
But Amalickiah met bitter disappointment. Teancum and his men drove him back. They were elite warriors. Every one of Teancum’s men outmatched the Lamanites in strength and combat skill, and they gained the advantage. They harassed the Lamanites all day, killing them until darkness fell. That night Teancum and his men camped on the borders of Bountiful. Amalickiah camped on the beach by the shore. That’s where the day’s fighting left them.
After night fell, Teancum and his servant slipped out and crept into Amalickiah’s camp. The Lamanites were exhausted from the day’s hard fighting and heat, and sleep had overtaken them. Teancum snuck into the king’s tent and drove a javelin through his heart. Amalickiah died instantly, without waking his servants. Teancum slipped back to his own camp. His men were sleeping. He woke them and told them everything he’d done. He had his armies stand ready in case the Lamanites woke and attacked.
And so ended the twenty-fifth year of the judges’ rule over the Nephites. And so ended the life of Amalickiah.