What does The Book Of Mormon teach about laws, government, and politics? (Part One)

What Does The Book Of Mormon Teach About

Laws, Government, and Politics?
(Part One)

     At the very beginning of The Book of Mormon, before Lehi's family leaves the middle east and sails to the American continent (about 600-592 BC), Nephi and Sam (the younger brothers) get beat up by Laman and Lemuel (the older brothers). This is the first of many attempts Nephi's brothers take on his life. When they begin to beat Nephi with a rod an angel appears to them and commands them to stop, saying, "Why do ye smite your younger brother with a rod? Know ye not that the Lord hath chosen him to be a ruler over you, and this because of your iniquities?" (1 Nephi 3:29)

     When Lehi's family arrives in the promised land (about 588-570 BC) and Lehi passes away Nephi does indeed become the leader and teacher of his family. After the Nephites separate themselves from the Lamanites (about 570-559 BC) Nephi's people make him a king. Nephi was also the Prophet, making him the political and religious leader of the people. "And it came to pass that they would that I should be their king. But I, Nephi, was desirous that they should have no king; nevertheless, I did for them according to that which was in my power. And behold, the words of the Lord had been fulfilled unto my brethren, which he spake concerning them, that I should be their ruler and their teacher." (2 Nephi 5:18-19)

     Before Lehi dies he prophecies of a "land of liberty", "But, said he, notwithstanding our afflictions, we have obtained a land of promise, a land which is choice above all other lands; a land which the Lord God hath covenanted with me should be a land for the inheritance of my seed. Yea, the Lord hath covenanted this land unto me, and to my children forever, and also all those who should be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord...Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever." (2 Nephi 1:5-7)

     When Nephi was about to die (about 544 BC) he passed his ecclesiastical responsibilities down to his faithful younger brother Jacob but he passed his political position as king down to another man who is unnamed. "Now Nephi began to be old, and he saw that he must soon die; wherefore, he anointed a man to be a king and a ruler over his people now, according to the reigns of the kings. The people having loved Nephi exceedingly, he having been a great protector for them, having wielded the sword of Laban in their defense, and having labored in all his days for their welfare— Wherefore, the people were desirous to retain in remembrance his name. And whoso should reign in his stead were called by the people, second Nephi, third Nephi, and so forth, according to the reigns of the kings; and thus they were called by the people, let them be of whatever name they would. And it came to pass that Nephi died." (Jacob 1:9-12)

     The Nephite political figures in The Book Of Mormon are almost always righteous, just, God fearing men. The next Nephite king that we hear of by name is king Mosiah. Mosiah and "as many as would hearken unto the voice of the Lord" move out of the land the Nephites originally moved into and establish the land of Zarahemla which becomes the Nephite's capital city and remains the center of all Nephite government throughout the rest of the narrative. Mosiah seems to be just as much as a religious leader as a political leader. "And it came to pass in the days of Mosiah, there was a large stone brought unto him with engravings on it; and he did interpret the engravings by the gift and power of God." (Omni 1:20)

     When Mosiah dies (about 130 BC) his son Benjamin reigns in his stead. King Benjamin is one of the most famous kings in The Book Of Mormon because of the speech he gave from a tower by the temple in Zarahemla. Along with the gospel principals taught in his sermon, king Benjamin also recounted some of the ways he ran his kingdom, "I say unto you that as I have been suffered to spend my days in your service, even up to this time, and have not sought gold nor silver nor any manner of riches of you; Neither have I suffered that ye should be confined in dungeons, nor that ye should make slaves one of another, nor that ye should murder, or plunder, or steal, or commit adultery; nor even have I suffered that ye should commit any manner of wickedness, and have taught you that ye should keep the commandments of the Lord, in all things which he hath commanded you— And even I, myself, have labored with mine own hands that I might serve you, and that ye should not be laden with taxes, and that there should nothing come upon you which was grievous to be borne—and of all these things which I have spoken, ye yourselves are witnesses this day." 

     Before king Benjamin dies he passes the kingdom on to his son who is also named Mosiah...