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

What Does The Book Of Mormon Teach About

Laws, Government, and Politics?
(Part TWO)

     In Part One we discussed the government of the book of mormon people from about 600 BC to about 130 BC. We'll start where we left off.

     In about 124 BC Mosiah (grandson of the first king Mosiah, son of king Benjamin) becomes king of the Nephites at age 30. This Mosiah remains king until he dies in 91 BC at age 63. Mosiah, like his father, is a righteous king. He works side by side with his people "that thereby he might not become burdensome to [them]". Mosiah, like his grandfather, has the gift of translation. 

     “for he has wherewith that he can look, and translate all records that are of ancient date; and it is a gift from God. And the things are called interpreters, and no man can look in them except he be commanded, lest he should look for that he ought not and he should perish. And whosoever is commanded to look in them, the same is called seer.” 

-Mosiah 8:13

     Mosiah gives power to Alma Sr. (the high priest) to establish a church organization in the city of Zarahemla. Mosiah publishes legislation that promotes equality, religious freedom, and freedom from persecution. 

     “And it came to pass that king Mosiah sent a proclamation throughout the land round about that there should not any unbeliever persecute any of those who belonged to the church of God. And there was a strict command throughout all the churches that there should be no persecutions among them, that there should be an equality among all men; That they should let no pride nor haughtiness disturb their peace; that every man should esteem his neighbor as himself, laboring with their own hands for their support.” 

-Mosiah 27:2-4

     When he is about to die Mosiah looks to his sons to take the kingdom but all of them refuse the position because of their desire to be missionaries. Instead of finding another king he proposes the idea of adopting a system of judges to govern the people. This is a key turning point in the political system of The Book Of Mormon. 

"And now let us be wise and look forward to these things, and do that which will make for the peace of this people. Therefore I will be your king the remainder of my days; nevertheless, let us appoint judges, to judge this people according to our law; and we will newly arrange the affairs of this people, for we will appoint wise men to be judges, that will judge this people according to the commandments of God... Therefore, if it were possible that you could have just men to be your kings, who would establish the laws of God, and judge this people according to his commandments, yea, if ye could have men for your kings who would do even as my father Benjamin did for this people—I say unto you, if this could always be the case then it would be expedient that ye should always have kings to rule over you."

-Mosiah 29:10,11,13

     In the time of the first king Mosiah a group of Nephites left Zarahemla and went back to settle in the land where Lehi's family first settled. This group had a righteous king but when that king died his son ruled wickedly, made his buddies his priests and counsellors, overtaxed his people for his own gain, and taught the people to sin. The pride and wickedness of this king led to much destruction and suffering. This king's son luckily learned from his father's mistakes and eventually brought his people back to the land of Zarahemla. After hearing of this tragedy the second Mosiah feared that a monarchy may not be the best system of government for the future generation.

     "Now I say unto you, that because all men are not just it is not expedient that ye should have a king or kings to rule over you. For behold, how much iniquity doth one wicked king cause to be committed, yea, and what great destruction! ... Therefore, choose you by the voice of this people, judges, that ye may be judged according to the laws which have been given you by our fathers, which are correct, and which were given them by the hand of the Lord." 

-Mosiah 29:17,25

     So before king Mosiah dies he lays out this idea of a government of judges. His plan includes laws, voting, and leadership positions with checks and balances. 

"Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right; therefore this shall ye observe and make it your law—to do your business by the voice of the people. And if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land. And now if ye have judges, and they do not judge you according to the law which has been given, ye can cause that they may be judged of a higher judge. If your higher judges do not judge righteous judgments, ye shall cause that a small number of your lower judges should be gathered together, and they shall judge your higher judges, according to the voice of the people."

-Mosiah 29:26-29

     The people then "cast in their voices" and choose Alma Jr. as their first "Chief Judge". On top of being Chief Judge Alma is also the High Priest over the church. Thus once again aligning the political leadership with the ecclesiastical leadership of the Nephite nation.

"Therefore, it came to pass that they assembled themselves together in bodies throughout the land, to cast in their voices concerning who should be their judges, to judge them according to the law which had been given them; and they were exceedingly rejoiced because of the liberty which had been granted unto them. 

And they did wax strong in love towards Mosiah; yea,they did esteem him more than any other man; for they did not look upon him as a tyrant who was seeking for gain, yea, for that lucre which doth corrupt the soul; for he had not exacted riches of them, neither had he delighted in the shedding of blood; but he had established peace in the land, and he had granted unto his people that they should be delivered from all manner of bondage; therefore they did esteem him, yea, exceedingly, beyond measure. 

And it came to pass that they did appoint judges to rule over them, or to judge them according to the law; and this they did throughout all the land. And it came to pass that Alma was appointed to be the first chief judge, he being also the high priest, his father having conferred the office upon him, and having given him the charge concerning all the affairs of the church. 

And thus ended the reign of the kings over the people of Nephi."

-Mosiah 29:39-47

This change in their form of government is so significant that the Nephites begin to recon their time from that year (e.g.: the seventh year of the reign of the judges). There are three of these events in The Book Of Mormon that the Nephites measure their time from.

1. From the time Lehi left Jerusalem

2. From the beginning of the reign of the judges

3. From the the time the sign was given of the birth of Christ (when the new star appeared)

  This shows how important this political event is to the book of mormon people.