42
And it came to pass that Alma was appointed to be the first chiefjudge,
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.
• • •
44
And thus commenced the reign of the judges throughout all
the land of Zarahemla, among all the people who were called the
Nephites; and Alma was the first and chiefjudge.
The account of Alma, who was the son of Alma, the first and chiefjudge
over the people of Nephi, and also the high priest over the Church.
An account of the reign of the judges, and the wars and contentions
among the people. And also an account of a war between the Nephites
and the Lamanites, according to the record of Alma, the first and chiefjudge.
16
Now Alma, being the chiefjudge and the governor of the people of Nephi, therefore he went up with his people, yea, with his captains, and chief captains, yea, at the head of his armies, against the Amlicites to battle.
12
And now we know that because we are not of thy church we know that thou
hast no power over us; and thou hast delivered up the judgment-seat unto
Nephihah; therefore thou art not the chiefjudge over us.
4
But it came to pass that they did not; but they took them and bound them with strong cords, and took them before the chiefjudge of the land.
5
And the people went forth and witnessed against them—testifying that
they had reviled against the law, and their lawyers and judges of the
land, and also of all the people that were in the land; and also
testified that there was but one God, and that he should send his Son
among the people, but he should not save them; and many such things did
the people testify against Alma and Amulek. Now this was done before
the chiefjudge of the land.
• • •
14
Now it came to pass that when the bodies of those who had been cast into
the fire were consumed, and also the records which were cast in with
them, the chiefjudge
of the land came and stood before Alma and Amulek, as they were bound;
and he smote them with his hand upon their cheeks, and said unto them:
After what ye have seen, will ye preach again unto this people, that
they shall be cast into a lake of fire and brimstone?
• • •
23
And it came to pass after they had thus suffered for many days, (and it was on the twelfth day, in the tenth month, in the tenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi) that the chiefjudge
over the land of Ammonihah and many of their teachers and their lawyers
went in unto the prison where Alma and Amulek were bound with cords.
24
And the chiefjudge
stood before them, and smote them again, and said unto them: If ye have
the power of God deliver yourselves from these bands, and then we will
believe that the Lord will destroy this people according to your words.
• • •
27
And it came to pass that so great was their fear that they fell to the
earth, and did not obtain the outer door of the prison; and the earth
shook mightily, and the walls of the prison were rent in twain, so that
they fell to the earth; and the chiefjudge, and the lawyers, and priests, and teachers, who smote upon Alma and Amulek, were slain by the fall thereof.
20
And now it came to pass that Alma conducted his brethren back to the
land of Zarahemla; even to his own house. And they went and told the chiefjudge all the things that had happened unto them in the land of Nephi, among their brethren, the Lamanites.
21
And it came to pass that the chiefjudge
sent a proclamation throughout all the land, desiring the voice of the
people concerning the admitting their brethren, who were the people of
Anti-Nephi-Lehi.
21
And it came to pass that he caused that he should be carried out of the
land. And he came over into the land of Gideon, and began to preach
unto them also; and here he did not have much success, for he was taken
and bound and carried before the high priest, and also the chiefjudge over the land.
• • •
29
Now when the high priest and the chiefjudge
saw the hardness of his heart, yea, when they saw that he would revile
even against God, they would not make any reply to his words; but they
caused that he should be bound; and they delivered him up into the hands
of the officers, and sent him to the land of Zarahemla, that he might
be brought before Alma, and the chiefjudge who was governor over all the land.
30
And it came to pass that when he was brought before Alma and the chiefjudge, he did go on in the same manner as he did in the land of Gideon; yea, he went on to blaspheme.
• • •
51
And now when the chiefjudge
saw this, he put forth his hand and wrote unto Korihor, saying: Art
thou convinced of the power of God? In whom did ye desire that Alma
should show forth his sign? Would ye that he should afflict others, to
show unto thee a sign? Behold, he has showed unto you a sign; and now
will ye dispute more?
• • •
57
Now the knowledge of what had happened unto Korihor was immediately
published throughout all the land; yea, the proclamation was sent forth
by the chiefjudge
to all the people in the land, declaring unto those who had believed in
the words of Korihor that they must speedily repent, lest the same
judgments would come unto them.
37
And it came to pass that in the same year that the people of Nephi had peace restored unto them, that Nephihah, the second chiefjudge, died, having filled the judgment-seat with perfect uprightness before God.
• • •
39
Behold, it came to pass that the son of Nephihah was appointed to fill
the judgment-seat, in the stead of his father; yea, he was appointed chiefjudge and governor over the people, with an oath and sacred ordinance to judge
righteously, and to keep the peace and the freedom of the people, and
to grant unto them their sacred privileges to worship the Lord their
God, yea, to support and maintain the cause of God all his days, and to
bring the wicked to justice according to their crime.
2
Nevertheless, they did not long maintain an entire peace in the land,
for there began to be a contention among the people concerning the chiefjudge Pahoran; for behold, there were a part of the people who desired that a few particular points of the law should be altered.
• • •
4
Therefore, those who were desirous that the law should be altered were angry with him, and desired that he should no longer be chiefjudge over the land; therefore there arose a warm dispute concerning the matter, but not unto bloodshed.
• • •
6
And those who were desirous that Pahoran should remain chiefjudge
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.
• • •
12
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 chiefjudge, Pahoran.
13
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 chiefjudge, and also with the people of liberty, that they would not take up arms to defend their country.
1
And it came to pass that he wrote again to the governor of the
land, who was Pahoran, and these are the words which he wrote, saying:
Behold, I direct mine epistle to Pahoran, in the city of Zarahemla, who
is the chiefjudge
and the governor over the land, and also to all those who have been
chosen by this people to govern and manage the affairs of this war.
5
Nevertheless, it came to pass that Pahoran was appointed by the voice of the people to be chiefjudge and a governor over the people of Nephi.
• • •
13
And now behold, Pacumeni was appointed, according to the voice of the people, to be a chiefjudge
and a governor over the people, to reign in the stead of his brother
Pahoran; and it was according to his right. And all this was done in
the fortieth year of the reign of the judges; and it had an end.
• • •
21
And it came to pass that Pacumeni, who was the chiefjudge,
did flee before Coriantumr, even to the walls of the city. And it came
to pass that Coriantumr did smite him against the wall, insomuch that
he died. And thus ended the days of Pacumeni.
2
Behold, now we will know of a surety whether this man be a prophet and
God hath commanded him to prophesy such marvelous things unto us.
Behold, we do not believe that he hath; yea, we do not believe that he
is a prophet; nevertheless, if this thing which he has said concerning
the chiefjudge be true, that he be dead, then will we believe that the other words which he has spoken are true.
3
And it came to pass that they ran in their might, and came in unto the judgment-seat; and behold, the chiefjudge had fallen to the earth, and did lie in his blood.
4
And now behold, when they saw this they were astonished exceedingly,
insomuch that they fell to the earth; for they had not believed the
words which Nephi had spoken concerning the chiefjudge.
• • •
10
And it came to pass that on the morrow the people did assemble
themselves together to mourn and to fast, at the burial of the great chiefjudge who had been slain.
• • •
12
And it came to pass that they inquired among the people, saying: Where are the five who were sent to inquire concerning the chiefjudge
whether he was dead? And they answered and said: Concerning this five
whom ye say ye have sent, we know not; but there are five who are the
murderers, whom we have cast into prison.
• • •
23
Behold ye say that I have agreed with a man that he should murder Seezoram, our chiefjudge.
But behold, I say unto you, that this is because I have testified unto
you that ye might know concerning this thing; yea, even for a witness
unto you, that I did know of the wickedness and abominations which are
among you.
• • •
41
And there were others who said: Behold, he is a god, for except he was a
god he could not know of all things. For behold, he has told us the
thoughts of our hearts, and also has told us things; and even he has
brought unto our knowledge the true murderer of our chiefjudge.
13
Now behold, notwithstanding that great miracle which Nephi had done in telling them concerning the death of the chiefjudge, they did harden their hearts and did not hearken unto the words of the Lord.
1
Now it came to pass that the ninety and first year
had passed away and it was six hundred years from the time that Lehi
left Jerusalem; and it was in the year that Lachoneus was the chiefjudge and the governor over the land.
19
Now it was the custom among all the Nephites to appoint for their chief
captains, (save it were in their times of wickedness) some one that had
the spirit of revelation and also prophecy; therefore, this Gidgiddoni
was a great prophet among them, as also was the chiefjudge.
1
Now behold, I will show unto you that they did not establish a
king over the land; but in this same year, yea, the thirtieth year, they
did destroy upon the judgment-seat, yea, did murder the chiefjudge of the land.
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