pgs. 208 and 209...there were many who loved the vain things of the world, and they went forth preaching false doctrines...for riches and honor.

THE BOOK OF ALMA

THE SON OF ALMA

The account of Alma, who was the son of Alma, the first and chief judge 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 chief judge.

CHAPTER 1

Nehor teaches false doctrines, establishes a church, introduces priestcraft, and slays Gideon—He is executed for his crimes—Priestcrafts and persecutions spread among the people—The priests support themselves, the people care for the poor, and the Church prospers. About 91—90 B.C.

1 Now it came to pass that in the first year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, from this time forward, king Mosiah having ^agone the way of all the earth, having warred a good warfare, walking uprightly before God, leaving none to reign in his stead; nevertheless he had established ^blaws, and they were acknowledged by the people; therefore they were obliged to abide by the ^claws which he had made.

2 And it came to pass that in the first year of the reign of Alma in the judgment-seat, there was a ^aman brought before him to be judged, a man who was large, and was noted for his much strength.

3 And he had gone about among the people, preaching to them that which he ^atermed to be the word of God, bearing down ^bagainst the church; declaring unto the people that every priest and teacher ought to become ^cpopular; and they ought ^dnot to labor with their hands, but that they ought to be supported by the people.

4 And he also testified unto the people that ^aall mankind should be saved at the last day, and that they ^bneed not fear nor tremble, but that they might lift up their heads and rejoice; for the Lord had ^ccreated all men, and had also ^dredeemed ^eall men; and, in the end, all men should have eternal life.

5 And it came to pass that he did teach these things so much that many did believe on his words, even so many that they began to support him and give him ^amoney.

6 And he began to be lifted up in the pride of his heart, and to wear very costly ^aapparel, yea, and even began to ^bestablish a ^cchurch after the manner of his preaching.

7 And it came to pass as he was going, to preach to those who believed on his word, he met a man who belonged to the church of God, yea, even one of their ^ateachers; and he began to contend with him sharply, that he might lead away the people of the church; but the man withstood him, admonishing him with the ^bwords of God.

8 Now the name of the man was ^aGideon; and it was he who was an instrument in the hands of God in delivering the people of Limhi out of bondage.

9 Now, because Gideon withstood him with the words of God he was wroth with Gideon, and drew his sword and began to smite him. Now Gideon being ^astricken with many years, therefore he was not able to withstand his blows, therefore he was ^bslain by the sword.

10 And the man who slew him was taken by the people of the church, and was brought before Alma, to be ^ajudged according to the crimes which he had committed.

11 And it came to pass that he stood before Alma and pleaded for himself with much boldness.

12 But Alma said unto him: Behold, this is the first time that ^apriestcraft has been introduced among this people. And behold, thou art not only guilty of priestcraft, but hast endeavored to enforce it by the sword; and were ^bpriestcraft to be enforced among this people it would prove their entire destruction.

13 And thou hast shed the ^ablood of a righteous man, yea, a man who has done much good among this people; and were we to spare thee his blood would come upon us for ^bvengeance.

14 Therefore thou art condemned to ^adie, according to the ^blaw which has been given us by Mosiah, our last king; and it has been ^cacknowledged by this people; therefore this people must ^dabide by the law.

15 And it came to pass that they took him; and his name was ^aNehor; and they carried him upon the top of the hill Manti, and there he was caused, or rather did acknowledge, between the heavens and the earth, that what he had taught to the people was contrary to the word of God; and there he suffered an ignominious ^bdeath.

16 Nevertheless, this did not put an end to the spreading of priestcraft through the land; for there were many who loved the vain things of the world, and they went forth preaching ^afalse doctrines; and this they did for the sake of ^briches and honor.

17 Nevertheless, they durst not ^alie, if it were known, for fear of the law, for liars were punished; therefore they pretended to preach according to their belief; and now the law could have no power on any man for ^bhis belief.

18 And they durst not ^asteal, for fear of the law, for such were punished; neither durst they rob, nor murder, for he that ^bmurdered was punished unto ^cdeath.

19 But it came to pass that whosoever did not belong to the church of God began to persecute those that did belong to the church of God, and had taken upon them the name of Christ.

20 Yea, they did persecute them, and afflict them with all manner of words, and this because of their humility; because they were not proud in their own eyes, and because they did impart the word of God, one with another, without ^amoney and without price.

21 Now there was a strict law among the people of the church, that there should ^anot any man, belonging to the church, arise and persecute those that did not belong to the church, and that there should be no persecution among themselves.

22 Nevertheless, there were many among them who began to be proud, and began to contend warmly with their adversaries, even unto blows; yea, they would smite one another with their ^afists.

23 Now this was in the *second year of the reign of Alma, and it was a cause of much affliction to the church; yea, it was the cause of much trial with the church.

24 For the hearts of many were hardened, and their names were ^ablotted out, that they were remembered no more among the people of God. And also many ^bwithdrew themselves from among them.

25 Now this was a great trial to those that did stand fast in the faith; nevertheless, they were ^asteadfast and immovable in keeping the commandments of God, and they bore with ^bpatience the persecution which was heaped upon them.

Wow. Alma is only one year into his time as chief judge and there is already a lot of political unrest among his people. First Nehor decides to use the new freedom that has been established (now that there is no king) to promote his own "priestcraft." He fights for his beliefs and ends up killing Gideon (who was well loved among the people because he is the one who proposed the way for King Limhi's people to escape the bondage of the Lamanites.) So Alma had to decide how he should be punished and in the end Gideon is put to death. It seems this helped feed the fire of his followers and there was a lot of contention among the people as a result.

The lesson that I learn from this is that in a democratic society evil ways are as free to express themselves as righteous ways.