Alma 2

Another challenger to Alma’s reign came along five years after Nehor. His name was Amlici, and he wanted to be king.

Amlici was a shrewd and persuasive politician who gathered support from people who opposed the church. His political agenda was the destruction of the church of God. When an election was held, the people rejected Amlici’s aspirations as king. This was a great relief to those who opposed him but, regrettably, it was not end of the matter.

Amlici’s followers anointed him as their king in spite of the electoral loss, and Amlici ordered them to take over by force of arms. This split the country into two factions, the Amlicites and the Nephites (or people of God). Both sides mobilized and prepared for war.

The opposing armies, led by Alma and Amlici, met in battle on a hill above the Sidon River. Because God supported and strengthened the Nephites, a great slaughter of the Amlicites ensued. As the Amlicites fled, the Nephites pursued and killed them. At the day’s end, 12,532 Amlicites and 6,562 Nephites lay dead.

That night, Alma sent spies to follow the remnant of the Amlicites’ army and discover their enemy’s plans. The following day the spies returned, and reported that the Amlicites had joined forces with large numbers of Lamanite warriors. This combined army was now marching across the land toward the Nephite capital city of Zarahemla. Unless Alma’s army responded quickly, the city would be overrun, and their families would be killed.

Alma’s army broke camp and raced to meet the enemy. As they crossed the Sidon River, they were met by countless Amlicite and Lamanite forces, determined to destroy them. But because God had heard the Nephites’ prayers for deliverance from their enemies, the Amlicites and Lamanites fell before them.

When Alma found himself in hand-to-hand combat with Amlici, he cried out, “Spare my life, God, and I will be an instrument in your hands to preserve my people.” Having said this, Alma was strengthened and he killed Amlici with his sword. Then Alma went after the Lamanite king, who was defended by his guards. Their attack on the Lamanites was so ferocious that the Lamanites turned and fled, in spite of their numerical advantage.

Alma’s army threw the enemy’s dead bodies into the river, and crossed it in pursuit of the fleeing Lamanites and Amlicites. The enemy forces were killed, scattered, and driven into the wilderness before the advancing Nephites. For many years afterwards, the enemy’s bones could be found heaped in piles upon the earth. [87 BC]