Alma 46

There were a great many people who didn’t want to hear what Helaman, his priests, and the church teachers had to say. Some became so angry they wanted to kill them. These people were led by a big, powerful man named Amalickiah who wanted to be king. His angry supporters included lesser judges who sought power and opportunities under Amalickiah’s potential kingship. They wanted to be rulers of the Nephite people.

Amalickiah had a talent for flattery that led many church members into dissension regardless of Helaman’s preaching, and the great pains he and the high priests were taking to restore the church. In spite of the recent Lamanite victory at the hand of God, the affairs of the Nephite people were precarious. It was disturbing to see how quickly the people forgot God, and how easily they were led away by an evil one. It was also alarming to see how much impact one wicked man could have on the affairs of others. Amalickiah was a slick deceiver who wanted to destroy the church of God, restrict freedom, and dismiss God’s blessing on the land as unimportant.

When Moroni learned of Amalickiah’s intentions, and of his success at misleading others, he became quite angry. From the fabric of his coat he fashioned a banner that read, “In memory of our God, our religion, our freedom, and our families.” He attached the banner to a long pole, put on his helmet and armor, picked up his shield, and knelt on the ground in prayer. He prayed mightily to God for the freedoms his people enjoyed when Christians, as followers of Jesus Christ had come to be known, remained in possession of the land. Christians were those who were true believers in the future coming of Jesus Christ. So Moroni prayed to God that the cause of the Christians, and the freedom they had, would be preserved.

“Surely,” Helaman cried out to God, “you will not let the Christians be abused or destroyed unless we bring it upon ourselves through our own sins.”

Upon saying this, Moroni picked up his impromptu banner and waved it in the air as he went out among the people. “Whoever wants to hold title to this land must come forward with the strength of God, ” he declared, “ and promise to protect their rights, their religion, and be blessed by God.”

After this was said, the people did as Moroni had done, and tore off pieces of their coats as a token of their devotion to God. The symbolism of the torn coats was this. if they failed to honor the commandments of God, then God should tear them, just as they had torn their coats. This was their promise. They threw down their torn coats at Moroni’s feet saying, “We understand that we will be destroyed if we violate our promises to God. If we sin, God may throw us at the feet of our enemies, just as we have thrown down our coats to be walked upon.”

“We are descendants of Jacob1,” Moroni said, “through his son Joseph1 of Egypt, whose coat was torn to pieces by his brothers. Let us remember the commandments of God or our coats will be torn apart and we will be cast into prison, enslaved, or killed. Before his death, Jacob saw that part of his son Joseph’s coat had been preserved. He said, ‘Just as a part of Joseph’s coat was preserved, let a part of my Joseph’s descendants be preserved by the hand of God.’”

“If we do not maintain our faith in Jesus Christ, then we may well be the part of Joseph’s descendants who will perish,” concluded Moroni.

Moroni sent messages throughout the land, and gathered together those who sought to maintain their freedoms, and stand against Amalickiah and the other dissenters. As Moroni’s allies assembled it became obvious to Amalickiah that he had fewer followers than Moroni. He also saw that his own people were no longer so sure about the justice of his cause. In view of this, he gathered up his closest supporters and left for the land of Nephi, where the Lamanites resided.

This concerned Moroni because he didn’t want to let the Lamanites become any stronger than they already were. He also knew that Amalickiah would provoke the Lamanites into a new round of wars with the Nephites in order to fulfill his ambitions. So Moroni called the army and set out to cut off Amalickiah and his followers in the wilderness, before they reached the Lamanite border.

Amalickiah escaped with a few of his men, when the armies met, and the rest of his followers were brought back to Zarahemla. Because Moroni was appointed the commander of the army by the chief judges, he had broad power to exercise his will. He ordered the execution of any of Amalickiah’s people who wouldn’t support the cause of freedom. In the end, very few refused.

Flags of freedom were hoisted to the top of every tower in the Nephite lands, and peace returned to the land. Helaman and the high priests restored the church, and for four years there was peace and joy within it. Many people lived to an old age and died happy in the faith of Jesus Christ. [72 BC]