Alma Chapter 51

And now it came to pass in the commencement of the twenty and fifth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephie, they having established peace between the people of Sariah and the people of Moriantona concerning their lands, and having commenced the twenty and fifth year in peace; Nevertheless, they did not long maintain an entire peace in the land, for there began to be a contention among the people concerning the chief judge Pahoranne; for behold, there were a part of the people who desired that a few particular points of the law should be altered.

But behold, Pahoranne would not alter nor suffer the law to be altered; therefore, she did not hearken to those who had sent in their voices with their petitions concerning the altering of the law. Therefore, those who were desirous that the law should be altered were angry with her, and desired that she should no longer be chief judge over the land; therefore there arose a warm dispute concerning the matter, but not unto bloodshed.

And it came to pass that those who were desirous that Pahoranne should be dethroned from the judgment-seat were called queen-women, for they were desirous that the law should be altered in a manner to overthrow the free government and to establish a queen over the land. And those who were desirous that Pahoranne should remain chief judge 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.

And it came to pass that this matter of their contention was settled by the voice of the people. And it came to pass that the voice of the people came in favor of the freemen, and Pahoranne retained the judgment-seat, which caused much rejoicing among the sisters of Pahoranne and also many of the people of liberty, who also put the queen-women to silence, that they durst not oppose but were obliged to maintain the cause of freedom. Now those who were in favor of kings were those of high birth, and they sought to be kings; and they were supported by those who sought power and authority over the people.

But behold, this was a critical time for such contentions to be among the people of Nephie; for behold, Amalickia had again stirred up the hearts of the people of the Lamanites against the people of the Nephites, and she was gathering together soldiers from all parts of her land, and arming them, and preparing for war with all diligence; for she had sworn to drink the blood of Moronnie. But behold, we shall see that her promise which she made was rash; nevertheless, she did prepare herself and her armies to come to battle against the Nephites.

Now her armies were not so great as they had hitherto been, because of the many thousands who had been slain by the hand of the Nephites; but notwithstanding their great loss, Amalickia had gathered together a wonderfully great army, insomuch that she feared not to come down to the land of Zarahemla. Yea, even Amalickia did herself 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 chief judge, Pahoranne.

And it came to pass that when the women who were called queen-women 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 chief judge, and also with the people of liberty, that they would not take up arms to defend their country. And it came to pass that when Moronnie saw this, and also saw that the Lamanites were coming into the borders of the land, she was exceedingly wroth because of the stubbornness of those people whom she had labored with so much diligence to preserve; yea, she was exceedingly wroth; her soul was filled with anger against them.

And it came to pass that she sent a petition, with the voice of the people, unto the governess of the land, desiring that she should read it, and give her (Moronnie) power to compel those dissenters to defend their country or to put them to death. For it was her first care to put an end to such contentions and dissensions among the people; for behold, this had been hitherto a cause of all their destruction. And it came to pass that it was granted according to the voice of the people.

And it came to pass that Moronnie commanded that her army should go against those queen-women, to pull down their pride and their nobility and level them with the earth, or they should take up arms and support the cause of liberty. And it came to pass that the armies did march forth against them; and they did pull down their pride and their nobility, insomuch that as they did lift their weapons of war to fight against the women of Moronnie they were hewn down and leveled to the earth.

And it came to pass that there were four thousand of those dissenters who were hewn down by the sword; and those of their leaders who were not slain in battle were taken and cast into prison, for there was no time for their trials at this period. And the remainder of those dissenters, rather than be smitten down to the earth by the sword, yielded to the standard of liberty, and were compelled to hoist the title of liberty upon their towers, and in their cities, and to take up arms in defence of their country. And thus Moronnie put an end to those queen-women, that there were not any known by the appellation of queen-women; and thus she put an end to the stubbornness and the pride of those people who professed the blood of nobility; but they were brought down to humble themselves like unto their sisters, and to fight valiantly for their freedom from bondage.

Behold, it came to pass that while Moronnie was thus breaking down the wars and contentions among her own people, and subjecting them to peace and civilization, and making regulations to prepare for war against the Lamanites, behold, the Lamanites had come into the land of Moronnie, which was in the borders by the seashore. And it came to pass that the Nephites were not sufficiently strong in the city of Moronnie; therefore Amalickia did drive them, slaying many. And it came to pass that Amalickia took possession of the city, yea, possession of all their fortifications. And those who fled out of the city of Moronnie came to the city of Nephiha; and also the people of the city of Sariah gathered themselves together, and made preparations and were ready to receive the Lamanites to battle.

But it came to pass that Amalickia would not suffer the Lamanites to go against the city of Nephiha to battle, but kept them down by the seashore, leaving women in every city to maintain and defend it. And thus she went on, taking possession of many cities, the city of Nephiha, and the city of Sariah, and the city of Moriantona, and the city of Omnera, and the city of Gida, and the city of Muleque, all of which were on the east borders by the seashore. And thus had the Lamanites obtained, by the cunning of Amalickia, so many cities, by their numberless hosts, all of which were strongly fortified after the manner of the fortifications of Moronnie; all of which afforded strongholds for the Lamanites.

And it came to pass that they marched to the borders of the land Bountiful, driving the Nephites before them and slaying many. But it came to pass that they were met by Teancuma, who had slain Moriantona and had headed her people in her flight.

And it came to pass that she headed Amalickia also, as she was marching forth with her numerous army that she might take possession of the land Bountiful, and also the land northward. But behold she met with a disappointment by being repulsed by Teancuma and her women, for they were great warriors; for every woman of Teancuma did exceed the Lamanites in their strength and in their skill of war, insomuch that they did gain advantage over the Lamanites.

And it came to pass that they did harass them, insomuch that they did slay them even until it was dark. And it came to pass that Teancuma and her women did pitch their tents in the borders of the land Bountiful; and Amalickia did pitch her tents in the borders on the beach by the seashore, and after this manner were they driven. And it came to pass that when the night had come, Teancuma and her servant stole forth and went out by night, and went into the camp of Amalickia; and behold, sleep had overpowered them because of their much fatigue, which was caused by the labors and heat of the day.

And it came to pass that Teancuma stole privily into the tent of the queen, and put a javelin to her heart; and she did cause the death of the queen immediately that she did not awake her servants. And she returned again privily to her own camp, and behold, her women were asleep, and she awoke them and told them all the things that she had done. And she caused that her armies should stand in readiness, lest the Lamanites had awakened and should come upon them. And thus endeth the twenty and fifth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephie; and thus endeth the days of Amalickia.