Freemen Vs. Kingmen

67 BC began with peace in the Nephite lands. But soon the people started to have internal political disputes, for a few people wanted to change parts of the law. Pahoran ignored those who had sent him their petitions and would not allow the law to be changed.

Those who wanted the law to be changed were angry with him and wanted him to give up the judgment-seat. They caused some heated arguing, but no bloodshed. Those who wanted to get rid of Pahoran were called Kingmen, for they wanted to overthrow the free government and establish a king over the land.

Pahoran’s supporters called themselves Freemen. They covenanted to maintain their rights and the privileges of their religion by a free government. The matter was settled by a vote, and the majority was in favor of the Freemen. Pahoran retained the judgment-seat, over which the people of liberty rejoiced. The Kingmen were silenced and dared not oppose, but were obliged to maintain the cause of freedom. Those in favor of kings were of high birth (descendants of Nephite kings) and they wanted to be kings themselves. They were supported by those who wanted power and authority over the people.

This was a critical time for the Nephites to be having internal contentions, for Amalickiah had stirred up the hearts of the Lamanites to come against the Nephites again. He was gathering soldiers from all parts of his land and diligently arming them, for he had made an oath to drink Moroni’s blood.

We will see that Amalickiah’s oath was foolish, and yet he prepared his armies to go to battle against the Nephites. His armies were not as great as they had once been, because thousands of his men had been killed by the Nephites. But in spite of their great losses, Amalickiah gathered such a great army that he was not afraid to come to the land of Zarahemla.

In 67 BC, just as the Nephites had settled the matter concerning Pahoran, Amalickiah led his Lamanite army toward the land of the Nephites. When the Kingmen heard that the Lamanites were coming to battle against them, they were glad in their hearts and refused to take up arms. When Moroni saw this, and saw that the Lamanites were marching toward their borders, his soul was filled with anger toward the Kingmen. He was angry because they had become so stubborn after he had worked so hard to preserve their liberty.

Moroni sent a petition to Pahoran, the chief judge and governor of the land, which voiced Moroni’s and the people’s desire. He asked to be given the power to compel the Kingmen to defend their country or be put to death. Moroni’s first priority was to put an end to the internal disputes and dissensions among the Nephites, which had caused all their previous destruction. And according to the voice of the people, Moroni was granted the power to compel the Kingmen.

Then Moroni commanded his army to go against the Kingmen and pull down their pride and nobility, leveling them to the earth unless they took up arms to support the cause of liberty. As the Kingmen lifted their weapons against Moroni’s army, they were leveled to the earth. Four thousand dissenters were killed by the sword, and their leaders who had not been killed were put into prison. There was no time for their trials, for the Lamanites were coming.

Rather than be killed, the rest of the Kingmen were compelled to raise The Title of Liberty upon their towers, and in their cities, and to take up arms in defense of their country.

This is how Moroni put an end to those Kingmen and to the stubbornness and pride of those who professed noble blood. They were brought down to humble themselves like their brethren, and to fight valiantly to maintain their freedom from bondage.

While Moroni was dealing with these internal contentions and making regulations to prepare for war, the Lamanites came into the land of Moroni near the eastern seashore. The Nephites in the city of Moroni were not strong, so Amalickiah killed many of them and drove them out. Amalickiah took possession of the city and all of its fortifications. Those who ran out of the city of Moroni came to the city of Nephihah. The people in that city, and also in the city of Lehi, gathered and made preparations to battle the Lamanites.

Amalickiah had not attacked with all of his men. He had left many of them in Moroni to maintain and defend it while he marched on to other cities. He took many east coast cities, including Nephihah, Lehi, Morianton, Omner, Gid, and Mulek. By Amalickiah’s cunning, and with his numberless hosts, he took the strongly fortified cities for the Lamanites. Then he and his army marched north to the borders of the land Bountiful, driving the Nephites before them and killing many. Then he met Teancum’s army.

Teancum headed off Amalickiah, preventing his army’s advance into the northern lands, just as he had previously headed off Morianton’s rebellion. Teancum’s men were great warriors. Each of them was stronger than any Lamanite and more skillful in warfare. They distressed and killed the Lamanites until nightfall. Then Teancum and his men pitched their tents inside the land of Bountiful while Amalickiah’s men pitched their tents near the beach.

That night, on the eve of the new year, Teancum and his servant went into Amalickiah’s camp. The whole army was asleep, worn out from fighting during the heat of the day.

Teancum sneaked into Amalickiah’s tent and put a javelin through his heart, killing him instantly so that he did not wake his servants. Then Teancum went back to his camp, woke his men and told them what he had done. They made themselves ready for the Lamanites in case they had awakened and were coming to attack them. This is how 67 BC ended.