A group of people, known as king-men, submit a petition to change the government and establish a king. The question comes before the people, who reject the proposal. When the Lamanites attack, the king-men refuse to defend their country, until Moroni compels them to do so. This internal contention gives Amalackiah, the Lamante king, his opportunity, and he conquers a number of Nephite cities before being halted by Teancum’s army. In the middle of the night, Teancum sneaks into the Lamanite camp and assassinates Amalackiah.
Chapter Outline
- King-men try to overthrow the government but are defeated by the voice of the people (v. 1-8)
- They refuse to defend their country until they are compelled by Moroni to do so (v. 9-21)
- Amalackiah’s army conquers many cities (v. 22-28)
- Teancum kills Amalackiah (v. 29-37)
My Takeaways
- We can overcome the storms and the pressures which we will face if we avoid contention and are unified.
- We need to eliminate feelings of pride or arrogance before we can effectively address the external challenges in our lives.
- Focus on your highest priorities.
Featured Blog Posts
❖ King-men – Alma 51:1-8
King-Men and Freedom of Speech
Words matter. Words have an impact, for good or for evil. Jesus said, “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgment” (Matthew 12:36). And Alma warned the people of Ammonihah, some of whom were guilty of deceiving others, “Our words will condemn us” (Alma 12:24).…
❖ Compelled by Moroni to fight – Alma 51:9-21
This Was a Critical Time for Such Contentions – Alma 51:9
9 But behold, this was a critical time for such contentions to be among the people of Nephi; for behold, Amalickiah had again stirred up the hearts of the people of the Lamanites against the people of the Nephites, and he was gathering together soldiers from all parts of his land, and arming them, and…
To Pull Down Their Pride and Their Nobility – Alma 51:13, 17-18, 21
13 And it came to pass that when the men who were called king-men 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,…
It Was His First Care – Alma 51:13-16
13 And it came to pass that when the men who were called king-men 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,…
❖ Teancum kills Amalackiah – Alma 51:29-37
What Can We Learn from Teancum’s Assassinations of Two Lamanite Kings?
During an extended war between the Nephites and the Lamanites, one of the Nephite commanders, Teancum, bravely enters the camp of the enemy on two occasions to take out their leader. The first of these events occurs near the beginning of the war. The Lamanites have invaded Nephite lands and have taken possession of numerous…
Old Testament Foundations
King-men
Why would a person vote to eliminate their own freedom? I’ve been intrigued the past couple of weeks by the children of Israel, who insisted on having a king, even after the prophet Samuel warned them of the terrible consequences of this decision: Their children would suffer, they would lose control over their possessions, and…
The Voice of the People
When the prophet Samuel was old, he tried to appoint his sons to succeed him as leaders over Israel. But the Israelites were not willing to follow his sons, and they requested that he appoint a king. Samuel was troubled. He didn’t think it wise to give one person that much power, and he thought…
All Posts Referencing Alma 50
- Multiply and Replenish (12/18/2025)
- “An Exceedingly Curious Man” (8/25/2024)
- Never Stop Preparing (8/16/2024)
- Strongholds (12/2/2022)
- Building a Wall (7/23/2022)
- King-Men and Freedom of Speech (1/14/2021)
- “Prepare Ye, Prepare Ye” (12/29/2020)
- “There Never Was a Happier Time…” – Alma 50:23 (8/9/2020)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Provident Living? (9/1/2019)
- What Is the Significance of God’s Promise to Nephi? (7/19/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Self-Reliance? (7/18/2019)
- “Being a Man of Much Passion” – Alma 50:29-31 (4/11/2018)
- How Merciful and Just Are All the Dealings of the Lord – Alma 50:19-23 (3/25/2017)
- Moroni Did Not Stop Making Preparations – Alma 50:1 (3/25/2017)
- There Never Was a Happier Time – Alma 50:23 (9/14/2016)
- Being a Man of Much Passion – Alma 50:28-31 (8/16/2015)
- Heaps of Earth, Timbers, and Frames of Pickets – Alma 50:1-6 (8/15/2015)