Three experiences altered Mosiah’s view of monarchy: the suffering of Limhi’s and Alma’s people which were directly traceable to the wickedness of King Noah, the record of the Jaredites, and his sons’ refusal to accept the throne. So, Mosiah proposed a new system of government in which the people would choose judges, all of whom would be accountable to “the voice of the people.”
Chapter Outline
- The people request Aaron as their next king (v. 1-3)
- Mosiah writes a letter proposing a new system of government (v. 4-36)
- Monarchy leads to contention (v. 5-10)
- A wicked king can do much harm (v. 11-24)
- Proposal: choose judges (v. 25-29)
- Everyone should be equal (v. 30-36)
- The people accept the proposal and choose judges (v. 37-44)
- Alma and Mosiah die (v. 45-47)
My Takeaways
- Counsel with the people you lead, instead of imposing decisions on them.
- We must hold our leaders to a high standard of integrity.
- We need to fulfill our responsibility as citizens to participate in the political process.
- Voting is a sacred privilege.
Featured Blog Posts
❖ Mosiah proposes a new system of government – Mosiah 29:4-36
Let Us Be Wise – Mosiah 29:8-10
8 Now I say unto you let us be wise and consider these things, for we have no right to destroy my son, neither should we have any right to destroy another if he should be appointed in his stead. 9 And if my son should turn again to his pride and vain things he…
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach about Elections?
Shortly before his death, in about the year 91 B.C., King Mosiah announced to his people that he would have no successor. None of his sons wanted to be king, and he had been horrified to hear about the suffering caused by an unrighteous king named Noah. To prevent such a situation arising again, Mosiah…
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Corruption?
King Benjamin set the standard for political leadership when he reported to his people at the end of his reign that he had conscientiously labored to serve them and avoided taking advantage of his role for personal gain (Mosiah 2:12-15). His son Mosiah followed his example (Mosiah 6:6-7). But when the people of King Limhi…
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Impeachment?
King Mosiah, who followed his father’s example of servant leadership, was eventually convinced by his friend Alma that monarchy is a dangerous form of government. Alma had served as a priest under king Noah and was painfully aware of the suffering caused by a wicked king. And so, near the end of his life, King…
By the Voice of the People – Mosiah 29:26
26 Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right; therefore this shall ye observe and make it your law–to do your business by the voice of…
That Every Man Might Bear His Part – Mosiah 29:33-34
33 And many more things did king Mosiah write unto them, unfolding unto them all the trials and troubles of a righteous king, yea, all the travails of soul for their people, and also all the murmurings of the people to their king; and he explained it all unto them. 34 And he told them…
Equal Rights, Shared Responsibilities
Mosiah wanted his people to have equal rights and privileges. They understood that rights and responsibilities are interconnected, and they accepted not only new freedoms but also increased accountability for their actions.
❖ The people choose judges – Mosiah 29:37-44
“To Cast in Their Voices”
I voted yesterday. On Sunday, I told my children that voting is almost a spiritual experience for me. It is an honor to gather with fellow citizens to participate in such an important process—the foundation of a democratic system of government. I feel a form of reverence as I engage in a process by which…
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…
The Book of Judges and the Book of Mormon
Did the authors of the Book of Mormon have access to the book of Judges? They did have the brass plates, which contained “the five books of Moses…and also a record of the Jews…and also the prophecies of the holy prophets” (1 Nephi 5:10-13). It seems reasonable to assume that some version of the book…
Church History Connections
Govern Ourselves
When Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, saw him judging the people “from the morning unto the evening,” he said, “The thing that thou doest is not good.” Moses explained to him that the people needed his help resolving disputes and that this was his opportunity to teach them about God’s laws. Jethro replied, “This thing is too heavy for thee;…
Freedom of Religion
When King Mosiah proposed to his people that they abolish the monarchy and establish a new government consisting of judges appointed “by the voice of the people,” one important feature of this new system was the protection of each citizen’s rights: Now I desire that this inequality should be no more in this land, especially among this…
All Posts Referencing Mosiah 29
- Jethro and Mosiah on Collaborative Leadership (4/19/2026)
- Abinadi, Authority, and the Image of God (1/15/2026)
- Rendering Unto Caesar (11/23/2025)
- Three Traits for Trustworthy Leadership (6/1/2025)
- Every Man [and Woman] (6/8/2024)
- Equal Rights, Shared Responsibilities (6/4/2024)
- Being Wise (4/14/2024)
- Mercy (3/26/2024)
- “Exact No More…” (1/26/2023)
- “To Cast in Their Voices” (11/9/2022)
- King-men (6/25/2022)
- The Voice of the People (6/15/2022)
- Gleaning (6/8/2022)
- The Book of Judges and the Book of Mormon (6/5/2022)
- Govern Ourselves (4/21/2022)
- Freedom of Religion (11/19/2021)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach about Elections? (11/6/2020)
- “Every Man According to His Mind” – Alma 2:5 (5/26/2020)
- The Legacies of Limhi’s People and Alma’s People (5/17/2020)
- The Arms of Mercy (4/5/2020)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Corruption? (12/10/2019)
- What Is a High Priest? (11/6/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Impeachment? (10/29/2019)
- How Should I Deal with Anxiety? (7/10/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Obedience? (6/30/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Taxes? (4/6/2019)
- By the Voice of the People – Mosiah 29:26 (5/9/2018)
- That Every Man Might Bear His Part – Mosiah 29:33-34 (5/8/2018)
- Let Us Be Wise – Mosiah 29:8-10 (10/31/2017)
- “That Every Man Might Bear His Part” – Mosiah 29:33-34 (5/27/2015)