Alma 51

Again, it seem Mormon shares some political events of the Nephites, as they continue to defend their new found democracy, in hopes to warn us in our day for we learn that -

"...there began to be a contention among the people concerning the chief judge Pahoran; for behold, there were a part of the people who desired that a few particular points of the law should be altered." (Book of Mormon | Alma 51:2)

Pahoran, as the chief judged, was much like the President of the country. The desire of these people to alter the law was not insignificant for -

"...those who were desirous that Pahoran should be dethroned from the judgment-seat were called king-men, for they were desirous that the law should be altered in a manner to overthrow the free government and to establish a king over the land." (Book of Mormon | Alma 51:5)

And in opposition to these king-men, there were -

"...those who were desirous that Pahoran 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." (Book of Mormon | Alma 51:6)

As we liken the scriptures to ourselves, there will always be those that want freedom, liberty, and free markets, while their will always be those that want power and control where they think they know whats best for us for there were -

"...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." (Book of Mormon | Alma 51:8)

In Pahoran's day, we learn -

"...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 Pahoran retained the judgment-seat, which caused much rejoicing among the brethren of Pahoran and also many of the people of liberty, who also put the king-men to silence, that they durst not oppose but were obliged to maintain the cause of freedom." (Book of Mormon | Alma 51:7)

In their day, the voice of the people was for liberty. But it is apparent that if the day would come that the voice of the people was for less liberty and more dependence, the voice would change the core law of the land and so calle "king-men" would reign.

Sadly we learn that these king-men were so disappointed and angry that they would not support the cause of freedom for -

"...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, that they would not take up arms to defend their country." (Book of Mormon | Alma 51:13)

Again, this is a warning to us in our day if a minority of the people refuse to defend the cause of freedom.