Alma 47

(All of my own thoughts are in red type 7/20 green 5/21 8/22 Brown 10/23.)

CHAPTER 47

Amalickiah uses treachery, murder, and intrigue to become king of the Lamanites—The Nephite dissenters are more wicked and ferocious than the Lamanites. About 72 B.C.

  1 Now we will return in our record to Amalickiah and those who had ^afled with him into the wilderness; for, behold, he had taken those who went with him, and went up in the ^bland of Nephi among the Lamanites, and did ^cstir up the Lamanites to anger against the people of Nephi, There is soooo much of this "stirring up" thing going on right now. I guess it's not so easy for people to see what is happening when they are in the middle of it... insomuch that the king of the Lamanites sent a proclamation throughout all his land, among all his people, that they should gather themselves together again to go to battle against the Nephites. What exactly did he say to get all of them to want to go to battle again? Lies, I'm sure...
  2 And it came to pass that when the proclamation had gone forth among them they were exceedingly afraid; yea, they ^afeared to displease the king, and they also feared to go to battle against the Nephites lest they should lose their lives. And it came to pass that they would not, or the more part of them would not, obey the commandments of the king. This might be a stretch...but as members there is a lot of "I fear to displease the prophet" and I also fear to go against the government/stores/my boss/ ward members".  In this case, liberty won. In our case, liberty is losing... It will be really interesting to see, the next time around (I'm sure there will be one) if fewer people are "afraid to displease" their leaders. The narrative around COVID is starting to be unveiled, but just 4 days ago the Pope renewed his plea for people to get vaccinated "out of love" for others, and our prophet wouldn't allow anyone to attend the Washington DC Temple dedication without a mask. It's Oct 2023. There was rumor of mask mandates again, but it hasn't happened. I think there would be greater resistance this time. If "they" feel too many people would resist, I think they will delay because they don't want it known that they don't have power. There was a national test of the emergency broadcast system last week. Some say the frequency blast would release viruses implanted in the vaxxed. There may be an incubation period, but so far nothing happened. Israel is under attack by Hamas and it's not clear if Israel "allowed" it for some reason or what...but it's fueling a lot of division in those who do and don't support Israel. Things are brewing, for sure.  
  3 And now it came to pass that the king was wroth because of their disobedience; therefore he gave Amalickiah the command of that part of his army which was obedient unto his commands, and commanded him that he should go forth and ^acompel them to arms. You know you are in trouble when you have to be forced to comply.
  4 Now behold, this was the desire of Amalickiah; for he being a very subtle man  to do evil therefore he laid the plan in his heart to ^bdethrone the king of the Lamanites. Evil people should trust no one...not even their friends. Evil has no loyalties. This king had no discernment about the real intentions of Amalickiah. We have to be careful about those who on either side. They may just be trying to stir up contention. Someone (antichrist) wants to set themselves up as the ruler, and they may just take the position of the "good guy"...
  5 And now he had got the command of those parts of the Lamanites who were in favor of the king; and he sought to gain favor of those who were not obedient; therefore he went forward to the place which was called ^aOnidah, for thither had all the Lamanites fled; for they discovered the army coming, and, supposing that they were coming to destroy them, therefore they fled to Onidah, to the place of arms. why was it called "the place of arms"? Was it where Ammon cut off people's arms? Or are "arms" weapons? 
  6 And they had appointed a man to be a king and a leader over them, being fixed in their minds with a determined resolution that they would ^anot be subjected to go against the Nephites. Why not just appoint a leader? Why do you need to have a king?
  7 And it came to pass that they had gathered themselves together upon the top of the mount which was called Antipas, in preparation to battle.
  8 Now it was not Amalickiah’s intention to give them battle according to the commandments of the king; but behold, it was his intention to gain favor with the armies of the Lamanites, that he might place himself at their head and dethrone the king and take possession of the kingdom.
  9 And behold, it came to pass that he caused his army to pitch their tents in the valley which was near the mount Antipas.
 10 And it came to pass that when it was night he sent a secret embassy into the mount Antipas, desiring that the leader of those who were upon the mount, whose name was Lehonti, that he should come down to the foot of the mount, for he desired to speak with him.
 11 And it came to pass that when Lehonti received the message he durst not go down to the foot of the mount. And it came to pass that Amalickiah sent again the second time, desiring him to come down. And it came to pass that Lehonti would not; and he sent again the third time.
 12 And it came to pass that when Amalickiah found that he could not get Lehonti to come down off from the mount, he went up into the mount, nearly to Lehonti’s camp; and he sent again the fourth time his message unto Lehonti, desiring that he would come down, and that he would bring his guards with him. Lehonti was clear in the beginning, but he compromised when evil seemed to appear more vulnerable and agreed to meet him halfway.
 13 And it came to pass that when Lehonti had come down with his guards to Amalickiah, that Amalickiah desired him to come down with his army in the night-time, and surround those men in their camps over whom the king had given him command, and that he would deliver them up into Lehonti’s hands, if he would make him (Amalickiah) a second ^aleader over the whole army. Deception is so evil. Always question someone who appears to be on the right side in exchange for more power. And why would these people who had refused to follow their original king, follow this "new guy" after the one they picked died?
 14 And it came to pass that Lehonti came down with his men and surrounded the men of Amalickiah, so that before they awoke at the dawn of day they were surrounded by the armies of Lehonti.
 15 And it came to pass that when they saw that they were surrounded, they pled with Amalickiah that he would suffer them to fall in with their brethren, that they might not be destroyed. Now this was the very thing which Amalickiah desired.
 16 And it came to pass that he delivered his men, ^acontrary to the commands of the king. Now this was the thing that Amalickiah desired, that he might accomplish his designs in dethroning the king.
 17 Now it was the custom among the Lamanites, if their chief leader was killed, to appoint the second leader to be their chief leader.
 18 And it came to pass that Amalickiah caused that one of his servants should administer ^apoison by degrees to Lehonti, that he died. We are in the midst of an attack which will "administer poison by degrees" to millions of people. How did Amalickiah identify which of these men he could trust with his "evil plan"? Someone he could tell wanted more power/attention? How long did it take him to die "by degrees"? No one suspected foul play here? Just bad luck for Lehonti? 
 19 Now, when Lehonti was dead, the Lamanites appointed Amalickiah to be their leader and their chief commander. Beware of someone claiming to be on your side...Trump?
 20 And it came to pass that Amalickiah marched with his armies (for he had gained his desires) to the ^aland of Nephi, to the city of Nephi, which was the chief city.
 21 And the king came out to meet him with his guards, for he supposed that Amalickiah had ^afulfilled his commands, and that Amalickiah had gathered together so great an army to go against the Nephites to battle.
 22 But behold, as the king came out to meet him Amalickiah caused that his servants should go forth to meet the king. And they went and ^abowed themselves before the king, as if to reverence him because of his greatness. Half of these people didn't want to follow this Lamanite king and half did...now they all don't? Were none of the original servants loyal to the king? Seems like the prevailing armies sentiment should be those of Lehonti who don't want to reverence the king.
 23 And it came to pass that the king put forth his hand to raise them, as was the custom with the Lamanites, as a token of peace, which custom they had taken from the Nephites.
 24 And it came to pass that when he had raised the first from the ground, behold he stabbed the king to the heart; and he fell to the earth. This reminds me of Frozen 2 where the king of Aryendale gave a gift of peace to Northaldra and then when he feigned friendship, began a war and blamed it on the Northaldrans when he himself started it.
 25 Now the servants of the king fled; None of them were loyal to the king and wanted to strike back? I guess they were obviously outnumbered and this kind of society has no loyalties of the "he who layeth his life down for a friend" kind. and the servants of Amalickiah raised a cry, saying:
 26 Behold, the servants of the king have stabbed him to the heart, and he has fallen and they have fled; behold, come and see.
 27 And it came to pass that Amalickiah commanded that his armies should march forth and see what had happened to the king; and when they had come to the spot, and found the king lying in his gore, Amalickiah pretended to be wroth, and said: Whosoever loved the king, let him go forth, and pursue his servants that they may be slain. So confusing...now are we acknowledging those in the original army that had sided with the king? What of those who didn't? What would they think of Amalickiah's words? Do they know what he's doing?
 28 And it came to pass that all they who loved the king, when they heard these words, came forth and pursued after the servants of the king.
 29 Now when the ^aservants of the king saw an army pursuing after them, they were frightened again, and fled into the wilderness, and came over into the land of Zarahemla and joined the ^bpeople of Ammon.
 30 And the army which pursued after them returned, having pursued after them in vain; and thus Amalickiah, by his ^afraud, gained the hearts of the people. I think an anti-christ will do the same thing. By his fraud, he will gain the hearts of the people...
 31 And it came to pass on the morrow he entered the city Nephi with his armies, and took possession of the city.
 32 And now it came to pass that the queen, when she had heard that the king was slain—for Amalickiah had sent an embassy to the queen informing her that the king had been slain by his servants, that he had pursued them with his army, but it was in vain, and they had made their escape—
 33 Therefore, when the queen had received this message she sent unto Amalickiah, desiring him that he would spare the people of the city; and she also desired him that he should come in unto her; and she also desired him that he should bring ^awitnesses with him to testify concerning the death of the king.
 34 And it came to pass that Amalickiah took the same servant that slew the king, and all them who were with him, and went in unto the queen, unto the place where she sat; and they all ^atestified unto her that the king was slain by his own servants; and they said also: They have fled; does not this testify against them? And thus they satisfied the queen concerning the death of the king. Look for a "set-up" that bring about a change in power. 
 35 And it came to pass that Amalickiah sought the ^afavor of the queen, and took her unto him to wife; and thus by his ^bfraud, and by the assistance of his cunning servants, he ^cobtained the kingdom; yea, he was acknowledged king throughout all the land, among all the people of the Lamanites, who were ^dcomposed of the Lamanites and the Lemuelites and the Ishmaelites, and all the dissenters of the Nephites, from the reign of Nephi down to the present time.
 36 Now these ^adissenters, having the same instruction and the same information of the Nephites, yea, having been instructed in the same ^bknowledge of the Lord, nevertheless, it is strange to relate, not long after their dissensions they became more hardened and ^cimpenitent, and more wild, wicked and ferocious than the Lamanites—drinking in with the ^dtraditions of the Lamanites; giving way to ^eindolence, and all manner of lasciviousness; yea, entirely forgetting the Lord their God. One of the reasons we should work so hard to retain members in the faith. They can be our worst enemies if they leave. I fear the coming persecution will be hardest from those who leave the faith. They are going to be soooo angry!