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Show to the crime which he hath committed, according to the law which hath been gi en (0 us by our fathers, | Now I say unto you, that because all men are not just, its not expedient that ye should have a king or kings to rule ove! For behold, how much iniquity doth one wicked king you. cause to be committed! yea, and what great destruction! Yea, remember king Noah, his wickedness and his abomint tions; andalso the wickedness and abominations of his people Behold what great destruction did come upon them ; and als? because of their iniquities, they were brought into bondage. And were it not for the interposition of their all-wise Crealo!, and this because of their sincere repentance, they mu=t et voidably remained in bondage until now. But behold, he did because they.did humble themselves before him; deliver them and thus doth the Lord work with you with this land. now I say unto you, he hath hitherto visited And now if ye have judges, and they do not judge things, and that ye have no king: that if these people commit ‘ins and iniquities, they shall be answered upon their own fads. For behold I say unto you, The sins of many people ave: beenaS Bcaused by the iniquities of their kings; therefore i eit S heir iniquities are is answered upon the heads of p their kings. is - Idesire that this inequality should be no more in this > especially among this my people ; but I desire that right and -be a land of liberty, and every man may enjoy his = ‘and privileges alike, so long as the Lord seeth fit, thai And behold, Ye cannot dethrone an iniquitous king, oe, live and inherit the land; yea, even as long as. any of aa remaineth upon the face ofthe land. And many save it be through mach contention, and the shedding of much blood. even as ger * ae in Ranier oes ~ te Se Sree See -— a er” , - - RE ER Ta) ~ = car—- = x. tc a wes all " oo re i SF Pe tae of 4 the Voice of the people. And I command you to do these things in the fear of the Lord ; and I command you to do these his power For behold, he hath his friends in iniquity, and rs of keepeth his guards about him; and he teareth up the la" those which have reigned in righteousness before hums an great destruction, you according to the law which has been given, ye can cause that they may be judged of a higher judge; if your higher judges doth not judge righteous judgments, ye shall cause that fi Small number of your lower judges should be gathered together, and they shall judge your higher judges, according to in all cases among the children of men, extending the ar! oh mercy towards them that put their trustin him, RO 7 SS * ie= % and because they cried mightily unto him, he did deliver them out of bondage: .+ : “a ro ee did king Mosiah write unto them, unfolding unto 1€ trials and troubles of a righteous king; yea. all the Ss of soul for their people, and also all the murmuring® —_ according ‘% waite oe have| punished committed hath Pe him and whosoever — ee iniguity, iniquity; ae “a lili, aaaaltiagy, f 4 no manner.of zr a. iii nor LS £ etl” lish peace throughout the land, that there should be no wars Pe contentions, no stealing, nor plundering, nor murdering and thus an unrighteous king doth pervert the ways of all righteousness. And now behold I say unto you, It is not expedient that such abominations should come upon you; theretore. choose you by the voice of this people, judges, that ye may be judged according to the laws which hath been given you by our fathers, which are correct, and which,wasegiven them ~ by the hand of the Lord. Now it is not common that the;/ voice of the people desireth any thing contrary to that which . 4 isright; 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 the =;2 people. And if the time cometh that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit afc a sessed, to teach you the commandments of God, and to estab ~ and whosoever doth rebel against him, he will send his armies eget. Yy__ he causeth to be destroyed5 against them to war, and if he can, he will destroy them: eee ne x> obey his laws, - te soever doth not f= = . eoi te he enacteth laws, and sendeth them forth among his people; yea, laws after the manner of his own wickedness; and who- 4 arrange the aifairs of this people; for we will appoint wise men to be judges, that will judge this people according to the commandments of God. Now it is better that a man should is judged of God than of man, for the judgments of God are always just, but the judgments of man are not always just; ‘therefore, if it were possible that ye could have just men to be our kings, which would establish the laws of God, and judge his people according to his commandments; yea, if ye could men for your kings, which would’d6 even as my father ‘ have Benjamin did for this people; I say unto you, if this could al: ways be the case, then it would be expedient that ye should always have kings to rule over you. And even I, myself have labored with all the power and faculties which I have pos he trampleth under his feet the commandments of God; and 2 will newly la Ss to judge this people according to our law, and we <x *y ~< : we a Re S the remainden.of my days; nevertheless, let us appoint judges, a, 219 eS BOOK OF MOSEAM, OF MOSIAE: PF BOOK innimae. 918 |
