Mosiah 29:2
2 And it came to pass that the voice of the people came, saying:
We are desirous that Aaron thy son should be our king and our
ruler.
Mosiah 29:3
3 Now Aaron had gone up to the land of Nephi, therefore the king
could not confer the kingdom upon him; neither would Aaron take
upon him the kingdom; neither were any of the sons of Mosiah
willing to take upon them the kingdom.
Mosiah 29:4
4 Therefore king Mosiah sent again among the people; yea, even a
written word sent he among the people. And these were the words
that were written, saying:
Mosiah 29:5
5 Behold, O ye my people, or my brethren, for I esteem you as
such, I desire that ye should consider the cause which ye are
called to consider—for ye are desirous to have a king.
Mosiah 29:6
6 Now I declare unto you that he to whom the kingdom doth
rightly belong has declined, and will not take upon him the
kingdom.
Mosiah 29:7
7 And now if there should be another appointed in his stead,
behold I fear there would rise contentions among you. And who
knoweth but what my son, to whom the kingdom doth belong, should
turn to be angry and draw away a part of this people after him,
which would cause wars and contentions among you, which would be
the cause of shedding much blood and perverting the way of the
Lord, yea, and destroy the souls of many people.
Mosiah 29:8
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.
Mosiah 29:9
9 And if my son should turn again to his pride and vain things
he would recall the things which he had said, and claim his right
to the kingdom, which would cause him and also this people to
commit much sin.
Mosiah 29:10
10 And now let us be wise and look forward to these things, and
do that which will make for the peace of this people.
Mosiah 29:11
11 Therefore I will be your king the remainder of my days;
nevertheless, let us appoint judges, to judge this people
according to our law; and we will newly arrange the affairs of
this people, for we will appoint wise men to be judges, that will
judge this people according to the commandments of God.
Mosiah 29:12
12 Now it is better that a man should be judged of God than of
man, for the judgments of God are always just, but the judgments
of man are not always just.
Mosiah 29:13
13 Therefore, if it were possible that you could have just men
to be your kings, who would establish the laws of God, and judge
this people according to his commandments, yea, if ye could have
men for your kings who would do even as my father Benjamin did
for this people—I say unto you, if this could always be the case
then it would be expedient that ye should always have kings to
rule over you.
Mosiah 29:14
14 And even I myself have labored with all the power and
faculties which I have possessed, to teach you the commandments
of God, and to establish peace throughout the land, that there
should be no wars nor contentions, no stealing, nor plundering,
nor murdering, nor any manner of iniquity;
Mosiah 29:15
15 And whosoever has committed iniquity, him have I punished
according to the crime which he has committed, according to the
law which has been given to us by our fathers.
Mosiah 29:16
16 Now I say unto you, that because all men are not just it is
not expedient that ye should have a king or kings to rule over
you.
Mosiah 29:17
17 For behold, how much iniquity doth one wicked king cause to
be committed, yea, and what great destruction!
Mosiah 29:18
18 Yea, remember king Noah, his wickedness and his abominations,
and also the wickedness and abominations of his people. Behold
what great destruction did come upon them; and also because of
their iniquities they were brought into bondage.
Mosiah 29:19
19 And were it not for the interposition of their all-wise
Creator, and this because of their sincere repentance, they must
unavoidably remain in bondage until now.
Mosiah 29:20
20 But behold, he did deliver them because they did humble
themselves before him; and because they cried mightily unto him
he did deliver them out of bondage; and thus doth the Lord work
with his power in all cases among the children of men, extending
the arm of mercy towards them that put their trust in him.
Mosiah 29:21
21 And behold, now I say unto you, ye cannot dethrone an
iniquitous king save it be through much contention, and the
shedding of much blood.
Mosiah 29:22
22 For behold, he has his friends in iniquity, and he keepeth
his guards about him; and he teareth up the laws of those who
have reigned in righteousness before him; and he trampleth under
his feet the commandments of God;
Mosiah 29:23
23 And he enacteth laws, and sendeth them forth among his
people, yea, laws after the manner of his own wickedness; and
whosoever doth not obey his laws he causeth to be destroyed; and
whosoever doth rebel against him he will send his armies against
them to war, and if he can he will destroy them; and thus an
unrighteous king doth pervert the ways of all righteousness.
Mosiah 29:24
24 And now behold I say unto you, it is not expedient that such