Trumpism in the Book of Mormon

Alma chapter 2 introduces us to Amlici. This alarming story is so close to what has happened, and is happening, in America today it should be seen as a prophetic warning.

If you believe the Book of Mormon to be a true book of scripture, then these events happened approximately 2,100 years ago. If you happen to believe that the Book of Mormon was somehow written by Joseph Smith, then this story is still nearly 200 years old.

A cunning man

And it came to pass in the commencement of the fifth year of their reign there began to be a contention among the people; for a certain man, being called Amlici, he being a very cunning man, yea, a wise man as to the wisdom of the world, he being after the order of the man that slew Gideon by the sword, who was executed according to the law—

Now this Amlici had, by his cunning, drawn away much people after him; even so much that they began to be very powerful; and they began to endeavor to establish Amlici to be a king over the people.

Alma 2:1-2

Amlici’s followers wanted him to be king. The scripture says that Amlici was “after the order of” Nehor who, as we saw in the previous post, was a master at gaining popularity by telling people what they wanted to hear and pandering to their lowest instincts.

A critical election

Now this was alarming to the people of the church, and also to all those who had not been drawn away after the persuasions of Amlici; for they knew that according to their law that such things must be established by the voice of the people.

Therefore, if it were possible that Amlici should gain the voice of the people, he, being a wicked man, would deprive them of their rights and privileges of the church; for it was his intent to destroy the church of God.

Alma 2:3-4

The people who could see through Amlici’s lies were alarmed by the threat to democracy that he represented. Everything depended on the results of the next election. If Amlici won, and established his monarchy, there would be no more elections and their freedom would be over.

Denying the result of an election

And it came to pass that the people assembled themselves together throughout all the land, every man according to his mind, whether it were for or against Amlici, in separate bodies, having much dispute and wonderful contentions one with another.

And thus they did assemble themselves together to cast in their voices concerning the matter; and they were laid before the judges.

And it came to pass that the voice of the people came against Amlici, that he was not made king over the people.

Alma 2:5-7

An election was held and Amlici lost. The people who voted against him were happy, but Amlici’s followers did not accept the result of the election. Consider what a sad situation this was. A large number of the citizens of a free democratic country consciously and deliberately decided that they would prefer to live under a capricious monarchy than choose their own leaders.

Now this did cause much joy in the hearts of those who were against him; but Amlici did stir up those who were in his favor to anger against those who were not in his favor.

And it came to pass that they gathered themselves together, and did consecrate Amlici to be their king.

Alma 2:8-9

Treason and war

In an act of blatant treason, Amlici’s followers met together and made Amlici their “king.” Amlici then commanded his followers to take up arms and fight to take over the country.

Now when Amlici was made king over them he commanded them that they should take up arms against their brethren; and this he did that he might subject them to him.

Alma 2:10

A bloody civil war broke out between the Amlicites and the followers of Alma (who were still known as the Nephites). When the forces of Amlici were put to the run, the retreating Amlicites actually joined forces with the Lamanites and marched toward the capital city of Zarahemla.

Behold, we followed the camp of the Amlicites, and to our great astonishment, in the land of Minon, above the land of Zarahemla, in the course of the land of Nephi, we saw a numerous host of the Lamanites; and behold, the Amlicites have joined them;

And they are upon our brethren in that land; and they are fleeing before them with their flocks, and their wives, and their children, towards our city; and except we make haste they obtain possession of our city, and our fathers, and our wives, and our children be slain.

Alma 2:24-25

This, of course, means that Amlici, who wanted to be king of the Nephites was willing to make a deal with his nation’s enemies in order to achieve power.

Thousands of people died in this war (Alma 3:26). Eventually Alma’s army drove the Lamanites, and any remaining Amlicites, “out of borders of their land” (Alma 3:23).

The bad guys proudly identify themselves

And the Amlicites were distinguished from the Nephites, for they had marked themselves with red in their foreheads after the manner of the Lamanites; nevertheless they had not shorn their heads like unto the Lamanites.

Alma 3:4

To me, the most telling aspect of this story is that the followers of Amlici willingly and proudly identified themselves by wearing red hats that said “Make Zarahemla Great Again” marking their own foreheads with red.

They were proud of their rebellion and did not care about their country or the church. They supported their power-hungry antihero without reservation and did whatever he asked of them. Initially, they probably didn’t realize that they would have to die for him.

The lesson

And in one year were thousands and tens of thousands of souls sent to the eternal world, that they might reap their rewards according to their works, whether they were good or whether they were bad, to reap eternal happiness or eternal misery, according to the spirit which they listed to obey, whether it be a good spirit or a bad one.

For every man receiveth wages of him whom he listeth to obey, and this according to the words of the spirit of prophecy; therefore let it be according to the truth. And thus endeth the fifth year of the reign of the judges.

Alma 3:26-27

It is not a coincidence that Latter-day Saints are asked to study the Book of Mormon during Presidential election years. The warnings of the book become more relevant every four years. In election 2024, it is time for the Latter-day Saints of Utah, Idaho, Arizona, and Nevada to wake up and understand their own scriptures — and help turn their states blue.