Mosiah 29

It's interesting to read about how a government is set up. Especially a peaceful change from a monarchy to a republic and the reasons for such a change.

In literature you hear of the prince that doesn't want to be a king, but is "forced" to. King Mosiah's eldest son Aaron didn't want to become king though the people wished him to be. King Mosiah wrote a proclamation to the people which said:

"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" (8).

He put forth the suggestion of a government based on judges and the voice of the people. Reminds me vaguely of The United States of America's government.

Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right; 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 people. 

And if the time comes 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 you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land (26-27).

The majority of the people are righteous and morally correct. They support that which is right. However, there often are the few that call for laws that is not right. And if there is a time when the lesser voice calling for wickedness, then we are all in trouble. We have to act, and not just sit idly by.


Elder Neal A. Maxwell said:

“Cultural decline is accelerated when single-interest segments of society become indifferent to general values once widely shared. This drift is facilitated by the indifferent or the indulgent as society is led carefully down to hell (see 2 Nephi 28:21). Some may not join in this drift, but instead they step aside, whereas once they might have constrained, as is their representative right. . . . 

“We actually have an obligation to notice genuine, telltale societal signs. . . . 

“For what happens in cultural decline both leaders and followers are really accountable. Historically, of course, it is easy to criticize bad leaders, but we should not give followers a free pass. Otherwise, in their rationalization of their degeneration they may say they were just following orders, while the leader was just ordering followers! However, much more is required of followers in a democratic society, wherein individual character matters so much in both leaders and followers” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1999, 28–30; or Ensign, May 1999, 23–24).