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Book of Mormon Commentary
Mosiah Chapter 13
MOSIAH COUNSELS AGAINST HAVING A KING, VER. 1-52
Mos 13:4 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.
13:4 In the list of Mosiah's sons, given in Mosiah 11:203, Ammon is named first. However, the Hebrew
custom generally favored the oldest being the heir. It would seem from this choice of the people that
Aaron was the firstborn son. Laman's contention with Nephi stems from the principle of primogeniture
(I N. 5:48-51; II N. 4:4).
Mosiah could see the danger in this situation, for Aaron had gone up to the land of Nephi after he and
his brothers had refused to take upon them the kingdom (12:14). Should another be crowned king, and
then Aaron return and want the crown, the nation would likely be plunged into war (Mos. 13:10, 11).
Mosiah, therefore, proposed that he would serve out his days as their king, but that judges then be
appointed to rule them "according to our law" (15).
Mos 13:21 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.
13:21 Mosiah said in effect, "If you could always have a good king, like my father Benjamin, it would
be well to have a king" (17). But "remember King Noah, his wickedness and his abominations" (23).
The people were led into wickedness, and great destruction came upon them.
Mos 13:28 And behold, now I say unto you, Ye can not dethrone an iniquitous king, save it be through
much contention, and the shedding of much blood.
13:28 The wisdom of this counsel is borne out in the practice of the last two thousand years. The new
nations being created from the former colonies of the great powers are starting with elected officials
according to constitutional law. Though these have and may continue to have deviations by way of
military coups and dictators, the peoples of the world will not long stand for totalitarian governments.
Growing pains are likely to show up at times, especially among primitive peoples.
Mos 13:34 Therefore choose you by the voice of this people, judges, that ye may be judged according
to the laws which have been given you by our fathers, which are correct, and which were given them by
the hand of the Lord.
13:34 In the land of Canaan the Israelites clamored for a king contrary to the counsel of the Lord and the
prophet Samuel, "Nay; but we will have a king over us; that we also may be like all the nations ; and that
our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles" (I Sam. 8:19-22). God recognized the
agency of man and told Samuel to follow the voice of the people. Nevertheless, men must be ready to
accept the consequences of wrong choices.
Mosiah pointed out, "It is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that
which is right" (Mos. 13:35). It can happen and has happened. In 1833 the Lord said, "When the wicked
rule the people mourn; wherefore honest men and wise men should be sought for, diligently, and good
men and wise men, ye should observe to uphold" (D. and C. 95:2 c, d).
Mos 13:42 And I command you to do these things, and that ye have no king: that if these people
commit sins and iniquities, they shall be answered upon their own heads.