Alma was the chief judge and governor to the people of Nephi. He was also the high priest of the church of God. During this time a wicked man named, Amlici, through manipulation began to have a following that became very powerful. They wanted him to be the king of the Nephites and to destroy the church of God.

The people assembled and voted against Amlici becoming their king. However, Amlici and his followers didn’t accept this outcome and began a war against the Nephites so that he could take away their liberties and they would be forced to serve him. Amlici and his people, after losing one battle, joined the enemies of the Nephites and raged war against them. Their combined army was far more numerous than the Nephite army.

This painting shows the chief judge, Alma, and the dissenter, Amlici, when they came to fight face to face. During the fight, Alma prayed for strength to defeat Amlici. He prayed to God to spare his life and promised to serve Him for the rest of his days. After he said this prayer, he was strengthened and killed Amlici with his sword. Although greatly outnumbered, the Nephites killed many and the rest fled into the wilderness where many more perished. Thus, their liberties remained, and peace restored.

Additional

Alma was the chief judge and governor to the people of Nephi much like a president or prime minister of today. He was a good and honest leader and the high priest of the church of God. During this time an amoral man named, Amlici, through manipulation began to have a following that became very powerful. These dissenters wanted him to be the king- not president or prime minister- of the Nephites and to eradicate the church of God. If he were to become king, he would take away the people’s rights and freedom of religion. According to their law, the people had to consent or vote for who should lead them.

Amlici, assuming he would win, consented to casting votes for him to become the ruler. The people assembled and voted against Amlici becoming their king. Amlici and his followers didn’t accept this outcome and began a war against the Nephites so that he could take away their liberties and they would be forced to serve him. Although not the majority, Amlici and his dissenters were great in number and a fierce battle ensued. In this battle 12,532 of the Amlicites, as they were now called, were slaughtered -as opposed to 562 Nephites- and the rest retreated. The remaining Amlicites joined up with the enemies of the Nephites, called the Lamanites, and came to rage war against the Nephites.

Their combined army was far more numerous than the Nephite army so much so that they could not be counted. This painting depicts the moment when the chief judge, Alma, and the dissenter, Amlici, came to fight face to face. It shows Amlici and Alma amid the fight when Alma prays for strength to defeat Amlici. He asked God that if He would spare his life then he would continue to serve God and his fellowmen for the rest of his life. After he said this prayer, he was strengthened and killed Amlici with his sword. Although greatly outnumbered, the Nephites killed countless Lamanites and Amlicites and the rest fled into the wilderness where many more perished.

Only days later, another army of Lamanites came to fight in the same spot as the previous battle. Alma, wounded from battle, could not attend but sent an army to meet them and once again defeated them and drove them out. After this, the battles stopped for some time, peace was restored, and their liberties remained. Spared by the mercy of God, Alma continued to lead a humble life of service. For a few years, he continued as chief judge and governor of the Nephite people while remaining high priest of the church of God. He later stepped down as chief judge and governor so that he could focus on preaching the word of God and expanding the church.