Amalickiah and his Followers

Amalickiah’s Takeover of the Lamanite Army

Alma 47:1

Amalickiah arrives in the land of Nephi with his followers, where he persuades the Lamanite King to go to war against the Nephites.

now we will return in our record to Amalickiah and those who had fled with him into the wilderness; for, behold, he had taken those who went with him, and went up in the land of Nephi among the Lamanites, and did stir up the Lamanites to anger against the people of Nephi, insomuch that the king of the Lamanites sent a proclamation throughout all his land, among all his people, that they should gather themselves together again to go to battle against the Nephites.

Alma 47:2

When the Lamanites hear about the call to war, most of them are afraid to fight, and don’t want to join the military.

And it came to pass that when the proclamation had gone forth among them they were exceedingly afraid; yea, they feared to displease the king, and they also feared to go to battle against the Nephites lest they should lose their lives. And it came to pass that they would not, or the more part of them would not, obey the commandments of the king.

Alma 47:5–7

The Lamanites who are unwilling to fight know that the militants are coming coming after them, so they choose a leader and gather on Mount Antipas, in a place called Onidah.

…the place which was called Onidah, for thither had all the Lamanites fled; for they discovered the army coming, and, supposing that they were coming to destroy them, therefore they fled to Onidah, to the place of arms. And they had appointed a man to be a king and a leader over them, being fixed in their minds with a determined resolution that they would not be subjected to go against the Nephites. And it came to pass that they had gathered themselves together upon the top of the mount which was called Antipas, in preparation to battle.

Alma 47:3

The king charges Amalickiah with the task of compelling those reluctant to fight to go to war.

And now it came to pass that the king was wroth because of their disobedience; therefore he gave Amalickiah the command of that part of his army which was obedient unto his commands, and commanded him that he should go forth and compel them to arms.

Alma 47:4

This is part of Amalickiah’s devious plan to dethrone the Lamanite King.

Now behold, this was the desire of Amalickiah; for he being a very subtle man to do evil therefore he laid the plan in his heart to dethrone the king of the Lamanites.

Alma 47:5,9

Amalickiah takes the Lamanites who are loyal to the king to the valley at the foot of mount Antipas, near Onidah, where the Lamanites who are reluctant to fight are gathered.

And now he had got the command of those parts of the Lamanites who were in favor of the king; and he sought to gain favor of those who were not obedient; therefore he went forward to the place which was called Onidah, …


And behold, it came to pass that he caused his army to pitch their tents in the valley which was near the mount Antipas.

Alma 47:8

Instead of attacking the peaceful Lamanites, Amalickiah chooses to trick them into joining him.

Now it was not Amalickiah’s intention to give them battle according to the commandments of the king; but behold, it was his intention to gain favor with the armies of the Lamanites, that he might place himself at their head and dethrone the king and take possession of the kingdom.

Alma 47:10

At night, Amalickiah sends a messenger to the leader of the peaceful Lamanites, Lehonti, requesting a word with him.

And it came to pass that when it was night he sent a secret embassy into the mount Antipas, desiring that the leader of those who were upon the mount, whose name was Lehonti, that he should come down to the foot of the mount, for he desired to speak with him.

Alma 47:11

When Lehonti refuses to come down, Amalickiah makes several more attempts, but Lehonti refuses to come down each time.

And it came to pass that when Lehonti received the message he durst not go down to the foot of the mount. And it came to pass that Amalickiah sent again the second time, desiring him to come down. And it came to pass that Lehonti would not; and he sent again the third time.

Alma 47:12

Amalickiah goes up mount Antipas himself, approaches Lehonti’s camp, and requests that Lehonti to come down with an armed escort.

And it came to pass that when Amalickiah found that he could not get Lehonti to come down off from the mount, he went up into the mount, nearly to Lehonti’s camp; and he sent again the fourth time his message unto Lehonti, desiring that he would come down, and that he would bring his guards with him.

Alma 47:13

Amalickiah conspires with Lehonti, suggesting that Lehonti’s troops come down and surround Amalickiah’s troops causing them to surrender; Amalickiah would then become second in command.

And it came to pass that when Lehonti had come down with his guards to Amalickiah, that Amalickiah desired him to come down with his army in the night–time, and surround those men in their camps over whom the king had given him command, and that he would deliver them up into Lehonti’s hands, if he would make him (Amalickiah) a second leader over the whole army.

Alma 47:14

The plan goes into effect; in the morning Amalickiah’s men wake up to find themselves surrounded by Lehonti’s men.

And it came to pass that Lehonti came down with his men and surrounded the men of Amalickiah, so that before they awoke at the dawn of day they were surrounded by the armies of Lehonti.

Alma 47:15

Lehonti’s men beg Amalickiah to allow them to surrender peacefully.

And it came to pass that when they saw that they were surrounded, they plead with Amalickiah that he would suffer them to fall in with their brethren, that they might not be destroyed. Now this was the very thing which Amalickiah desired.

Alma 47:16

Amalickiah lets his men surrender to Lehonti’s army; his conspiracy to rise in power is succeeding.

And it came to pass that he delivered his men, contrary to the commands of the king. Now this was the thing that Amalickiah desired, that he might accomplish his designs in dethroning the king.

Alma 47:17–18

With the two armies merged and Amalickiah second in command, Amalickiah makes his servant poison Lehonti bit by bit; Lehonti dies.

Now it was the custom among the Lamanites, if their chief leader was killed, to appoint the second leader to be their chief leader. And it came to pass that Amalickiah caused that one of his servants should administer poison by degrees to Lehonti, that he died.

Alma 47:19

With Lehonti dead, Amalickiah becomes the leader of the merged armies.

Now, when Lehonti was dead, the Lamanites appointed Amalickiah to be their leader and their chief commander.