“There Began to Be a Great Contention Among Them”

George Reynolds, Janne M. Sjodahl

After the unsuccessful attempt to capture Alma and his people, the remnants of King Noah's army straggled back to the City of Lehi-Nephi. They were no longer a formidable group, who, by their greater numbers, could force the king's whims upon misguided subjects. Death and deflection had nearly exhausted the strength which formerly had been able to restrict the people's liberties and dictate their wants. The army's weakness now gave those who had grown weary of Noah's debaucheries the courage to rebel, and also to threaten his assumption of evil powers. A great contention arose, and murmurings against Noah were heard on every hand. Some offered violence toward him, and others prepared to seek elsewhere for more peaceable homes. It seemed that everyone was tired of King Noah's tyranny.

Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 2

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