KnoWhy #153 - How Did Seeking a King Get in the Way of Sustaining a Prophet? (Alma 45:23)

Amalickiah, who convinced many Nephite judges to “support him and establish him to be their king,” caused also “many in the church” to reject the words of the prophet Helaman. Less than twenty years earlier, King Benjamin had, in allusion to King Noah, reminded them of “how much iniquity doth one wicked king cause to be committed, yea, and what great destruction.” It may be noteworthy that a fundamental political shift took place among the Maya around this time. Perhaps the Nephites who supported Amalickiah were influenced by the political movements of surrounding nations. These events warn against rejecting prophetic teachings in favor of popular political ideologies.