Gospel Art Picture Kit
Alma 46:1–37
He rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it—In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—and he fastened it upon the end of a pole. Alma 46:12
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Amalickiah was a wicked man who wanted to be king of the Nephites. His promises and flattery persuaded many rich and power-hungry people to support him. Even many Church members were deceived into following Amalickiah. (See Alma 46:1–7.)
When Moroni, the chief commander of the Nephite armies, heard what Amalickiah was doing, he became angry. He tore his coat to make a flag. On it he wrote: “In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children” (Alma 46:12; see also Alma 46:11). He fastened the flag to a pole and called it the title of liberty. Then, dressed in his battle armor, he prayed to God, asking Him to allow the people to keep the freedom they had. (See Alma 46:12–13.)
When Moroni finished praying, he went among the people, waving the title of liberty in the air. He cried out, “Whosoever will maintain this title upon the land, let them come forth in the strength of the Lord, and enter into a covenant that they will maintain their rights, and their religion, that the Lord God may bless them” (Alma 46:20; see also Alma 46:19).
The people came running, dressed in their armor and tearing their cloaks as a symbol of the covenant they were making to obey the Lord. They gathered around Captain Moroni, ready to defend their freedom. (See Alma 46:21, 28.)
When Amalickiah saw that Moroni’s army was larger than his, he was afraid. He and his followers left to join the Lamanites. Moroni tried to stop them because he did not want them to stir up the Lamanites to battle. Amalickiah and a few of his men escaped, but Captain Moroni captured the others and took them back to Zarahemla. (See Alma 46:29–33.)
Most of Amalickiah’s captured followers were willing to covenant with Captain Moroni’s people to defend freedom, and they were set free. Moroni placed a title of liberty on every tower in the Nephite land, and the Nephites again had peace. (See Alma 46:35–37.)
Summary
Amalickiah was a wicked Nephite who wanted to be king, and he convinced many people to support him. When Moroni, chief commander of the Nephite armies, learned of this, he became angry; he knew that the people were in danger of losing their freedom. He tore his coat, wrote a message of freedom on it, and raised it as a flag he called the title of liberty. Moroni prayed for the blessing of freedom in the land. He then went forth, waving the title of liberty and calling on the Nephites to join him in protecting their freedom. Amalickiah and his followers fled to join the Lamanites. He and a few others escaped, but Moroni captured the remainder. Most of the captured persons then promised to defend freedom.
Artist, Arnold Friberg
© 2002 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA
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