Alma 47:4-35 Amalickiah…being a very subtle man…laid the plan in his heart to dethrone the king

Amalickiah is the prototype of wickedness. The forces of good and evil are polarized in the characters of Amalickiah and Moroni. Amalickiah’s subtle yet successful subversion is a type for the wicked devices of every generation. In chapter 47, Mormon takes the time to show us his modus operandi. How does this help us today? Certainly, those whose goal it is to become like Moroni, strong, mighty, and of perfect understanding (Alma 48:11), must learn to recognize and combat the methods of the evil one as typified by his servant, Amalickiah.

Amalickiah was unscrupulous, Machiavellian, and scheming. But the list of his attributes is much longer than that. He was also:

1) Traitorous—fled from the Nephites to the Lamanites (v. 1)

2) Warmonger—he did stir up the Lamanites to anger against the people of Nephi (v. 1).

3) Designing—he obtained command of part of the king’s army (v. 3-4)

4) Disloyal—Now it was not Amalickiah’s intention to give them battle according to the commandments of the king (v. 8).

5) Shameless glory seeker—it was his intention to gain favor with the armies of the Lamanites (v. 8).

6) Deceitful—has his own army surrounded by the enemy (v. 13).

7) Calculating—predicts the response of his surrounded army (v. 15).

8) Disobedient—he surrendered his army, contrary to the commands of the king (v. 16).

9) Murderous—he caused that one of his servants should administer poison by degrees to Lehonti (v. 18).

10) Instigator of secret combinations—plotted with his servants to kill the king (v. 22-24).

11) Cover-up artist—blamed the king’s servants for the murder (v. 26-29, 33-34).

12) Phony—pretended to be angry at the king’s death (v. 27).

13) Liar—testified to the queen that the king’s servants had killed him (v. 32-34).

14) Power hungry—sought the favor of the queen, and took her unto him to wife (v. 35).

For every attribute of wickedness which Amalickiah had mastered, his contemporary counterpart, Moroni, had perfected the corresponding attribute of righteousness. Hence, Mormon said of Moroni, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men (Alma 48:17). (See also commentary for Alma 48:11)

Alma 47:36 they became more hardened and impenitent, and more wild, wicked and ferocious

Joseph Smith

“Strange as it may appear at first thought, yet it is no less strange than true, that…apostates after turning from the faith of Christ, unless they have speedily repented, have sooner or later fallen into the snares of the wicked one, and have been left destitute of the Spirit of God, to manifest their wickedness in the eyes of multitudes…When once that light which was in them is taken from them, they become as much darkened as they were previously enlightened, and then, no marvel, if all their power should be enlisted against the truth, and they, Judas like, seek the destruction of those who were their greatest benefactors.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 67)

Neal A. Maxwell

“Willful dissent ages ago [among the Nephites] produced yet other symptoms that are worthy of our pondering today as life confronts us with determined dissenters who leave the Church—but who then cannot leave the Church alone.” (Plain and Precious Things, p. 72)

Neal A. Maxwell

“Then there are the dissenters who leave the Church, either formally or informally, but who cannot leave it alone. Usually anxious to please worldly galleries, they are critical or at least condescending towards the Brethren. They not only seek to steady the ark but also on occasion give it a hard shove! Often having been taught the same true doctrines as the faithful, they have nevertheless moved in the direction of dissent (see Alma 47:36). They have minds hardened by pride (see Daniel 5:20).” (Men and Women of Christ, p. 4)