For the Peace of the People: War and Democracy in the Book of Mormon

Title

For the Peace of the People: War and Democracy in the Book of Mormon

Publication Type

Journal Article

Year of Publication

2007

Authors

Davis, Ryan W. (Primary)

Journal

Journal of Book of Mormon Studies

Pagination

42-55, 85-86

Volume

17

Issue

1

Terms of use

Items in the BMC Archive are made publicly available for non-commercial, private use. Inclusion within the BMC Archive does not imply endorsement. Items do not represent the official views of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or of Book of Mormon Central.

Bibliographic Citation

Abstract

King Benjamin, in an attempt to establish and promote peace, created a form of government that may be understood as democratic. The political system is not a democracy in the way the term is understood today, but the democratic elements become especially clear when viewed next to its autocratic Lamanite counterpart. Davis demonstrates how a democratic system tends to bring more peace to a nation and, interestingly, also more victory when war does come upon them. The young Nephite state encountered the types of risks experienced in the modern progression to democracy, further illustrating how difficult a task it would have been for Joseph Smith to create this world. Although the democractic state played a role in the Nephite nation, the most important lesson in the Book of Mormon’s politics is that God makes all the difference.

Politics
Warfare
Peace
Democracy

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