Mosiah 23:6

And the people were desirous

that Alma should be their king,

for he was beloved by his people.

Mosiah 23:7

But he said unto them:

Behold, it is not expedient that we should have a king;

for thus saith the Lord:

Ye shall not esteem one flesh above another,

or one man shall not think himself above another;

therefore I say unto you

it is not expedient that ye should have a king.

Mosiah 23:8

Nevertheless, if it were possible

that ye could always have just men to be your kings

it would be well for you to have a king.

Mosiah 23:9

But remember the iniquity of king Noah and his priests;

and I myself was caught in a snare,

and did many things which were abominable in the sight of the Lord,

which caused me sore repentance;

Mosiah 23:10

Nevertheless, after much tribulation, the Lord did hear my cries,

and did answer my prayers,

and has made me an instrument in his hands

in bringing so many of you to a knowledge of his truth.

Mosiah 23:11

Nevertheless, in this I do not glory,

for I am unworthy to glory of myself.

Mosiah 23:12

And now I say unto you,

ye have been oppressed by king Noah,

and have been in bondage to him and his priests,

and have been brought into iniquity by them;

therefore ye were bound with the bands of iniquity.

Mosiah 23:13

And now as ye have been delivered by the power of God out of these bonds;

yea, even out of the hands of king Noah and his people,

and also from the bonds of iniquity,

even so I desire that ye should stand fast in this liberty

wherewith ye have been made free,

and that ye trust no man to be a king over you.

Mosiah 23:14

And also trust no one to be your teacher nor your minister,

except he be a man of God,

walking in his ways and keeping his commandments.

Mosiah 23:15

Thus did Alma teach his people,

that every man should love his neighbor as himself,

that there should be no contention among them.

Mosiah 23:16

And now, Alma was their high priest,

he being the founder of their church.

Mosiah 23:17

And it came to pass that

none received authority to preach or to teach

except it were by him from God.

Therefore he consecrated all their priests and all their teachers;

and none were consecrated except they were just men.

Mosiah 23:18

Therefore they did watch over their people,

and did nourish them with things pertaining to righteousness.