2 Nevertheless, they did not long maintain an entire peace in the land, for there began to be a contention among the people concerning the chief judge, Pahoran; for behold, there were a part of the people who desired that a few particular points of the law should be altered.
3 But behold, Pahoran would not alter, nor suffer the law to be altered; therefore he did not hearken to those who had sent in their voices with their petitions, concerning the altering of the law;
4 Therefore those who were desirous that the law should be altered, were angry with him, and desired that he should no longer be chief judge over the land; therefore there arose a warm dispute concerning the matter; but not unto bloodshed.
5 And it came to pass that those who were desirous that Pahoran should be dethroned from the judgment seat, were called king-men, for they were desirous that the law should be altered in a manner to overthrow the free government, and to establish a king over the land.
6 And those who were desirous that Pahoran should remain chief judge over the land, took upon them the name of freemen; and thus was the division among them; for the freemen had sworn or covenanted to maintain their rights, and the privileges of their religion, by a free government.
7 And it came to pass that this matter of their contention was settled, by the voice of the people.
8 And it came to pass that the voice of the people came in favor of the freemen, and Pahoran retained the judgment seat, which caused much rejoicing among the brethren of Pahoran, and also many of the people of liberty; who also put the king-men to silence, that they durst not oppose, but were obliged to maintain the cause of freedom.
9 Now those who were in favor of kings, were those of high birth; and they sought to be kings; and they were supported by those who sought power and authority over the people.
10 But behold, this was a critical time for such contentions to be among the people of Nephi; for behold, Amalickiah had again stirred up the hearts of the people of the Lamanites, against the people of the Nephites, and he was gathering together soldiers, from all parts of his land, and arming them, and preparing for war, with all diligence, for he had sworn to drink the blood of Moroni.
11 But behold, we shall see that his promise which he made, was rash; nevertheless, he did prepare himself and his armies, to come to battle against the Nephites.
12 Now his armies were not so great as they had hitherto been, because of the many thousands who had been slain by the hand of the Nephites;
