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;
13 But notwithstanding their great loss, Amalickiah had gathered together a wonderful great army, insomuch that he feared not to come down to the land of Zarahemla.
14 Yea, even Amalickiah did himself come down, at the head of the Lamanites.
15 And it was in the twenty and fifth year of the reign of the Judges; and it was at the same time that they had begun to settle the affairs of their contentions concerning the chief judge, Pahoran.
16 And it came to pass that when the men who were called king-men, had heard that the Lamanites were coming down to battle against them, they were glad in their hearts, and they refused to take up arms; for they were so wroth with the chief judge, and also with the people of liberty, that they would not take up arms to defend their country.
17 And it came to pass that when Moroni saw this, and also saw that the Lamanites were coming into the borders of the land, he was exceeding wroth, because of the stubbornness of those people, whom he had labored with so much diligence to preserve; yea, he was exceeding wroth; his soul was filled with anger against them.
18 And it came to pass that he sent a petition, with the voice of the people, unto the governor of the land, desiring that he should read it, and give him [Moroni] power to compel those dissenters to defend their country, or to put them to death;
19 For it was his first care to put an end to such contentions and dissensions among the people; for behold, this had been hitherto a cause of all their destruction.
