“The Murder of the Chief Judge,” Friend, June 1995, 15
The Murder of the Chief Judge
Wicked men became judges over the Nephites. They punished righteous people but not wicked people. Hel. 7:4–5
Nephi’s heart was full of sorrow to see such great wickedness among his people. Hel. 7:6–7
Nephi’s garden was by the highway that led to the chief market in Zarahemla. He went to his garden tower and prayed. Hel. 7:10
People passing by on the highway heard him praying. A large group gathered, wondering why he was so sad. Hel. 7:11
When Nephi saw them, he told them that he was sad because of their wickedness. He told them to repent. Hel. 7:12–14, 17
He warned them that they might lose their homes and cities, that the Lord would not help them fight their enemies if they did not repent. Hel. 7:22
He told them that they were more wicked than the Lamanites, because they (the Nephites) knew the commandments but would not obey them. Hel. 7:24
He said that the Lord would not destroy the Lamanites. However, if the Nephites did not repent, they would be completely destroyed. Hel. 7:23, 28
Some of the wicked judges were there. They wanted the people to seize Nephi for speaking against them and their law. Hel. 8:1–4
Some of the people agreed with the wicked judges; others believed Nephi. They knew that he was a prophet and spoke the truth. Hel. 8:7–9
Nephi told the people that they had turned away from God and would be punished soon if they did not repent. Hel. 8:25–26
Their destruction was already starting, he said: “Behold, your judge … lieth in his blood; and he hath been murdered by his brother, who seeketh to sit in the judgment-seat.” Hel. 8:27
Five men from the crowd ran to the judgment-seat to see. They did not believe that Nephi was a prophet of God. Hel. 9:1–2
When they saw Seezoram, the chief judge, lying in his blood, they fell to the earth in fear. Now they knew that Nephi was a prophet. Hel. 9:6–7
Seezoram’s servants had already found him murdered and had run to tell the people. They returned and found the five men lying there. Hel. 9:3–5
The people thought that the five men had murdered Seezoram. Hel. 9:8
They threw the five men into prison, then sent word through the city that the chief judge had been killed and that the murderers were in prison. Hel. 9:9
The next day the people went to where the chief judge would be buried. The judges who had been at Nephi’s garden asked where the five men were. Hel. 9:10–12
The judges asked to see the accused murderers. Hel. 9:13
The judges learned that the five men were those who had run to the judgment-seat from Nephi’s garden. Hel. 9:14
When the five men said that it had happened just as Nephi had said, the judges accused Nephi of sending someone to murder Seezoram. Hel. 9:15–16
Knowing that Nephi was a prophet, the five men argued with the judges. The judges would not listen. They had Nephi tied up. Hel. 9:18–19
The judges offered Nephi money and his life if he would say that he had plotted to have the chief judge killed. Nephi refused. Hel. 9:20–21
He told the judges to repent of their wickedness. Then he told them to go to the house of Seantum, Seezoram’s brother. Hel. 9:22, 26
Nephi told them to ask Seantum if he and Nephi had plotted to murder Seezoram and that Seantum would say no. Hel. 9:27–28
Nephi told them to then ask Seantum if he had killed his brother, that again he would say no, but that they would find blood on his cloak. Hel. 9:29–31
Nephi told them that Seantum would shake and turn pale, then confess that he had killed his brother. Hel. 9:33–35
The judges went to Seantum’s house, and everything happened as Nephi had said. Nephi and the five men were set free. Hel. 9:37–38
As the people walked away from Nephi, some said that he was a prophet, others that he was a god. He went home, still sad about their wickedness. Hel. 9:40–41; Hel. 10:1–3
Illustrated by Jerry Thompson