49 And wearing costly apparel; being lifted up in the pride of their own eyes; persecuting, lying, thieving, robbing, committing whoredoms, and murdering, and all manner of wickedness;
50 Nevertheless, the law was put in force upon all those who did transgress it, inasmuch as it were possible.
51 And it came to pass that by thus exercising the law upon them, every man suffering according to that which he had done, they become more still, and durst not commit any wickedness, if it were known:
52 Therefore there was much peace among the people of Nephi, until the fifth year of the reign of the Judges.
53 And it came to pass in the commencement of the fifth year of their reign, there began to be a contention among the people, for a certain man, being called Amlici; he being a very cunning man, yea, a wise man, as to the wisdom of the world; he being after the order of the man that slew Gideon by the sword, who was executed according to the law.
54 Now this Amlici had, by his cunning, drawn away much people after him; even so much that they began to be very powerful; and they began to endeavor to establish Amlici to be a king over the people.
55 Now this was alarming to the people of the church, and also to all those who had not been drawn away after the persuasions of Amlici:
56 For they knew that according to their law that such things must be established by the voice of the people;
57 Therefore, if it were possible that Amlici should gain the voice of the people, he being a wicked man, would deprive them of their rights and privileges of the church, etc.; for it was his intent to destroy the church of God.
58 And it came to pass that the people assembled themselves together throughout all the land, every man according to his mind, whether it were for or against Amlici, in separate bodies, having much dispute and wonderful contentions, one with another;
59 And thus they did assemble themselves together, to cast in their voices concerning the matter: and they were laid before the Judges.
