Post by King Noah –
(The next several posts are by my father King Noah. Due to his constant distraction by wickedness, he never published. I am his son Lemhi and have taken the liberty to publish his own story in his own words now that he is no longer available to do so personally.Ever since our fathers left Jerusalem over 400 years ago, it has been a commandment for the kings and priests to keep a record. So even my father Noah did so, though I am certain he never intended to to be published.)
Finally, father is dead and I am King. My brothers are irrelevant now. The kingdom is mine. I have finally put down all of my father’s priests so we don’t have to suffer their constant oppression. The new priests I have consecrated understand the changes that were needed in our kingdom. We are a great people and no longer depend on a manipulating king and oppressive priests who’s only desire is to hold us back.
My people love the new affairs of the kingdom. They have wanted change for a long time and I have given it to them. These great changes have taken boldness and leadership, leadership lacking in my father and his weak priests. Yes he was able to con a very large group of people to leave Zarahemla and follow him up to this land but his lack of vision only held the people back. We are now free and the people love this new freedom.
My priests and I lead with more tolerance and the people love us for our providing them laws that don’t punish this freedom. This new more appropriate leadership requires more financial support from the people but they don’t mind. We only tax the people one fifth of their possessions, their gold, their silver, their ziff, copper, brass and iron. The fifth part of their fatlings and grain are a small price to pay for the changes we have made in our land. These taxes are required in order to sustain and support my priests and their wives and concubines as well as my wives and my concubines.
My father’s priests complained that these great changes were considered laziness, idolatry, and wickedness. As I mentioned, they have been put down as well as other dissenters who attempt to disrupt our society and revile against our new and more appropriate laws – laws that are more supportive of our lofty state.
As my priests and I teach the people of their greatness and extoll the virtues of our new tolerance to personal choices which were condemned by my father’s priests, they appreciate being able to follow their own paths without the restraining judgements of others. Though the people labor to support us, their new leaders, they complain but little because we have taught them to worship as they will, whatever gods they will.
Who is there that will dare criticize our fine city. We are building many elegant and spacious buildings. With the abundance of our treasury we have ornamented these great buildings with fine work of wood, and all manner of precious things, of gold and of silver and of iron and of brass and of ziff and of copper.
Soon, my new palace, a palace fit for my position as King, along with the throne in the midst of it, will be complete. It too will be ornamented with gold and silver and with precious things. I have caused that my workmen should work all manner of fine work within the walls of the temple, of fine wood and copper and of brass.
My high priests will have seats set apart for their high and exalted station above all other seats. They will be ornamented with pure gold and I have designed them with a breastwork if front of them so they may rest their bodies and their arms as they speak great and mighty words to the people.
In addition to my temple and palace, as a symbol of my greatness, I am building a very high tower near the temple. The tower will be high enough for me to overlook the land of Shilom as well as the land of Shemlon where the Lamanites dwell. From my tower I will be able to overlook all the land round about. My tower will be a symbol of my high and holy position. To demonstrate our dedication to those who support me and my priests, we are building other buildings in the land Shilom, including a second tower up on the hill north of our fine city. Of course all of this great work is done at my expense, from my treasury which is amply and rightly supplied by the taxation of my people.
In addition to the fine buildings, we have planted vineyards throughout the land and built wine-presses. We have made the finest wine, wine loved by all the people.
For the great work we have done for the people, I have rewarded my priests with what they desire most – women. As for me, my wives and concubines which have been given to me are enough, or not. As King, all belongs to me anyway.
Book of Mormon | Mosiah 11:1-15
