From Kings to Judges

Spoken word in Mosiah chapters 25-29

Mosiah 26:11-12 Mosiah and Alma converse

Mosiah 26:15-32 Lord talks to Alma

Mosiah 27:13-16 Angel speaks to Alma the younger

Mosiah 27:24-31 Alma the younger speaks about God

Mosiah 28:7 Lord speaks to Mosiah

Mosiah 29:5-32 Mosiah speaks to his people

Passage Analyzed Mosiah 28:5-32

In this passage King Mosiah speaks with his people and tells them that he is to step down as king and that those whom should follow him have declined the title. He then goes on to persuade them to stop having a king and to develop a new government.

In this passage Mosiah mostly uses pathos and logos to help persuade his people to make such a radical change. He begin his speech using pathos, striving to catch the audiences emotions by explaining that his son denied the throne and if they forced it upon him, it would destroy him. As he said this I’m sure his people felt that he was right and that it would be immoral to force something like that on someone who didn’t want it.  

Mosiah then continues his persuasion with logos, trying to reason with his people. He explains that if all kings were righteous that having kings would be a great thing. But he continues by explain that all men are not just, and that it is not expedient that they should have a king to rule over them. He then goes onto explain that wicked kings cause destruction and great iniquity. This message speaks to the common sense of his listeners. They have a great king explaining that if they continue having kings then they could lose their freedom and their faith. 

Through the use of pathos and logos King Mosiah is able to convince his people to give up ruler ship over a king, something that they had always known, and elect judges. This would have been an immensely difficult task but by using great rhetorical techniques he was able to speak to the heart of his people and help them make a radical change to their government.