1 And now behold, it came to pass in the *commencement of the fortieth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, there began to be a serious difficulty among the people of the Nephites.

  2 For behold, ^aPahoran had died, and gone the way of all the earth; therefore there began to be a serious contention concerning who should have the judgment-seat among the brethren, who were the sons of Pahoran.

  3 Now these are their names who did contend for the judgment-seat, who did also cause the people to contend: Pahoran, Paanchi, and Pacumeni.

  4 Now these are not all the sons of Pahoran (for he had many), but these are they who did contend for the judgment-seat; therefore, they did cause three ^adivisions among the people.

  5 Nevertheless, it came to pass that Pahoran was appointed by the ^avoice of the people to be chief judge and a governor over the people of Nephi.

  6 And it came to pass that Pacumeni, when he saw that he could not obtain the judgment-seat, he did ^aunite with the voice of the people.

  7 But behold, Paanchi, and that part of the people that were desirous that he should be their governor, was exceedingly wroth; therefore, he was about to ^aflatter away those people to rise up in rebellion against their brethren.

  8 And it came to pass as he was about to do this, behold, he was taken, and was tried according to the ^avoice of the people, and condemned unto death; for he had raised up in rebellion and sought to destroy the ^bliberty of the people.

  9 Now when those people who were desirous that he should be their governor saw that he was condemned unto death, therefore they were angry, and behold, they sent forth one ^aKishkumen, even to the judgment-seat of Pahoran, and murdered Pahoran as he sat upon the judgment-seat.

  1 And it came to pass in the *forty and second year of the reign of the judges, after Moronihah had established again peace between the Nephites and the Lamanites, behold there was no one to fill the judgment-seat; therefore there began to be a contention again among the people concerning who should fill the judgment-seat.

  17 And now I return again to mine account; therefore, what I have spoken had passed after there had been great contentions, and disturbances, and wars, and dissensions, among the people of Nephi.

  18 The forty and sixth year of the reign of the judges ended;

  19 And it came to pass that there was still great contention in the land, yea, even in the *forty and seventh year, and also in the forty and eighth year.

  1 And it came to pass in the *fifty and fourth year there were many dissensions in the church, and there was also a ^acontention among the people, insomuch that there was much bloodshed.

  1 And now it came to pass in the *seventy and second year of the reign of the judges that the contentions did increase, insomuch that there were wars throughout all the land among all the people of Nephi.