Textual: This verse presents an interesting textual problem. In the middle of the reporting of events, we have the dual phrases "were permitted, or rather commanded." The second phrase "or rather commanded" is interpretive of the first "were permitted." The connotations of the two phrases are sufficiently different that they make unlikely companions in the original text. They are not literary parallels. That second phrase exists entirely because someone saw the first, and saw the irony as well as the meaning.
We have two possibilities for the person who added that phrase, Mormon or Joseph Smith. While an argument might be made for either, it would appear that Mormon is the probable author. This is descriptive text rather than citation, and is precisely the type of text that comes directly from Mormon' digest of the text(s) before him. As one more particularly familiar with the prerogatives of kings, Mormon would be in a better position than Joseph to understand the irony of the officially recorded "permitted."
We find this particular word in Limhi's opening statement (see verse 11) and it is probable that Mormon uses "permitted" because that is the word that is officially recorded in the discourse. As has been noted, Mormon tends to cite dialog and create linking descriptive text. Therefore, the written discourse had "permitted" and when Mormon describes the incident, he uses that word, but cannot resist the editorial insertion.
As a side note, this entry also suggests that even in his abridgement, Mormon is faithful to his sources. While we believe that he was, it is important to have some confirmation of that fact. In the absence of the original, this type of indication will be our best indicator that Mormon is quite faithful to the texts he is abridging.