In this passage, Moroni moves to a personal attack on Pahoran’s character. Other than the expected support that has not materialized, why would he accuse Pahoran of sitting on a “throne” in a “thoughtless stupor”? A hallmark of Lamanite social structure was the hierarchical separation of the elite from the rest of society, with rulers housed in comfortable palaces disengaged from and having little understanding of the real-world concerns of their people. This situation is directly contrary to the Nephite egalitarian ideal. In other words, Moroni is accusing Pahoran of becoming “Lamanite,” thanks to his title and privileged position. The meaning of this accusation is stronger even than Moroni’s already-strong language.
Culture: Moroni’s wrath is not focused on Pahoran alone. Instead, he refers to a group, all of whom have “thrones.” Mesoamericans did not have the elaborate thrones typical of European monarchies. Indeed, they did not typically have chairs. Nevertheless, they understood the basic function of the throne, which was to raise the person of importance higher than those around him. Thus, Maya painted pots show rulers on a raised dais, elevated in relation to his subject. Such seating arrangements, however, were not reserved exclusively for the king but were used, more generally, for the elite person in a number of different situations. Given the Nephite judge system, several judges held responsible positions, which could be represented by their elevated seats or “thrones.” Moroni’s accusation, depicting multiple leaders on “thrones,” is another echo of a Mesoamerican cultural reality.