The principles given to individuals are also applicable to nations. “The devil has no power over us only as we permit him. The moment we revolt at anything which comes from God, the devil takes power (TPJS, 181). Thus, Moroni declared that the success of the Lamanites in capturing the Nephites cities and bringing suffering to Nephite people was due to the desire of the king-men seeking power and authority internally (vv. 15–17). The rise of the king-men is recorded in Alma 51 and was discussed in chapter three of this work.
Moroni raised the question of loyalty to the present leaders. Were they guilty of the same desires that the king-men had? Were they traitors to their country? Were they more concerned with their own security than with their constituents? These are all good questions. The answers to these questions come in Alma 61, but the same questions might be posed to modern-day politicians.