The situation in the seat of government was grave. As Moroni had supposed, the inner vessel needed to be cleansed. However, it was not the chief governor, but the king-men, to whom Moroni referred in his epistle (Alma 60:16). They had risen in rebellion again (Alma 61:3–5). Notice their use of flattery (v. 4), another tactic of Satan.
Pahoran was not sitting idly on his throne, as Moroni had supposed, (Alma 6:11, 21), but was rallying the freemen to defend their freedom and retain Pahoran on the throne (Alma 61:5–6). The king-men had finally attained their original plan, which was to have a king rule over them (vv. 6–8; compare Alma 51:5).