This righteous command is reminiscent of the command of Lamoni's father, Behold, now it came to pass that the king of the Lamanites sent a proclamation among all his people, that they should not lay their hands on Ammon, or Aaron, or Omner, or Himni, nor either of their brethren who should go forth preaching the word of God, in whatsoever place they should be, in any part of their land (Alma 23:1). Certainly, it is a wicked society in which legislation is required to protect the prophets.
"Among the Jaredites, 'the people were brought unto repentance' when the king protected the prophets (Ether 7:25). In contrast, when a later king did not protect the prophets, 'the people hardened their hearts' and 'did reject all the words of the prophets' (Ether 11:13, 22), with the result that 'the Spirit of the Lord had ceased striving with them, and Satan had full power over the hearts of the people' (Ether 15:19). They then reached 'the fulness of iniquity,' which brought down upon them 'the fulness of the wrath of God' (Ether 2:10-11)." (Byron R. Merrill, Ensign, Jan. 2000, "They Wrote To Us As If We Were Present")