Government Principles are rules for choosing judges, applying laws, and maintaining equality among people (Mosiah 29:25; Alma 30:7-11). Mosiah directed the people to “choose you by the voice of this people, judges,” so that they could be judged by laws given to their fathers “by the hand of the Lord” (Mosiah 29:25).
Nephi did not desire that his people should have a king, though they wanted him to be their king (2 Nephi 5:18). A speaker taught, “Ye shall not esteem one flesh above another,” and told those delivered from king Noah’s bonds to “trust no man to be a king over you” (Mosiah 23:7, 13).
The law provided that there was “no law against a man’s belief,” while murder, robbery, theft, and adultery were punished (Alma 30:7-11). The people relinquished their desire for a king and sought “an equal chance throughout all the land,” with every man willing to answer for his own sins (Mosiah 29:38).