Culture/History: It is significant that Ammon and Limhi consulted the “voice of the people.” (See “Excursus: The Voice of the People,” following Mosiah 29.) Obviously, this decision lay beyond the king’s normal authority, otherwise the consultation would not have been necessary. When Noah was king, given the size of the city (and Noah’s probable proclivities), the king would simply decide and declare that decision. In this case, the entire population will be affected by the decision. In fact, it is quite likely that the options had already been thoroughly discussed, and the meeting was really held to let the people participate in confirming a decision that would uproot them from their homes.
A second important piece of information is that, while they were under Lamanite guard, the Lamanites were not in the city or close enough that the gathering attracted their attention. It seems clear that the Limhites conducted their discussion without special precautions against its coming to the Lamanites’ attention.