The question of the judgment seat is brought to the voice of the people, which mechanism shows the majority in favor of the freemen. At this point the kingmen understand that they don’t yet have sufficient numbers to force the issue, and so they are silenced. As we will see, their acquiescence at this time does not stop their desires; it only changes the timing. Mormon gives us this glimpse of the social tension precisely because it will become important in the events that follow.