Moroni had learned from his study of Nephite history that internal dissensions had “been hitherto a cause of all their destruction.” Knowing the potential danger of this particular dissent, he asked for the ability to suppress the rebellion as a capital crime (v. 15). Mormon records that the mechanism for granting his petition is “the voice of the people,” not the chief judge’s decision, even though probably it was the same. Because the decision was accompanied by the voice of the people, Mormon credits that “voice” with carrying the day.