Anthropology teaches that different societies develop different methods of government based on their degree of sociological development. Accordingly, the family unit is the most basic form of government, tribal government is next, followed by city-states, nations and empires. Just before the Savior comes, the Nephites take a big step backward. Their government collapses and they revert to one of the most basic forms of government, and thus they became tribes and leaders of tribes. The least civilized and least enlightened societies in the history of mankind have almost always been governed by a tribal system.