3 Nephi 7
The breakup of the people into tribes came when virtually all the people had become a single nation. They had no other group to join if they dissented nor any other nation to fear when they no longer felt unified. Before their choices had always been to join the Lamanites or to remain with the Nephites for purposes of defense if for no other reason. The various tribes were still basically peaceful with each other, they simply (and rightly) did not trust anyone with central governing authority. This naturally led to each tribe having their own rules although the rules probably were fairly similar from one tribe to another. Between tribes there was an understanding of what belonged to each tribe and that no tribe would seek to interfere with or trespass on another tribe.
If we were to break up into tribes it would not always break along family lines. Some would stay with their families, others would stay with their neighborhood, and other would stay with some other clique (biker buddies, fraternal organization, drug party friends, gang). Each group would establish it’s own identity in relation to the gospel so that even different groups that were based on LDS wards would follow the gospel differently than each other.
The Jews had Jesus and later Peter doing mighty miracles in public. The Nephites had Nephi and later Jesus doing mighty miracles in plain sight among the people. Each nation had multiple witnesses of His power both in Himself and in those who preached of Him.
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