“Book of Mormon: Why Didn’t the Nephites Who Wanted a Government, Form One?” by grego

“Book of Mormon: Why Didn’t the Nephites Who Wanted a Government, Form One?”

grego
(c) 2010

I have wondered why the Nephites let their government dissolve, but most importantly, why they didn’t reestablish it after the Gadianton robbers gathered and left. What was in their way of doing that? From very organized with a chief judge, to separate tribes—and they stayed there! Here are the relevant verses:

3 Nephi 7:1 Now behold, I will show unto you that they did not establish a king over the land; but in this same year, yea, the thirtieth year, they did destroy upon the judgment-seat, yea, did murder the chief judge of the land.
2 And the people were divided one against another; and they did separate one from another into tribes, every man according to his family and his kindred and friends; and thus they did destroy the government of the land.
3 And every tribe did appoint a chief or a leader over them; and thus they became tribes and leaders of tribes.
6 And the regulations of the government were destroyed, because of the secret combination of the friends and kindreds of those who murdered the prophets.
7 And they did cause a great contention in the land, insomuch that the more righteous part of the people had nearly all become wicked; yea, there were but few righteous men among them.
9 Now this secret combination, which had brought so great iniquity upon the people, did gather themselves together, and did place at their head a man whom they did call Jacob;
11 And it came to pass that they were not so strong in number as the tribes of the people, who were united together save it were their leaders did establish their laws, every one according to his tribe; {nevertheless they were enemies}; notwithstanding they were not a righteous people, yet {they were united in the hatred of those who had entered into a covenant to destroy the government}.
12 Therefore, Jacob seeing that their enemies were more numerous than they, he being the king of the band, therefore he commanded his people that they should take their flight into the northernmost part of the land, and there build up unto themselves a kingdom, until they were joined by dissenters, (for he flattered them that there would be many dissenters) and they become sufficiently strong to contend with the tribes of the people; and they did so.
13 And so speedy was their march that it could not be impeded until they had gone forth out of the reach of the people…

Perhaps a year after the division, the tribes had at least a decent peace with each other:
3 Nephi 7:14 And it came to pass in the *thirty and first year that they were divided into tribes, every man according to his family, kindred and friends; nevertheless they had come to an agreement that they would not go to war one with another; but they were not united as to their laws, and their manner of government, for they were established according to the minds of those who were their chiefs and their leaders. But they did establish very strict laws that one tribe should not trespass against another, insomuch that in some degree they had peace in the land…

Why, if they had all power to, and they hated those who destroyed their form of government—why didn’t they get it back?