Ether 7

The Lord taught in modern day concerning our constitution, that is -

"...that law of the land which is constitutional, supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before me.
6 Therefore, I, the Lord, justify you, and your brethren of my church, in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land;
7 And as pertaining to law of man, whatsoever is more or less than this, cometh of evil.
8 I, the Lord God, make you free, therefore ye are free indeed; and the law also maketh you free."  (Doctrine and Covenants   Section 98:5 - 8)

And then He warns -

"Nevertheless, when the wicked rule the people mourn."  (Doctrine and Covenants  Section 98:9)

Therefore the Lord commands the people of this nation -

"Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil."  (Doctrine and Covenants  Section 98:10)

The importance of this doctrine and principles couldn't be more evident among the people of the Jaredites.  In their early years, Shule was the leader an king of these people and Shule -

"...did execute judgment in righteousness; and he did spread his kingdom upon all the face of the land, for the people had become exceedingly numerous."  (Book of Mormon  Ether 7:11)

It never seems to fail as soon as people become prosperous, they seem to forget the God that made them prosperous for during the reign of Shule's father, Shule's older brother, Corihor  -

"...rebelled against his father, and went over and dwelt in the land of Nehor; and he begat sons and daughters, and they became exceedingly fair; wherefore Corihor drew away many people after him."  (Book of Mormon   Ether 7:4)

Do we not see in our day, the those that are exceedingly fair (celebrities) tend to draw many after them. 

Well to make a long story short after much conflict, the wise and honest Shule did combine the people back together.  Thus there was a mixture of righteous and less righteous people mingled together.  Now note how a wise and honest Shule ruled under these circumstances for while  -

"in the reign of Shule there came prophets among the people, who were sent from the Lord, prophesying that the wickedness and idolatry of the people was bringing a curse upon the land, and they should be destroyed if they did not repent.
24 And it came to pass that the people did revile against the prophets, and did mock them."  (Book of Mormon   Ether 7:23 - 24)

So -

"...king Shule did execute judgment against all those who did revile against the prophets.
25 And he did execute a law throughout all the land, which gave power unto the prophets that they should go whithersoever they would..."  (Book of Mormon  Ether 7:24 - 25)

And as a result of his wisdom -

"...by this cause the people were brought unto repentance.
26 And because the people did repent of their iniquities and idolatries the Lord did spare them, and they began to prosper again in the land..."  (Book of Mormon  Ether 7:25 - 26)

And -

"...there were no more wars in the days of Shule; and he remembered the great things that the Lord had done for his fathers in bringing them across the great deep into the promised land; wherefore he did execute judgment in righteousness all his days."  (Book of Mormon  Ether 7:27)

What great importance the wise and honest men are elected.