2 Nephi 5:6 those Who Would Go

Those who would go were those who believed in the warnings and revelations of God. Nephi doesn't say they trusted him as their leader or prophet. He must have had an awareness of who trusted and believed in the revelations and in the warnings he presented as taught by angels and the Holy Ghost. Maybe even who came to church and who didn't. I wouldn't be surprised if they had already grouped themselves together as those that aligned themselves with Laman and Lemuel and those with Nephi, Sam, Jacob, Joseph and Zoram.  Certainly the sons of Ishmael had already proven that they would align with Laman and Lemuel.

I can't help but think that there is something here representative of the war in heaven in this division. Righteousness and wickedness will always separate themselves. 1/3 of the hosts of heaven; Abraham from his people; Moses and the Israelites exodus out of Egypt; Alma from the Priests of Noah and then his people from Noah's people; Noah on the ark; the Anti-Nephi-Lehis; the saints from Kirtland and from Nauvoo.  Even the gathering of saints for so many years to the Salt lake valley. Then to strengthen the saints people were established from Mexico to Canada or told to stay in the land they were from to create pockets of righteousness and build the church to an international church.