Nephi’s first emphasis in his farewell is appropriately on the people whom he has served for around 40 years. He confirms that he has been talking about his own writings. Very much as the introductory colophon of 1 Nephi 1 provided a testament of the person making the writing, here Nephi ends by also declaring that he is the author of that which has been written.
Poignantly, he also weeps for his people. These are the people that were addressed in this most recent sermon, those he understands to be the “unbelievers” and “wicked” among his people who will not be able to understand this new covenant of baptism and the spirit (2 Nephi 32:7). Nephi’s prophetic visions have let him see into the far future to the eventual destruction of his people, but this weeping is for the current congregation. Nephi has led them and taught them, but there are many (perhaps a majority?) that are not ready to understand the things Nephi would love to have them understand.