Redaction: Although Mormon gives us Limhi’s opening speech, he skips Ammon’s address (Mosiah 8:2–3). Limhi begins by declaring that his people’s deliverance is at hand. This liberation, we know (v. 15), is keyed to Ammon’s arrival. But despite this strong connection, Limhi does not introduce Ammon and his brethren. He does not even mention them! Most likely, this was not an oversight. It simply wasn’t necessary. No doubt such momentous news had already spread throughout the land. Limhi’s people knew that it was one of the reasons they were gathering for this special festival. Strangers, especially friendly strangers from that other homeland, was not the kind of news that anyone would forget to pass along.
Why, since Mormon abbreviates Ammon’s discourse, does he quote Limhi’s? I believe there are two reasons. Limhi reviews his people’s history and also stresses their faith. Both of those topics are significant to Mormon, especially the second. When Ammon begins, he explains Benjamin’s new covenant. This topic would have been tremendously important to his Limhi’s people but too thoroughly discussed in Mormon’s text to need more than a cursory review.