Beginning with verse 31, Mormon the historian explains that God had endowed these two great missionaries with special priesthood power. Henceforth they cannot be confined in prison. They cannot be slain. However, Mormon warns us not to expect these men to demonstrate these powers until much later. It was almost as though this was too big a secret for Mormon to keep hidden. He had to tell us about this marvelous power that had been given to these two men even though its manifestation would be withheld until the end of our story.