Now we have reached the 16th year of the reign of the judges or 76 B.C.The worst war in the entire history of the Nephites had finally ended and all of the Lamanite invaders who came up from the land of Nephi to completely annihilate the Nephites, particularly the Anti-Nephi-Lehies, have either been killed or driven back down to their own land. The wonderful Lamanite converts, who were now called the children of Ammon, were saved but at the cost of thousands of Nephite lives.
It says the terrible loss of life among the Nephites had caused them to turn more to prayer, fasting, along with mourning. They also adhered more closely to the ordinances of the law of Moses which pointed toward Christ. This would include circumcision, offering animal sacrifices and honoring the sacred memorial days preparing the people for the coming of Christ.