Mormon summarizes events that are chronicled in more detail on his source records. He devotes his space, not to the battle or to Moroni’s strategy, but to an editorial comment on Moroni’s morality. Mormon excuses Moroni’s actions as justified by Moroni’s excellent motives. He may not realize that he is also revealing his own view that these tactics are not completely honorable. In Mesoamerican armies, the morality of warfare depended heavily on individual combat—not annihilation of the opposing army but a convincing demonstration of personal prowess and the moral superiority of the polity behind the army. Battles were typically announced well in advance with no effort at concealment.
By laying an ambush, Moroni apparently violated that principle. No modern reader would have any difficulty with this tactic, but it was apparently foreign to Mormon’s personal principles and, therefore, something on which he needed to comment.
Another clue about Mormon’s view of warfare is how he describes the Lamanites’ motives: They want to “destroy their brethren” (v. 29). This makes the Lamanites sound simply bloodthirsty and murderous. Yet the next information contradicts this image of complete destruction. Rather, the Lamanites want to “bring them [the Nephites] into bondage that they might establish a kingdom unto themselves over all the land.” They wanted to displace the Nephite rulers and establish themselves as overlords, recipients of the conquered city’s tribute. Mormon’s antipathy to the Lamanites shows through his discussion of their motives.