When Mormon introduced himself he made sure to tie his name, and therefore himself, to the sacred past. After the personal connection to an important prophet, place, and event, he now connects his record to the past. In this case, the connection is that this record is the fulfillment of the prayers “of those who have gone hence, who were the holy ones.”
Textual: These are some of the rare places where Mormon describes his work. His impetus to the work is “according to the will of God.” He declares with this introduction that the entire work is sacred in nature, and comes as a commission from God. He further indicates that this is a work that is the fulfillment of the desires of holy prophets. Unquestionably, Mormon sees what he is doing as part of a divine purpose. Therefore we should not be surprised when Mormon writes in such a way that the spiritual aspects of history are elucidated over the pure facts of history.
The scope of his work is presented as having been divinely set. He is to trace that “which hath taken place from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem, even down until the present time.” The present time of this sentence is Mormon’s own time (made absolutely clear in verse 16). This entire section is a present-time aside placed inside the historical record.