In introducing himself, Mormon tied his name, and therefore himself, to the sacred past of an important prophet, place, and event. He now connects his record to the past by presenting his record as fulfilling the prayers “of those who have gone hence, who were the holy ones.”
Text: It is rare for Mormon to comment on or describe his work. His impetus is “the will of God.” He declares with this introduction that the entire work is sacred, commissioned by Yahweh and fulfilling 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 gives priority to spiritual rather than political aspects of his history.
Mormon describes the scope of his work as spanning the entire history of his people “from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem, even down until the present time.” By “present,” he means his own time (v. 16). This entire section is an explanatory note inserted into the historical record—a voice from the future commenting on a period in the past, both of which are in the distant past of modern readers.