Redaction: Verses 33–36 are the foundation for Mormon’s topic, introduced in 3 Nephi 29:1. There was no intervening chapter break in Mormon’s text. As verse 37 explains, Mormon paused inscribing the plates after writing our verse 35 but before verse 36. Mormon had begun telling about the Three Nephites’ activities in the last days, then concentrated more fully on the last days themselves. During the interruption to his writing, he continued to ponder and pray about the Three Nephites. When he next picked up his engraving tool, it was with fresh information that he wanted to share. He does so in verses 37–40. Then our current edition (but not Mormon’s text or the 1830 edition) begins a new chapter when he returns to his discussion of the end-times.
This glimpse into Mormon’s production of his record is intriguing. He is an apostle and has personally interacted with the Three Nephites. When he encounters a question about them which his source texts do not answer, he takes the question to Yahweh and receives his answer in the same way that we must receive our answers to important questions. All of the Nephite records did not answer Mormon’s question. There are times when all our libraries will not provide the specific information we need. The source of ultimate knowledge is available for us as it was for Mormon.