In the 1830 edition, these nine verses were part of the preceding chapter. They continue the things that Mormon decided to write after he said that “I, Mormon, make an end of speaking concerning these things for a time” (3 Nephi 28:24). There will be a total of 25 of our verses that he added after he said that he was making an end. Clearly, he thought of more that he wanted to say.
In the previous chapter, Mormon had been speaking of the Three Nephites, and the last verse of that chapter would have led directly to verse 1 of this chapter. It spoke of the Three Nephites remaining until the last days.
These two verses pick up on the theme of the last days, but now Mormon has shifted away from the Three Nephites, who had ministered to him (3 Nephi 28:26), to the work that he was writing, which also was destined to be part of the beginning of the last days. When Mormon says, in verse 1, that “these saying shall come unto the Gentiles,” he is referring to the Book of Mormon. It will be made known first to the Gentiles, and then to all, that we “may know that the words of the Lord, which have been spoken by the holy prophets, shall all be fulfilled.”