The city and the land of Desolation again changed hands. This is the fifth time in the last nine years; A.D. 363, (v. 2); A.D. 364, (v. 8); twice in A.D. 376, (v. 13, 15); A.D. 375; (v. 19). The city must have suffered much physically during these times.
Mormon taking away all the records from the hill Shim was to prevent the records from falling into the hands of the Lamanites and being destroyed (see Mormon 2:17; and 6:6). We will comment further on the hill Shim under Mormon 6:6. The destruction of the Nephites was near at hand, and Mormon knew it.