How does Mormon now state his purpose and intent for writing the Book of Mormon? Compare these verses with his previous statement of purpose in Mormon 3:17–22.
Mormon now explains why he only writes a few things—because the sorrow would be too great (5:9). But he knows that people who care for the house of Israel will sorrow for the calamity of these distant kinsmen who would not repent and be “clasped in the arm of Jesus” (5:11). Mormon had been commanded to write to the “unbelieving of the Jews” that they might be persuaded “that Jesus is the Christ,” the anointed messiah, through whom God will keep his promises “unto the fulfilling of his covenant” (5:14).
Mormon then speaks to “the seed” of this defeated people and their fate, being led about by Satan (5:15, 18). Nevertheless, the Lord has “reserved their blessings” and the Lord will “remember the covenant” and “the prayers of the righteous,” even though the seed will be “driven and scattered by the Gentiles” (5:19–21).
Mormon concludes by admonishing the Gentiles to repent, humble themselves, turn from their evil ways, unless “a remnant” will tear them to pieces (5:22–24). Mormon’s words here echo the woes and warnings at the end of 3 Nephi 29–30, but here in Mormon 5 he relates those more general curses and commandments to the Gentiles’ specific mistreatment of the Nephite remnant and seed that will scatter and survive the institutional collapse of the Nephite nation as a people.
Book of Mormon Central, “What Was Mormon’s Purpose in Writing the Book of Mormon? (Mormon 5:14),” KnoWhy 230 (November 14, 2016).