Mormon is now ready to record the most terrible epic of massive destruction in his long life of war, cruelty, suffering, apostasy and bloodshed. In this chapter Mormon says he will relate the final "destruction of my people, the Nephites."
The Nephite nation was in a shambles. They were fleeing in disorganized confusion ahead of the Lamanites. It seemed foolhardy to continue in this manner with the Nephites being overtaken and slaughtered a few here and a few there. Mormon therefore had a proposal to make to the king of the Lamanites.