Mormon knew of the many faults and iniquities of the Lamanites, for had he not battled against their wicked ways, lo, for many years? Had he not been a preacher of righteousness, as well as military leader? Many times, especially in his younger days, he had called on them to repent, and now, as by inspiration, he wrote to the remnant of those who survived the slaughter of the recent battle that they, too, must repent of the wicked ways into which their fathers had led them, or, he warned, "Ye cannot be saved."