Text: Moroni inherits the task of finishing his father’s record. Just as Mormon knew he would survive the last battle to write about it, (see commentary accompanying Mormon 6:1), he also knew that his son would survive to write additional items. Although Moroni says they were “but few things,” they constitute seventy-eight verses in our modern edition, then continue with the books of Ether and Moroni. Apparently Moroni also wrote some items on his own initiative. (See commentary accompanying Ether 1:1.)
At the beginning of his eponymous book, he states: “Now I, Moroni, after having made an end of abridging the account of the people of Jared, I had supposed not to have written more, but I have not as yet perished; and I make not myself known to the Lamanites lest they should destroy me” (Moro. 1:1). Therefore, Mormon had not asked him to record the material contained in the book of Moroni. In contrast, it seems probable that Mormon assigned Moroni to include Ether, since he commented, after Mosiah translated Ether’s record: “And this account shall be written hereafter; for behold, it is expedient that all people should know the things which are written in this account” (Mosiah 28:19). Mormon probably expected to do it himself or include it as an appendix, as he had included the small plates of Nephi after the book of Lehi.