See commentary for Mormon 8:12.
Neal A. Maxwell
"There is no more simple yet profound statement on the posture the generations who are separated in many ways by time and experience should adopt toward each other than the one found in the Book of Mormon (Mormon 9:31):
’Condemn me not because of mine imperfection, neither my father, because of his imperfection, neither them who have written before him; but rather give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest unto you our imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise than we have been.’
"What more sublime statement could be made?—the ‘outgoing’ generations asking the ‘incoming’ generation not to be harsh or too quick to judge—to profit from the mistakes of the past, but to be grateful to God for the opportunity to ‘learn to be more wise’ than predecessors have been. Each of us leaves a ‘record’ of memories for our friends and children to ’read.‘ Would that the ’reading‘ could occur in the spirit of Moroni’s counsel.
“The young should be slower to condemn those who have preceded them, for they have not yet worn the ‘moccasins’ of power and decision making. The old are urged to hope genuinely that their successors will be ‘more wise’ than they have been. Obviously, the scripture relates to the major spiritual lessons about the failure and success of the societies described in the Book of Mormon stream of history; but the pithy verse, as scriptures often are, is replete with insight at several levels simultaneously.” (For the Power is in Them, p.16–17)
Neal A. Maxwell
"We are responsible for our reactions when we see imperfections in others. Moroni said of the labors of the recording prophets some things that are very relevant with regard to how we should respond to imperfections in others: ’Condemn me not because of mine imperfection, neither my father, because of his imperfection, neither them who have written before him; but rather give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest unto you our imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise than we have been.’ (Mormon 9:31. Italics added.)
“A wise leader will be aware that his imperfections are noticed, but he will also humbly hope that when others see his imperfections, this will provide them with a chance to learn to be more wise than he has been. Good parents, as well as good prophets, always so hope, too.” (All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience, p. 112)