Moroni here explains that he was about to write more of Ether's predictions, but he was restrained from doing so. Ether prophesied many things that to Moroni were "great and marvelous," and, no doubt thought that the future readers of his account would be impressed as he was with them.
A prophet not only foretells the future, but also he interprets the past, and explains and makes clear the Scriptures. Ether told the wicked Jaredites "of all things from the beginning of man." (v. 2) He saw "the days of Christ," and testified of His mission. (v. 4) This great land in which we now live, he told them, was a "chosen land of the Lord"; and made the solemn declaration that "the Lord would have that all men should serve Him who dwell upon the face thereof." Ether took this awe-inspiring proclamation, of which he was the herald, as a basis for his call on them to repent. Because the Jaredites had been chosen by God to dwell in this favored land, they, we may assume he argued, were under obligation to serve Him. And right here let us say that we, in living upon this same land, are, too, commanded to serve Him. Well we may say: "Thy will, O God, is my command," and we will remember God's gracious promise to Nephi of Old; it is to us as it was to him, a pledge given by the Lord: "And inasmuch as ye shall keep My commandments, ye shall prosper" in the land. This land is to us a "Land of Promise." The promise is sure! It is a land which God has prepared for us as much as for Nephi and his seed, "Yea, a land which is choice above all other lands." Then, we may argue, why should not we, who enjoy a liberty of which He is the Author and for which the Nephites fought and bled, serve Him, and make manifest our appreciation of His great love; for is He not the loving Father of all men? (See, Alma 53:17)
But, we have pointed out that the Jaredites rejected Ether's voice of warning, "they esteemed him as naught," and sought to take away his life. Knowing his work was not yet finished, and the account of his people that he was making was not complete, he took every precaution that presented itself to protect and preserve his life. "He hid himself in the cavity of a rock by day, and by night he went forth viewing the things which should come upon the people." It was while protecting himself thusly, he "made the remainder of" his record.