Moroni begins his book of Moroni with the phrase, "I had supposed not to have written more" (Moroni 1:1) possibly indicating that it had been some time since his last entry. According to Donl Peterson, the book of Moroni was written about A.D. 420-421, approximately thirty-five years after the final battle at Cumorah. [H. Donl Peterson, Moroni: Ancient Prophet Modern Messenger, p. 58]
Moroni 1:2 Their wars are exceedingly fierce among themselves ([Illustration]): (89) Copy of a painting from the walls of Cacaxtla, Mexico, showing ceremonial dress of military leaders, and their captives, during the time period around A.D. 600. [Jerry L. Ainsworth, The Lives and Travels of Mormon and Moroni, p. 188]
“I Had Supposed Not to Have Written More”
At the beginning of his abridgment of the book of Moroni, Moroni states that he "had supposed not to have written more" (Moroni 1:1) What this possibly implies is that Ether's just previous "Amen" (Ether 15:34) was considered by Moroni as his own final Amen also. Assuming this was the case, Moroni, after having had time to contemplate his father's writings and also his own additional writings, would have taken the Title Page in hand to add the following:
An abridgment taken from the book of Ether also, which is a record of the people of Jared, which were scattered at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people when they were building a tower to get to heaven--which is to show unto the remnant of the house of Israel how great things the Lord hath done for their fathers, And that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever. And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting Himself unto all nations. And now if there be fault, it be the mistake of men; Wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment seat of Christ. (Taken from The Restored Covenant Edition, Zarahemla Research Foundation)
Note* The Restored Covenant Edition published by the RLDS Zarahemla Research Foundation is supposed to be an accurate rendering of the Printers Manuscript in possession of the RLDS Church. Yet the name "Moroni" appears at the bottom of the Title Page. As this seemed out of place I called their director, Raymond Treat, and in conversation he explained some of the reasons that they put the name there. He said that the Title Page is presently missing from the Printer's Manuscript. However, Oliver Cowdery used the Printer's Manuscript in order to publish the 1840 edition of the Book of Mormon in which the name "Moroni" first appears on the Title Page. Previous editions were all compared with the first edition. Since Oliver Cowdery was the custodian of the Printer's Manuscript before its delivery to the RLDS Church, Raymond Treat and the committee in charge of publishing The Restored Covenant Edition felt that the name should be retained. [Alan C. Miner, Personal Notes]