Jerry Ainsworth notes that the writings of Mormon and Moroni about events of their day caused him to focus on several statements they made, which, on the surface, seem to contradict one another. Though he viewed these "contradictions" as insignificant, he still felt a need to resolve them in his own mind. As the Prophet Joseph Smith said, "By proving contraries, truth is made manifest" (History of the Church, 6:428).
According to Ainsworth, one of these contradictions involves Moroni 7:1, 3-4:
And now I, Moroni, write a few of the words of my father Mormon, which he spake concerning faith hope, and charity; for after this manner did he speak unto the people, as he taught them in the synagogue which they had built for the place of worship . . . Wherefore, I would speak unto you that are of the church, that are the peaceable followers of Christ, and that have obtained a sufficient hope by which ye can enter into the rest of the Lord, from this time henceforth until ye shall rest with him in heaven. And now my brethren, I judge these things of you because of your peaceable walk with the children of men.
In these verses, Moroni indicates that Mormon had preached to a people of his own day who had the following characteristics: (1) They were members of the Church; (2) they had built a synagogue in which to worship; (3) they were peaceable followers of Christ; (4) they walked peaceably with the children of men; and (5) they were living the gospel well enough to have "a sufficient hope by which [they could] enter into the rest of the Lord." Mormon calls these people "brethren," in contrast to "this people" or "my people," which terms he uses generally. This appears to contradict the following previous statements:
(1) Mormon comments in his abridgment of Nephite history that by A.D. 300, both the Nephites and the Lamanites had become exceedingly wicked, the one just like the other. In fact, Mormon notes that "there were none that were righteous save the disciples of Jesus." (4 Nephi 1:45-46) This was just 10 years before his birth.
(2) Mormon notes that at the age of fifteen, after being "visited of the Lord," "I did endeavor to preach unto this people, but my mouth was shut, and I was forbidden that I should preach unto them . . . But I did remain among them, but I was forbidden to preach unto them, because of the hardness of their hearts" (Mormon 1:15-17)
(3) Thirty five years later, Mormon notes that the Lord relented and told him to "cry unto this people--Repent ye, and come unto me . . . and ye shall be spared" (Mormon 3:2) However, this attempt also failed (see Mormon 3:3).
(4) As a final statement before the battles in which the Nephite nation would be destroyed, Mormon states: "there never had been so great wickedness among all the children of Lehi, nor even among all the house of Israel, according to the words of the Lord, as was among this people." (Mormon 4:12)
Now, the message of Mormon's epistle which Moroni included in his writings was of faith, hope, and charity, not repentance. So the question arises, To whom was Mormon preaching? Where could he have found members of the Church who were of such great faith as Moroni describes among a people who had degenerated into so great a state of wickedness? [Jerry L. Ainsworth, The Lives and Travels of Mormon and Moroni, pp. 34-35]