These verses give the historical context for one of the most significant doctrinal discourses in the Book of Mormon. In the verses that follow, Mormon discusses the doctrine of accountability and the false notion of infant baptism.
It appears from this introduction that Moroni had previously been called to an important priesthood position of responsibility. Moroni, in that new stewardship probably wrote to his father concerning an important matter of concern and conflict. In response Mormon gave him some fatherly, as well as some ecclesiastical, counsel concerning a very important doctrinal dispute that had arisen among the Nephites.
The record is silent as to what prompted this doctrinal dispute or how the notion of infant baptism had crept in among the people. Mormon’s epistle to Moroni is designed to correct any error that has been made or false doctrines that have been taught and to plainly teach the truth of the matter. This contextual introduction also bears the author’s witness of the words that follow.
They are not merely Mormon’s opinions but are the mind and will of the Lord that have come by direct revelation to Mormon through the power of the Holy Ghost. This revelation begins with the Savior himself bearing testimony that the words, ideas, and doctrine that follows in Mormon’s epistle are “the words of Christ” (see verses 7-8).