Mormon the General spoke of the war. Mormon the Apostle now speaks of the second “war” he is fighting. Just as he is losing the battle for their physical lives, he is also losing the battle for the Nephites’ spiritual lives. His descriptions of the people’s reaction to his preaching is completely recognizable. If he speaks “with sharpness,” they become angry. When he uses “no sharpness they harden their hearts.”
Mormon is speaking of a people who have given themselves over to the bloodlust of war: “They thirst after blood and revenge continually.”
Nevertheless, Mormon does not advocate giving up, but encourages himself and Moroni to “labor diligently, for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation.” They do not necessarily labor in hope of success, but out of the duty of the calling.