A messenger from the battlefield, named Ammoron, conveyed to Mormon the tidings of the horrible atrocities committed by the Lamanites upon the Nephite prisoners-men, women, and children-captured by them in the Tower of Sharizah. These savagely cruel and outrageously brutal, really horrendous, acts, are too enormous to comment upon, suffice it to say that both Lamanites and Nephites had reached that point where the last effort of human wickedness cannot pass. Everything which evil power could suggest seemed to delight their fallen nature.
As did Mormon (v. 20), we close the annals of those times in disgust, and pray as he did, "Come out in judgment, O God, and hide their sins, and wickedness, and abominations from before Thy face."
Now, a last word from Mormon concerning the Nephites: "Their wickedness doth exceed that of the Lamanites. (v. 20) Behold, my son, I cannot recommend them unto God..." no doubt meaning that he could not even pray for them, he knowing their wickedness, "Lest," he says, "He should smite me." (v. 21)