Knowing that his son, Moroni, continually walked in the path of duty and loyalty even though it might cost him all he held dear, Mormon humbly presented his son's name to God. Mormon's prayer for Moroni was simple, but it contained a request for that which of all things is most to be desired, all that is really worthwhile hoping for, Salvation in Christ. Also, Mormon's prayer was that Moroni's life be spared "to witness the return of His people" unto God, or to see "their utter destruction." For I know, Mormon sadly comments "that they must perish except they repent and return unto Him." (v. 22)
Mormon remembered King Mosiah's translation of the Twenty-four Gold Plates of Ether, wherein is told of the Jaredites, an earlier race of God's children who inhabited the Land in which the Nephites now dwelt. How they were destroyed because of just such wickedness as had befallen the Nephites, is set forth therein in no uncertain wording. Rejection of God's prophets, and wilfull disobedience of His holy laws, led the Jaredites to shed each other's blood, and seek revenge one against another, until, at last, because of iniquity, God ordered their destruction. Mormon saw in their fate, if so we may call it, a just warning to his own people that they, too, might suffer in like manner.
Hoping to escape His righteous judgment that comes upon those who transgress God's holy laws, many Nephites had dissented "over to the Lamanites," and many more, Mormon notes, "will also dissent over unto them." (v. 24)
Mormon's anxiety for the future spiritual welfare of his brethren-although they forswore allegiance to the Nephite Republic, and left his command, and many more would follow-grew greater every day as an increasing number of Nephites joined the ranks of the enemy all of whom were dissenters from the Church of Christ.
It must be remembered that only a few years had passed away since there were no Lamanites-all were Nephites and all belonged to His Church. A few not satisfied with the millennial conditions that had long held sway, quit the society of those among whom joy, harmony, and the love of Christ, prevailed, took upon themselves the name, Lamanites, and proceeded to destroy the tabernacle of peace that then spread the wide continents over. (See, IV Nephi v. 38ff)
By the names, Lamanite and Nephite, mostly, we think of the literal descendants of Laman and Nephi. Now it is different. At this period in their history the name, Lamanite, signified those who had apostatized from the Church of Christ, the members thereof took the name of Nephites by which they were afterwards known. They constituted two distinct religio-political groups. The Lamanites became greater in numbers because of the Nephite defections, and therefore, in war, stronger in manpower than the Nephites. But with the God in Heaven, it matters not whether there be few or many. However, increasing wickedness even among the Nephites robbed them of God's help, and they became, man-for-man, like the Lamanites.
Mormon sensed this mental and moral deficiency of his people, but he nevertheless realized that in Christ they could be forgiven, and in Him they could be saved. To that end he never ceased to labor, and he told his son "If we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to per, form...." (v. 6) Mormon knew that some day, in the wisdom of the Lord, his own, or the words of Moroni, would be made known to their descendants, (Moroni, Mormon 9:30) therefore he instructed Moroni to write somewhat of Christ in the record Moroni was then making, that it would be a witness to them of His being, and that in Him they might be saved.
This letter was written before the final battle between the Nephites and Lamanites at Cumorah; in it Mormon expresses the hope that they may meet soon, for he says, "I have sacred records that I would deliver up unto thee." (v. 24; also See, Mormon 6:6)