Moroni determines to close his record with a farewell message to the Lamanites. In the first verse he makes it clear that he is addressing the Lamanites of the latter days. He refers to them as his brethren. He wants them to know that this is the finale of his long and eventful career.
Moroni says he is sealing up these records in 421 A.D. This means that he has been alone and in hiding for many years.