1 AND it came to pass in that same year there began to be a war again between the Nephites and the Lamanites. And notwithstanding I being young, was large in stature; [ Both Mormon and Joseph Smith were men of large stature (Mormon 2:1 and Cannon 19). Having physical strength was possibly a prerequisite to prevent the records they protected from falling into the hands of the adversary’s agents (see Mormon 6:6). And although they were both large and physically fit as youths, neither Mormon nor Joseph received the plates appointed them until they were spiritually mature enough to perform the labors required by them. Several years of testing and training went by after Ammaron and Moroni revealed to their respective charges the missions they were to fulfill regarding the record of the Nephites. ] therefore the people of Nephi appointed me that I should be their leader, or the leader of their armies. [He had most likely received some training from his father - since military tradition is usually passed down from father to son. This might be another reason why he was called to lead them in battle as he understood strategy - again maybe taught to him by his father.]

2 Therefore it came to pass that *in my sixteenth year [ We are in AD 326 so we can deduce that he lived to be 74 years old, since the final battle in which he died was in AD 385. Either the Nephites are scraping the bottom of the barrel, or they also perceive something in Mormon. Now how big is the size of this army? In Mormon 6:10 it would suggest that was at least 10,000, and if he were the head of all of the Nephite armies then it was in excess of 230,000 as that many were lost in one battle toward the end Mormon 6:10-15. ] I did go forth at the head of an army of the Nephites, against the Lamanites; therefore three hundred and twenty and six years had passed away.

3 And it came to pass that in the three hundred and twenty and seventh year the Lamanites did come upon us with exceedingly great power, insomuch that they did frighten my armies; therefore they would not fight, and they began to retreat towards the north countries.

4 And it came to pass that we did come to the city of Angola, and we did take possession of the city, and make preparations to defend ourselves against the Lamanites. And it came to pass that we did fortify the city with our might; but notwithstanding all our fortifications the Lamanites did come upon us and did drive us out of the city.

5 And they did also drive us forth out of the land of David.

6 And we marched forth and came to the land of Joshua, which was in the borders west by the seashore.

7 And it came to pass that we did gather in our people as fast as it were possible, that we might get them together in one body.

8 But behold, the land was filled with robbers and with Lamanites; and notwithstanding the great destruction which hung over my people, [ What does this tell us about their nature? They are pretty hard, usually hard times causes a people to 1) Blame God and curse him, 2) Repent and humble themselves and turn toward God to help them with their needs which they realize they cannot do on their own. ] they did not repent of their evil doings; [ So if they did not repent then we know more about their nature. ] therefore there was blood and carnage spread throughout all the face of the land, both on the part of the Nephites and also on the part of the Lamanites; and it was one complete revolution throughout all the face of the land.

9 And now, the Lamanites had a king, and his name was Aaron; and he came against us with an army of forty and four thousand. And behold, I withstood him with forty and two thousand. And it came to pass that I beat him with my army that he fled before me. And behold, all this was done, and *three hundred and thirty years had passed away.

10 And it came to pass that the Nephites began to repent of their iniquity, [ They begin to humble themselves. ] and began to cry even as had been prophesied by Samuel the prophet; for behold no man could keep that which was his own, [ It must have been pretty tough - a complete state of lawlessiness. It also tells us that no one respected another - except maybe the toughest. No one was safe; nothing was safe. How hard would that be to live like that? What would you do in that situatuin?] for the thieves, and the robbers, and the murderers, and the magic art, and the witchcraft which was in the land.

11 Thus there began to be a mourning and a lamentation [ Expression of sorrow; cries of grief; The sorrow of these people was not a sorrow unto repentance but rather a sorrowing of the damned (see Mormon 2:13). ] in all the land because of these things, and more especially among the people of Nephi.

12 And it came to pass that when I, Mormon, saw their lamentation and their mourning and their sorrow before the Lord, my heart did begin to rejoice within me, [ Why does this bring joy to the heart of Mormon? Because he hopes that if things have gotten bad enough, or have been bad long enough that the people will beginning to ask God for help. Even if they are not sure that their is a God they begin to hope that there is in an effort to change their life around. ] knowing the mercies and the long-suffering [ Long endurance; patience of offense ] of the Lord, [ What does Mormon mean by that? He knows that God allows things to happen; he might withdraw certain protections in an effort to allow a people or person to be humbled. ] therefore supposing [ Mormon admits that he does not know the whole plan here; but he does trust God enough to believe that what he is doing is and will be for their best in the long run. How important is it that we keep this principle in mind as we go through trials? ] that he would be merciful unto them that they would again become a righteous people.

13 But behold this my joy was vain, [ Fruitless; ineffectual; Empty; worthless; having no substance, value or importance. ] for their sorrowing was not unto repentance, [ Those who are righteous use sorrow and conflict to bring them closer to God; they humble themselves before him - This is what Mormon was hoping for.] because of the goodness of God; but it was rather the sorrowing of the damned, [ Why does he consider it the sorrowing of the damned? Because if they do not choose to follow God and obey his commandments they will end up loosing out; their eternal progress will be limited (damned). Why? Those who are not as righteous choose to blame everything that is wrong on God it is his fault. Mormon tells us where this kind of sorrow will eventually get them. ] because the Lord would not always suffer them to take happiness in sin. [ Because of the principle that sin never will end in happiness. ]

14 And they did not come unto Jesus with broken hearts and contrite spirits, but they did curse God, and wish to die. [ Why exactly is it Gods fault anyway just because things do not go how you want? Who exercised their agency in the decisiosn of life - us or God? How does understanding the plan of salvation help to keep our minds in a proper perspective regarding how God works in our lives? When we understand that the real purpose of this life is to be tried to be tested then that means that some testing needs to take place. We are here to prove to ourselves that we can make decisiosn the way that God would make them when we are not in his presence. ] Nevertheless they would struggle with the sword for their lives.

15 And it came to pass that my sorrow did return unto me again, and I saw that the day of grace was passed with them, both temporally and spiritually; for I saw thousands of them hewn down in open rebellion against their God, and heaped up as dung upon the face of the land. And thus *three hundred and forty and four years had passed away.

16 And it came to pass that in the three hundred and forty and fifth year the Nephites did begin to flee before the Lamanites; and they were pursued until they came even to the land of Jashon, before it was possible to stop them in their retreat.

17 And now, the city of Jashon was near the land where Ammaron had deposited the records unto the Lord, that they might not be destroyed. And behold I had gone according to the word of Ammaron, and taken the plates of Nephi, and did make a record according to the words of Ammaron.

18 And upon the plates of Nephi [ first set of plates ] I did make a full account of all the wickedness and abominations; but upon these plates [second set of plates - continuing the tradition of the large and small plates of Nephi.] I did forbear to make a full account of their wickedness and abominations, [ speaks to the diligence of Mormon; he knows they the Nephites are about to all be wiped out; but even though no one will ever know but himself - he continues to respect his responsibility, and duty see 3 Ne. 27:23-26] for behold, a continual scene of wickedness and abominations has been before mine eyes ever since I have been sufficient to behold the ways of man. [ What can we learn of Mormon's character? In spite of all the evil that raged about them, both men maintained charity and forgiveness towards those who had harmed them. Mormon spent his entire life with “a continual scene of wickedness and abominations” before him and yet never lost charity, unlike so many of those around him. Joseph Smith likewise endured much, yet never lost his love for others. Once when asked why he had so many followers, Joseph replied, “It is because I possess the principle of love. All that I offer the world is a good heart and a good hand” (Cannon 528). Mormon and Joseph possessed “the pure love of Christ” and showed that charity can endure forever (see Moroni 7:47; see also Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith 9; hereafter TPJS). ]

19 And wo is me because of their wickedness; for my heart has been filled with sorrow because of their wickedness, all my days; nevertheless, I know that I shall be lifted up at the last day. [ The diligence of Mormon and Joseph Smith seems to have been rewarded with their having their callings and elections made sure while yet in the flesh. Mormon mentions in Mormon 2:19, “Nevertheless, I know that I shall be lifted up at the last day.” Joseph’s promise came in stronger words when the Lord said “I seal upon you your exaltation, and prepare a throne for you in the kingdom of my Father” (D&C 132:49). They had followed the Lord’s commands, and they sealed their missions and their testimonies of the Savior with their blood and continue their work on the other side of the veil (138:57). ]

20 And it came to pass that in this year the people of Nephi again were hunted and driven. And it came to pass that we were driven forth until we had come northward to the land which was called Shem.

21 And it came to pass that we did fortify the city of Shem, and we did gather in our people as much as it were possible, that perhaps we might save them from destruction.

22 And it came to pass in the *three hundred and forty and sixth year they began to come upon us again.

23 And it came to pass that I did speak unto my people, and did urge them with great energy, that they would stand boldly before the Lamanites and fight for their wives, and their children, and their houses, and their homes.

24 And my words did arouse them somewhat to vigor, insomuch that they did not flee from before the Lamanites, but did stand with boldness against them.

25 And it came to pass that we did contend with an army of thirty thousand against an army of fifty thousand. And it came to pass that we did stand before them with such firmness that they did flee from before us.

26 And it came to pass that when they had fled we did pursue them with our armies, and did meet them again, and did beat them; nevertheless the strength of the Lord was not with us; yea, we were left to ourselves, that the Spirit of the Lord did not abide in us; therefore we had become weak like unto our brethren.

27 And my heart did sorrow because of this the great calamity of my people, because of their wickedness and their abominations. But behold, we did go forth against the Lamanites and the robbers of Gadianton, until we had again taken possession of the lands of our inheritance.

28 And the *three hundred and forty and ninth year had passed away. And in the three hundred and fiftieth year we made a treaty with the Lamanites and the robbers of Gadianton, in which we did get the lands of our inheritance divided.

29 And the Lamanites did give unto us the land northward, yea, even to the narrow passage which led into the land southward. And we did give unto the Lamanites all the land southward.