Literature: Mormon dramatically expresses a hope only to crush it (v. 13). We share that hope because we have seen the familiar pattern of repentance and turning to Yahweh when the situation becomes desperate, at which point the promise of protection becomes operational, resulting in victory. Mormon is well aware of this pattern and uses the reader’s expectations to emphasize the despair he felt, even describing his own hopeful joy. Verses 9–12 build hope. Verse 13 dashes that hope. Rather than leading to repentance, the Nephites’ sorrow simply leads to anger.