Verse 14 paints a picture of the Nephite understanding of their relationship to war. They believed that they could and should defend themselves, but they should not be the ones to “give an offense.” While this verse presents the information is a very clear and concise form, Mormon had noted the basic belief in defense in Alma 43:12-14.
The next two verses indicate that the Nephites believed that if they righteously followed this commandment that the Lord would be with them when they did have to defend themselves. Mormon specifically notes that the Lord “would make it known unto them whither they should go to defend themselves against their enemies.” Of course Mormon had recently written about just such an event when Moroni inquired of Alma where the Lamanite army would strike after breaking off their attack on Jershon (Alma 43:23).
This commandment and promise from the Lord concerning the relationship of his people to other potentially hostile peoples has apparently been repeated on multiple occasions. Most recently the Lord spoke to the Saints in this dispensation:
Doctrine and Covenants 98:32-37
32 Behold, this is the law I gave unto my servant Nephi, and thy fathers, Joseph, and Jacob, and Isaac, and Abraham, and all mine ancient prophets and apostles.
33 And again, this is the law that I gave unto mine ancients, that they should not go out unto battle against any nation, kindred, tongue, or people, save I, the Lord, commanded them.
34 And if any nation, tongue, or people should proclaim war against them, they should first lift a standard of peace unto that people, nation, or tongue;
35 And if that people did not accept the offering of peace, neither the second nor the third time, they should bring these testimonies before the Lord;
36 Then I, the Lord, would give unto them a commandment, and justify them in going out to battle against that nation, tongue, or people.
37 And I, the Lord, would fight their battles, and their children’s battles, and their children‘s children’s, until they had avenged themselves on all their enemies, to the third and fourth generation.
First we note in verse 32 that this law was given to Nephi. Mormon does not tell us the source of the Nephite belief, but we learn it from the Doctrine and Covenants. Apparently this is one of the foundational beliefs of the Nephite nation, and continued from the time of their founder, Nephi. The verses in the Doctrine and Covenants echo the more concise concepts in our verse in the Book of Mormon, even to the promise in DC 98:37 that the Lord would “fight their battles” with them. This is quite clearly parallel to Mormon’s description of the Nephite belief in the participation of the Lord on their behalf in their wars.
Textual: The interesting aspect of these verses is not that they presents completely new information, but that they appear at this part of the narrative. Mormon was speaking of Moroni just prior to this explanation of Nephite understanding, and he returns to Moroni in the next verse. We must suspect, therefore, that these verses are prompted because of Moroni, and because Moroni follows them in his defense of his people’s liberty. These become not a discussion of Nephite belief, but of Moroni’s faithfulness to those beliefs.