Hugh Nibley
“Moroni was especially keen to watch for any slightest tendency of the enemy to give up; he was hypersensitive to that moment in the battle when the enemy falters, and the instant that came, when he sensed they were weakening, he would propose a stop to the fighting to talk things over (Alma 52:37-38). ‘We do not desire to be men of blood’ (Alma 44:1), he tells them on the battlefield; ’ye are in our hands, yet we do not desire to slay you… . We have not come … that we might shed your blood for power’ (Alma 44:1-3). ’We would not shed the blood of the Lamanites, if they would stay in their own land…’ (Alma 60:10-12).” (The Prophetic Book of Mormon, p. 523)