The war had been constant for the last 6 years (Alma 51-62), but Moroni had been fighting wars, off and on, for the last 14 years or so. An entire generation was raised amidst a continual revolution of war and bloodshed. We can only imagine what kind of effect this had upon the people.
“Mormon has every right to comment at the end of his war account…Mormon’s long report of this costly war almost gives us a distaste for war just by its sheer length, not to mention the account of suffering, destruction, and blood. It is almost as if Mormon were using the length of the account to help us feel the tedium of war. He certainly does not glorify war. He shows that men, women, and children suffer and die. He shows the great Nephite general, Moroni, angry and frustrated that the war drags on and that suffering and death continue (”Alma 60:1Alma 60). He also shows that the Nephites should have believed God’s word and repented. He shows that the word of God is more powerful than the sword because it prevents the sword—it prevents sorrow and suffering. It sanctifies the soul, and brings salvation. The best the sword can do is humble someone enough to pay attention to the word of God." (Gerald Hansen, Jr., Alma, the Testimony of the Word, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., p278 - 279.)