“Moronihah Did Preach Unto the People Because of Their Iniquity”

Brant Gardner

Redaction: Mormon next records renewed efforts to call the people to repentance, an effort sufficiently successful that Moronihah can recapture half of the territory. Mormon thus underscores his moral argument that the Nephites’ fate is directly related to their righteousness. However, because only half of the territory was regained (both a historical and moral fact), he hints that their repentance was not complete. Mormon’s formula thus explains the Nephites’ loss of virtually all their land except for Bountiful, their partial repentance and partial retaking of territory, but their eventual destruction.

Second Witness: Analytical & Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 5

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