Even with the coming cursing, the Lord still accepts repentance. The way out of destruction remains open, if only they would accept it. As Nephi is attempting to convince them of their need to repent, he creates what should be the greatest contrast possible. Nephi tells them that “it shall be better for the Lamanites than for you except ye shall repent.”
The Nephites carried a cultural antipathy to the concept of the Lamanites, even when they appear to have been adopting Nephite cultural ways. This was the inheritance of the Nephite fathers, a prejudice as firm and defining as the Lamanite tradition of the offenses of the first Nephi against their fathers Laman and Lemuel. For the Nephites, being compared unfavorably to the Lamanites would have been an affront, and something nearly unbelievable. Nevertheless, it was quite true. Nephi measured value in the coin of the gospel and faithfulness to it. The Nephites no longer, as a people, follow God, yet many of the Lamanites do. This reversal of belief leads to a reversal of favor. God favors faithfulness, not ancient prejudices.