Text: The artificial split between chapters 11 and 12 leaves this verse without its logical antecedent, which is the Nephites’ return to iniquity and Yahweh’s consequent withholding of protection. In different language, Mormon reaffirms the Nephites’ foundational covenant. Of course, he does so with great pain in his heart because the people cannot see that their apostasy is a return to the road to destruction.
Although Mormon did not make a chapter break here, all of our chapter 12 is his personal lament. More keenly than before, he sees direct parallels between these events and those of his own day. The unfaithfulness of a people Yahweh had greatly blessed was a personal anguish. He felt it for his own people and also for these forebears of whom he was writing.