The Savior’s first words are a summons to repent, which Nephi has already documented; the Nephites are ready to heed this message (3 Ne. 8:24–25). The Savior attributes the deaths to the Nephites’ iniquity, a theme stressed in the lamentation. As I read this close correlation, it seems probable that Nephi recorded the lamentation with these words as the impetus, even though he recorded the lament as preceding the Savior’s message.