Redaction: Verse 34 is Mormon’s conclusion about miracles accompanying the Three Nephites, which he contrasts to the hard-heartedness of those leaving the church. His earlier account in 3 Nephi 28:23 had concluded: “And it came to pass that thus they did go forth among all the people of Nephi, and did preach the gospel of Christ unto all people upon the face of the land; and they were converted unto the Lord, and were united unto the church of Christ, and thus the people of that generation were blessed, according to the word of Jesus.”
Mormon has used the same historical events in two places for two different reasons. In 3 Nephi, he was testifying that the Three Nephites were worthy and righteous men as manifested by their miraculous preservation and their conversion successes. Here, Mormon’s emphasis is on their persecution. The conclusion, therefore, is not optimistic but a lament for the wickedness that allows the persecution of such righteous men.
Text: These two instances vividly capture how Mormon perceived his task. He has taken the same events, recounted in virtually the same language, and placed them in two completely different contexts to prove two very different points. Doing this requires a flexible approach to historic time. In the first instance, he emphasizes the good effect of their preaching. In the second, even the Three Nephites’ great faith is blocked by apostate persecutions. While faithful believers certainly existed at the same time, Mormon’s editorial method focuses on a stronger contrast between the two periods than the actual history probably showed.