Nephite Decline and Downfall

Preparations for the Final Battle

Mormon 6:1–3

Mormon writes a letter to the Lamanite King suggesting that the two armies meet in battle near the hill Cumorah—the Lamanite King agrees.

And now I finish my record concerning the destruction of my people, the Nephites. And it came to pass that we did march forth before the Lamanites. And I, Mormon, wrote an epistle unto the king of the Lamanites, and desired of him that he would grant unto us that we might gather together our people unto the land of Cumorah, by a hill which was called Cumorah, and there we could give them battle. And it came to pass that the king of the Lamanites did grant unto me the thing which I desired.

Mormon 6:4–5

Mormon, now 74 years old, gathers all his people to the land of Cumorah, where he hopes he can gain an advantage over the Lamanites.

And it came to pass that we did march forth to the land of Cumorah, and we did pitch our tents around about the hill Cumorah; and it was in a land of many waters, rivers, and fountains; and here we had hope to gain advantage over the Lamanites. And when three hundred and eighty and four years had passed away, we had gathered in all the remainder of our people unto the land of Cumorah.

Mormon 6:6

Having done this, he buries all the old Nephite records in the hill Cumorah, but keeps his own gold plates to give to his son Moroni.

…I made this record out of the plates of Nephi, and hid up in the hill Cumorah all the records which had been entrusted to me by the hand of the Lord, save it were these few plates which I gave unto my son Moroni.