Mormon 2
People in this chapter
Mormon is still a teenager when the Nephites make him the leader of their armies. Notwithstanding I being young, was large in stature (v. 1). In his sixteenth year he goes out at the head of an army (v. 2). What follows is a long retreat, a land filled with robbers, and a people who will not repent even when destruction hangs over them (vv. 3-8).
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Mormon 2:1-9Notwithstanding I Being Young
1And it came to pass in that same year there began to be a war again between the Nephites and the Lamanites. And notwithstanding I being young, was large in stature; therefore the people of Nephi appointed me that I should be their leader, or the leader of their armies. 2Therefore it came to pass that in my sixteenth year I did go forth at the head of an army of the Nephites, against the Lamanites; therefore three hundred and twenty and six years had passed away.
When war started again, the Nephites chose Mormon to lead their armies even though he was young, because he was big for his age. At sixteen he led them out.
3And it came to pass that in the three hundred and twenty and seventh year the Lamanites did come upon us with exceedingly great power, insomuch that they did frighten my armies; therefore they would not fight, and they began to retreat towards the north countries. 4And it came to pass that we did come to the city of Angola, and we did take possession of the city, and make preparations to defend ourselves against the Lamanites. And it came to pass that we did fortify the city with our might; but notwithstanding all our fortifications the Lamanites did come upon us and did drive us out of the city. 5And they did also drive us forth out of the land of David. 6And we marched forth and came to the land of Joshua, which was in the borders west by the seashore. 7And it came to pass that we did gather in our people as fast as it were possible, that we might get them together in one body. 8But behold, the land was filled with robbers and with Lamanites; and notwithstanding the great destruction which hung over my people, they did not repent of their evil doings; therefore there was blood and carnage spread throughout all the face of the land, both on the part of the Nephites and also on the part of the Lamanites; and it was one complete revolution throughout all the face of the land. 9And now, the Lamanites had a king, and his name was Aaron; and he came against us with an army of forty and four thousand. And behold, I withstood him with forty and two thousand. And it came to pass that I beat him with my army that he fled before me. And behold, all this was done, and three hundred and thirty years had passed away.
The Lamanites came with great power and Mormon's armies were afraid and retreated. The land was full of robbers, and even with destruction close, the people did not repent.
Mormon 2:10-15The Sorrowing of the Damned
10And it came to pass that the Nephites began to repent of their iniquity, and began to cry even as had been prophesied by Samuel the prophet; for behold no man could keep that which was his own, for the thieves, and the robbers, and the murderers, and the magic art, and the witchcraft which was in the land. 11Thus there began to be a mourning and a lamentation in all the land because of these things, and more especially among the people of Nephi. 12And it came to pass that when I, Mormon, saw their lamentation and their mourning and their sorrow before the Lord, my heart did begin to rejoice within me, knowing the mercies and the long-suffering of the Lord, therefore supposing that he would be merciful unto them that they would again become a righteous people.
The Nephites began to mourn, because robbers and thieves were taking everything they had. Mormon was glad, because he hoped this meant they would repent and the Lord would be merciful.
13But behold this my joy was vain, for their sorrowing was not unto repentance, because of the goodness of God; but it was rather the sorrowing of the damned, because the Lord would not always suffer them to take happiness in sin. 14And they did not come unto Jesus with broken hearts and contrite spirits, but they did curse God, and wish to die. Nevertheless they would struggle with the sword for their lives.
Their sorrow was not real repentance. They were sorry only because sin no longer made them happy and they were losing what they had. They cursed God and wished to die, but still fought to stay alive.
15And it came to pass that my sorrow did return unto me again, and I saw that the day of grace was passed with them, both temporally and spiritually; for I saw thousands of them hewn down in open rebellion against their God, and heaped up as dung upon the face of the land. And thus three hundred and forty and four years had passed away.
Mormon's sorrow came back. He saw that the time for these people to be spared had passed, and thousands died in rebellion against God.
Mormon 2:16-19I Shall Be Lifted Up at the Last Day
16And it came to pass that in the three hundred and forty and fifth year the Nephites did begin to flee before the Lamanites; and they were pursued until they came even to the land of Jashon, before it was possible to stop them in their retreat. 17And now, the city of Jashon was near the land where Ammaron had deposited the records unto the Lord, that they might not be destroyed. And behold I had gone according to the word of Ammaron, and taken the plates of Nephi, and did make a record according to the words of Ammaron. 18And upon the plates of Nephi I did make a full account of all the wickedness and abominations; but upon these plates I did forbear to make a full account of their wickedness and abominations, for behold, a continual scene of wickedness and abominations has been before mine eyes ever since I have been sufficient to behold the ways of man.
Mormon tells us he had followed Ammaron's instructions and taken the plates of Nephi. He wrote a full account of the wickedness there, but in this record he holds back.
19And wo is me because of their wickedness; for my heart has been filled with sorrow because of their wickedness, all my days; nevertheless, I know that I shall be lifted up at the last day.
Mormon 2:20-29We Were Left to Ourselves
20And it came to pass that in this year the people of Nephi again were hunted and driven. And it came to pass that we were driven forth until we had come northward to the land which was called Shem. 21And it came to pass that we did fortify the city of Shem, and we did gather in our people as much as it were possible, that perhaps we might save them from destruction. 22And it came to pass in the three hundred and forty and sixth year they began to come upon us again. 23And it came to pass that I did speak unto my people, and did urge them with great energy, that they would stand boldly before the Lamanites and fight for their wives, and their children, and their houses, and their homes. 24And my words did arouse them somewhat to vigor, insomuch that they did not flee from before the Lamanites, but did stand with boldness against them. 25And it came to pass that we did contend with an army of thirty thousand against an army of fifty thousand. And it came to pass that we did stand before them with such firmness that they did flee from before us.
Driven north to the land of Shem, Mormon urged his people to stand and defend their families and homes. They did, and the Lamanites fled.
26And it came to pass that when they had fled we did pursue them with our armies, and did meet them again, and did beat them; nevertheless the strength of the Lord was not with us; yea, we were left to ourselves, that the Spirit of the Lord did not abide in us; therefore we had become weak like unto our brethren. 27And my heart did sorrow because of this the great calamity of my people, because of their wickedness and their abominations. But behold, we did go forth against the Lamanites and the robbers of Gadianton, until we had again taken possession of the lands of our inheritance. 28And the three hundred and forty and ninth year had passed away. And in the three hundred and fiftieth year we made a treaty with the Lamanites and the robbers of Gadianton, in which we did get the lands of our inheritance divided. 29And the Lamanites did give unto us the land northward, yea, even to the narrow passage which led into the land southward. And we did give unto the Lamanites all the land southward.
The Nephites won, but Mormon says the Lord's strength was not with them. They were left to themselves and became as weak as their enemies. In the 350th year they made a treaty and divided the land.
Research trail
Sources & further study
These references support the historical, linguistic, manuscript, and contextual notes in this chapter. Scripture remains the primary text; external sources are provided so readers can inspect the research directly.
- Repent, RepentanceScriptures on true repentance, the sorrow Mormon hoped to see in his people (vv. 12-13).
- Broken HeartGathers the scriptures on the broken heart and contrite spirit the Nephites would not offer (v. 14).
- Mormon, Nephite ProphetMormon's life as military leader and record keeper.
- Gadianton RobbersThe robbers who fill the land (v. 8) and with whom the Nephites finally make a treaty (v. 28).
Where this echoes in Scripture
Notwithstanding I Being Young
- Mormon 1:15Being fifteen years of age and being somewhat of a sober mind, therefore I was visited of the Lord.The last age Mormon gives before verse 1.
- 1 Samuel 16:7Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
- Helaman 12:3Except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions... they will not remember him.
- Alma 62:41Many had become hardened, because of the exceedingly great length of the war; and many were softened because of their afflictions.War hardens or softens; it does not decide which.
The Sorrowing of the Damned
- 2 Corinthians 7:10Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
- 3 Nephi 9:20Whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost.
- Helaman 13:33O that we had remembered the Lord our God in the day that he gave us our riches.Samuel's prophecy fulfilled (v. 10).
- Helaman 13:38Ye have sought for happiness in doing iniquity, which thing is contrary to the nature of that righteousness.
- Alma 41:10Wickedness never was happiness.
I Shall Be Lifted Up at the Last Day
- Mormon 1:3-4Ye shall take the plates of Nephi unto yourself... and ye shall engrave on the plates of Nephi all the things that ye have observed.The charge Mormon fulfills.
- 3 Nephi 27:14As I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me.
- John 6:40Every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
- Alma 36:3Whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials... and shall be lifted up at the last day.
- Philippians 4:8Whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely... think on these things.
We Were Left to Ourselves
- Alma 46:12In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children.
- Alma 57:26We do justly ascribe it to the miraculous power of God, because of their exceeding faith.
- 2 Nephi 26:11The Spirit of the Lord will not always strive with man.
- Psalm 127:1Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it.