Mormon knows in his heart of hearts that the Nephite nation has gone irretrievably beyond the threshold of damning pride and wickedness. “But beware of pride,” said the Lord in our day, “lest ye become as the Nephites of old” (D&C 38:39).
The second epistle of Mormon to his son Moroni. [Note: This preamble was included in the original edition of the Book of Mormon published in 1830.]