2 Wherefore, in my days, I would that ye should know that I fought much with the sword, to preserve my people, the Nephites, from falling into the hands of their enemies, the Lamanites.
3 But behold, I, of myself, am a wicked man, and I have not kept the statutes and the commandments of the Lord, as I ought to have done.
4 And it came to pass that two hundred and seventy and six years had passed away, and we had many seasons of peace; and we had many seasons of serious war and bloodshed.
5 Yea, and in fine, two hundred and eighty and two years had passed away, and I had kept these plates according to the commandments of my fathers; and I conferred them upon my son Amaron. And I make an end.
6 And now I, Amaron, write the things whatsoever I write, which are few, in the book of my father.
7 Behold, it came to pass that three hundred and twenty years had passed away, and the more wicked part of the Nephites were destroyed:
8 For the Lord would not suffer, after he had led them out of the land of Jerusalem, and kept and preserved them from falling into the hands of their enemies; yea, he would not suffer that the words should not be verified, which he spake unto our fathers, saying, That insomuch as ye will not keep my commandments, ye shall not prosper in the land.
9 Wherefore, the Lord did visit them in great judgment; nevertheless, he did spare the righteous, that they should not perish, but did deliver them out of the hands of their enemies.
10 And it came to pass that I did deliver the plates unto my brother Chemish.
11 Now I, Chemish, write what few things I write, in the same book with my brother: for behold, I saw the last which he wrote, that he wrote it with his own hand; and he wrote it in the day that he delivered them unto me.
12 And after this manner we keep the records, for it is according to the commandments of our fathers. And I make an end.
