We Did Pitch Our Tents Round About

Mormon's description of the Nephites camping around Cumorah is curiously reminiscent of the description of Benjamin's people camped to listen to him: a temple / hill, with "tents [a]round about."

Why would this be?  Is this Mormon writing about his own death in temple terms, like Enos did?  Is he setting up Cumorah as a temple-like place, because he's going to make it the repository of the records?

They Had Christ for their Shepherd

Having Christ as one's shepherd is an image that resonates in both of the great ordinances of the visionary men.

In the Worship of the Shalems, the high priest who emerges from the holy of holies with his staff to provide the feast of bread and wine is Melchizedek and Yahweh, the shepherd with his crook (which is the iron rod, and the one who bears it is the Word of God).

In the Day of Atonement, all the sheep are gathered into two flocks: the flock of the Lord, and the flock of Azazel.

It Was All in Vain

The Lamanites tread the Nephites under their feet.  This is not accidental imagery; being trodden under feet is the punishment prescribed for covenant violators in the Worship of the Shalems.

I Was Without Hope

Mormon has no "hope," because "judgment" is coming and his people haven't "repented."

This is a secular/military application of the doctrine of the spiritual gift of hope, which is confidence of success at the judgment; or, as Alma would have it, hope is the conviction that one day, having been judged worthy, you will rest.

It Is by the Wicked that the Wicked Are Punished

As Mormon watches the destruction of his people, he comments that the wicked punish the wicked.  This is an old idea of the visionary men, dating at least back to Isaiah.

Prepare to Stand Before the Judgment-Seat

On the Day of Atonement, Yahweh comes with universal judgment.

But the image of the individual repenting and preparing to stand before Christ on his judgment-seat is an image from the Worship of the Shalems.  After passing through the strait and narrow gate and seeing the tree with good fruits, the Shalem is in the holy of holies, the place of the throne (the rock).  Here, he is judged by Christ.

They Did Swear by the Heavens

After a major victory, the Nephites swear "by the heavens," "before the heavens," and "by the throne of God" that they will attack their enemies and win.  They are swearing by the parts of the temple: the heavens (that part to reveal mysteries) are the temple veil, and the throne of God is the ark on the foundation stone.  The Nephites are committing themselves to violence on the most sacred symbols of the visionary men.  This oath was specifically forbidden to the Shalems... and Mormon promptly resigns.