It is in the story of Zeniff, those who followed him, and his descendants—Zeniffites—that Mormon begins to reveal the development of Nephite strategy at several levels. He provides information on the armor and weapons of individuals, the organization and actions of units or formations, the general disposition of forces throughout the area, and the general issues among the two major cultures in conflict. None of this is extremely detailed, but in this portion of the Book of Mormon there are the first battle narratives and the opportunity to see how Nephites developed their concept of just warfare and the methods appropriate for use in it.

By the end of the Zeniffite period, the Lamanites begin the development of strategy or “cunning” as Joseph Smith translated it. This comes as a direct result of the association with the Nephites and their language. In this era, the Zeniffites gain possession of the Jaredite record from Ether. The combination of experiences gained through the Zeniffite conflicts and the Jaredite record allow for the developments of Moroni.

It is here in the reigns of Zeniff, Noah, and Limhi that the seeds of Nephite strategic thinking and practice are planted and nurtured which will bear fruit in the time of Moroni and Moronihah and even in the time of Mormon himself.