Moroni burying plates in the Hill Cumorah
The Nephites having lost battle after battle and being unwilling to repent and turn the Lord were being hunted down by lamanites. Moroni buries the plates to protect them from being destroyed by lamanites. He lived to see most of his people fall at the hand of the lamanites. Before burying the plates he made a promise to those who would one day read it: http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/10.3-5
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