I, Zeniff, having been taught in all the language of the Nephites,

Mosiah 9:1 I, Zeniff, having been taught in all the language of the Nephites, and having had a knowledge of the land of Nephi, or of the land of our fathers’ first inheritance, *and having been sent as a spy among the Lamanites that I might spy out their forces, that our army might come upon them and destroy them—but when I saw that which was good among them I was desirous that they should not be destroyed.

I think this scripture is interesting because he seems to be copying Nephi's method of starting his story.  Perhaps this became the cultural way to start a story, kind of like, Once upon a time....