According to Brant Gardner, when Moroni says he "cannot recall the words which I have spoken" (Alma 44:11), he is not using the term recall to mean "remember" but rather to mean "take back." So why can't Moroni change his mind? Why can't he take back his words? Certainly accepting the surrender will save lives, why not accept it? The reason is because Moroni had made a covenant oath in the name of his all-powerful God. Moroni could not take the words back because he had invoked the name of his covenant Lord in the declaration of his offer. Only his Lord could change what had been said. [Brant Gardner, Book of Mormon Commentary, [http://www.highfiber.com/~nahualli/LDStopics/Alma/Alma44.htm], p. 4]