Moroni 7:3 I would speak unto you that are…the peaceable followers of
Christ
Hugh Nibley
“In
chapter 7 you notice that Mormon is sick to death of violence. He wants rest
and peace. He’s just obsessed with it now. He said right at the beginning that
since he was old enough to observe the ways of men, he had seen nothing but
this restless violence (Mormon 2:18)…[Now he says] “I want to talk of peace for
a change with some peaceable people.” He wants a peaceable world and he wants a
rest. He’s sick and tired….Peace and rest are foremost in his mind here, and it
comes out throughout this chapter.” (Teachings of the Book of Mormon,
Lecture 112, p. 277)
Moroni 7:3-4 I judge these things of you because of your peaceable walk
Mormon concludes that these
few followers of Christ have a hope that they will enter into the rest of the
Lord. He makes this conclusion based upon their ‘peaceable
walk’ among the children of men. The connection between hope and
a peaceable walk is not immediately apparent. But, placed in historical
context, their love of peace is in stark contrast to the rest of their society.
Could it be that these were the only people among the Nephites that were not
continually fighting for their lives? Could it be that they were the only
people among the Nephites who were not consumed with thoughts of death,
revenge, and bloodshed? And how could it be that they had no fear of death?
Apparently, their hope of eternal rest was a product of their faith and that
perfect love which casteth out all fear
(Moroni 8:16). Amidst a society of bloodshed and carnage, their ‘peaceable walk’ was evidence to Mormon that they
had hope for a better world (Ether 12:4).
“Mormon’s
challenge as a spiritual leader in a wicked world strikes a sad but familiar
chord today. In Moroni 7, Mormon addresses his words to the ‘peaceable followers of Christ.’ (Moro. 7:3.) Just
as in Mormon’s day, to be such a ‘follower’ in our society is not an easy
task…One who has a ‘peaceable walk,’ in the
Savior’s words, would ‘learn of me, and listen to my
words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me.’
(D&C 19:23)” (Clyde J. Williams, Church News, 11/30/96)
Bruce C. Hafen
“This
is the spiritual endowment of hope—of perspective, of patience, of an inner
serenity, a sure inner sight, that is ‘not weary in
well-doing.’ (D&C 64:33.) Such hope is bestowed by the power of the
Holy Ghost, ‘which Comforter filleth with hope.’ (Moroni
8:26.)…It is the hope that Mormon recognized as a sustaining, God-given source
of strength in the maturing stages of spiritual development: (quotes Moroni
7:3-4). Not perfect, not frantic; not pessimistic and not artificially
cheerful. The walk of those who walk with the endowment of hope is ‘peaceable.’” (The Broken Heart, p. 184)
Moroni 7:8 if a man being evil giveth a gift…he is counted evil
before God
The best example of this
principle is the famous offering of Cain. Cain was evil. He followed Satan’s counsel
in making an offering unto the Lord. Yet, he expected a full reward. He was
surprised and angry to learn that the Lord had
respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had
not respect (Gen 4:4-5). In essence, Cain had been counted evil before God. Hereby, he became the
great prototype of the evil gift-giver.
The story is told of a man
who had been pressed for weeks by his wife and bishop to live the law of
tithing. Finally, exasperated, the man went into the bishop’s office, slid the
envelope across the desk, and said, “Here Bishop, here’s your damn tithing!”
The bishop calmly slid the envelope back across the desk, replying, “well if
that’s the way you feel about it, then you can keep your money. The Lord
doesn’t want it.”
Brigham Young
“We say
to the Saints, do not pay Tithing, unless you want to; do not help to build up
this Temple unless you want to; do not put forth your hands to one day's work,
unless you want to. . . . If you grudgingly put forth your means to help to
gather the Saints, it will be a curse to you.” (Hugh Nibley, Brother Brigham
Challenges the Saints, p. 460)
Alvin
R. Dyer
“There
are some, for vanity or other superficial reasons, that may seemingly offer a
good gift, but only to deceive, and often as not, this simulation is made to
cover something ugly and sinful which lodges beneath a false veneer.
“In the
balance of innermost-thoughts and feelings lies the real person, to be evil or
to be good. God recognizes no sense of good which is but a cloak of how the
inner person really feels…Of these, the Master has said, when with assumption
they shall come up for a crown or a place in His Kingdom, ‘Depart, for I never
knew you.’” (BYU Speeches of the Year, Alvin R. Dyer, Mar. 16, 1965, p.
5)
Moroni 7:9 if he shall pray and not with real intent…it profiteth
him nothing
Joseph F. Smith
“Here,
indeed, is a text that would give an opportunity to one moved by the proper
spirit, to make a telling discourse among the Latter-day Saints-not applicable
to all, but applicable to far too many. It is not good for us to pray by rote,
to kneel down and repeat the Lord's prayer continually. I think that one of the
greatest follies I have ever witnessed is the foolish custom of men repeating
the Lord's prayer continually without considering its meaning…It thus becomes
only a form; there is no power in it; neither is it acceptable, because it is
not offered from the heart, nor with the understanding; and I think that it is
desirable for us to look well to our words when we call upon the Lord…let the
prayer come from the heart, let it not be in words that are worn into ruts in
the beaten tracks of common use, without thought or feeling in the use of those
words. Let us speak the simple words, expressing our need, that will appeal
most truly to the Giver of every good and perfect gift.” (Gospel Doctrine,
p. 220)
Spencer J. Condie
“Elder
Dallin H. Oaks instructed a group of missionaries in Porto, Portugal,
regarding the importance of ‘real intent,’ adding
that when we pray with real intent we are willing to accept the consequences of
the answer we receive. That is to say, we are willing to assume the
responsibility of that confirmation we receive by undergoing a mighty change of
heart and, in most cases, undergoing a mighty behavioral and attitudinal change
in our lives.” (In Perfect Balance, p. 64)
Moroni 7:12-13 every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to
love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God
This statement seems simple
enough. It seems only logical that all things which
are good cometh of God. However, the implications of this seemingly
simple statement are enormous. This truth broadens our view of all that is
around us, for we begin to realize that the Lord has his hand in a lot of
things which we do not give him credit for. Furthermore, we find that good can
come from unexpected places or people.
What if the teachings of
Buddhism and Confucianism teach a man to be honest, upright, and to treat all
guests with respect and dignity? Is that teaching from God? What if Islam
teaches a man to pray regularly and adhere to a strict moral code? Is that
teaching from God? What if a Christian denomination which has rejected the Book
of Mormon teaches its congregation that they will be saved through faith on the
name of Jesus Christ? Is that teaching from God? The Book of Mormon teaches us
that the Lord has inspired all good throughout the world. If we are to believe
that, then we must broaden our understanding of how the Lord works among the
children of men. Certainly, he has not limited his inspiration and revelation
to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Nor has the Lord limited the
power of his inspiration to religious leaders and teachers. His almighty hand
has touched the works of artists, musicians, poets, authors, inventors, and
even politicians. The life of Mozart was anything but inspired, but some of his
music certainly is. Beethoven may not have given all the credit for his work to
God, but who gave Beethoven his ability? The works of countless artists amaze
us and inspire us because we recognize something divine in their work. It is
that divine touch which seems to touch us the most.
Joseph Smith clearly taught that we believe in all things which
are good, If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or
of good report or praise worthy, we seek after these things (A of F 13).
We seek after these things because we know that their ultimate source is the
Lord God Almighty. For I, the Lord, have put forth
my hand to exert the powers of heaven; ye cannot see it now, yet a little while
and ye shall see it (DC 84:119).
Moroni 7:16 the spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may
know good from evil
Bruce R. McConkie
“Christ
is ‘the true light that lighteth every man that
cometh into the world.’ (D. & C. 93:2; John 1:9.) This enlightenment
is administered to all men through the Spirit of Christ, or the Spirit of the
Lord, or the Light of truth, or the light of Christ -- all of which expressions
are synonymous. This Spirit fills the immensity of space, is in all things, and
is not to be confused with the Personage of Spirit known as the Holy Ghost (or
Spirit of the Lord). (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, pp. 38-54.)
“The
light of Christ is the Spirit of the Lord which leads men to accept the gospel
and join the Church so that they may receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Men
are commanded to ‘live by every word that proceedeth
forth from the mouth of God. For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever
is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus
Christ. And the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world;
and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the
voice of the Spirit.’ (D. & C. 84:44-46.) Those who hearken to this
Spirit come into the Church, receiving ‘of the
Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins.’ (D. & C. 20:37;
84:47-48; Alma 19:6; 26:3; 28:14.) Men are born again by following the light of
Christ to the point where they receive the actual enjoyment of the gift of the
Holy Ghost. (Mosiah 27:24-31; Alma 36.)
“It is
because of the light of Christ that all men know good from evil and enjoy the
guidance of what is called conscience.” (Mormon Doctrine, pp. 446-7)
Boyd
K. Packer
“We are
separated from animals by more than upright posture, an articulated thumb, and
the size of our brain. We are separated by a conscience…Our conscience might be
described as a memory, a residual awareness of who we really are, of our true
identity. It is perhaps the best example of the fact that we can become aware
of truths because we feel them…This knowledge of right and wrong, is
called the light of Christ, moral sense, or conscience, it moderates our
actions unless, that is, we subdue it or destroy it…It affirms…the reality of
good and evil, justice, mercy, honor, courage, faith, love, and virtue, as well
as their necessary opposites, hatred, greed, brutality, and jealousy.” (Latter-day
Commentary on the Book of Mormon compiled by K. Douglas Bassett, p.
521)
Moroni 7:16 I show unto you the way to judge
Gordon B. Hinckley
“How
do we recognize the promptings of the Spirit? I don't think that's too
difficult, really. When all is said and done it is a matter of a feeling we have
in our hearts. I am going to read to you some words from Moroni that I think
answer this question…(quotes Moroni 7:13, 16-17)
“That's
the test, when all is said and done. Does it persuade one to do good, to rise,
to stand tall, to do the right thing, to be kind, to be generous? Then it is of
the Spirit of God. If it is dark, sinister, ugly, not good, then you may know
that it is of the adversary.
“Now,
your question: How do we recognize the promptings of the Spirit? You put it to
that test. If it invites to do good, it is of God. If it inviteth to do evil,
it is of the devil. The Lord is not going to spell out for you, A, B, C, D, E,
F. His influence will be felt. And if you are doing the right thing and if you
are living the right way, you will know in your heart what the Spirit is saying
to you.
“You
recognize the promptings of the Spirit by the fruits of the Spirit--that which
enlighteneth, that which buildeth up, that which is positive and affirmative
and uplifting and leads us to better thoughts and better words and better deeds
is of the Spirit of God. That which tears us down, which leads us into
forbidden paths--that is of the adversary. I think it is just that plain, just
that simple.” (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, “Holy Ghost”)
Joseph F. Smith
“(quotes
Moroni 7:10-19.)…I think that here, in the words that I have read, are
some…plain, simple guideposts; and if we, as Latter-day Saints…would read these
words as believing children should read, with understanding, in faith, being
sure that God inspired them, and then put them into practice, I think it would
not be long before we could do away with appeals to bishops' courts, and high
councils, and with the present necessity for teachers' visits, to try to settle
difficulties among Latter-day Saints. I believe every man would be his own
judge, for he would judge righteously, because he would judge in the light of
truth, in the light and justice-not selfishly, not covetously, but in the light
that has come from the heavens in the latter days, through revelations from
God.” (Gospel Doctrine, pp. 222-3)
Moroni 7:17 whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil…is of the devil
Bruce R. McConkie
“Life
itself depends upon the existence of opposites. Without evil there could be no
good; without misery, no happiness; without death, no life. (2 Nephi 2.) Thus,
if there are good gifts that come from God there are also evil gifts that
spring forth from Satan. Heaven is the source of all that is good; hell, of all
that is evil….
“Is
there a gift of preaching by the power of the Holy Ghost that enlightens
spiritual souls and leads them to eternal life? So also there is a gift of
intellectual persuasion, a gift of sophistry and delusion, that pleases carnal
men and lets them feel that they can believe what they will and live after the
manner of the world, and yet be saved.
“Is
there a gift of charity, of enjoying and possessing the pure love of Christ,
that leads men to peace in this present world and assures them of eternal life
in that world which is to be? So also there is a gift of selfishness, of
putting one's own interests first in all things, of spewing forth hatred and
animosity upon others, all of which leads to war and desolation here and now
and to everlasting destruction hereafter.
“Are
there gifts of purity, of chastity, of clean thoughts, of upright living, all
of which cleanse and perfect the souls of men and prepare them to be at ease in
the fellowship of angels and holy beings hereafter? So also there are gifts of
lust, of lewdness, of profane and evil speaking, of filling one's mind with
carnal and evil thoughts, all of which lead to vulgar and immoral acts that
prepare men for the continuing association of evil spirits in the realms
ahead.” (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, pp. 375-77)
Moroni 7:19 ye should search diligently in the light of Christ
“Mormon’s
words indicate the need for effort on our part to obtain the real benefit of
the Light of Christ. While this gift is given to everyone, we must be willing to
let that light guide and direct our decisions or the light will grow dim.
Speaking of this dwindling of the Light of Christ, President J. Reuben Clark
explained, ‘It is my hope and my belief that the Lord never permits the
light of faith wholly to be extinguished in any human heart, however faint the
light may glow. The Lord has provided that there shall still be a spark which,
with teaching, with the spirit of righteousness, with love, with tenderness,
with example, with living the Gospel, shall brighten and glow again, however
darkened the mind may have been.’ (Conference Report, October 1936, p.
114.)” (Clyde J. Williams, Church News, 11/30/96)
Moroni 7:20 how is it possible that ye can lay hold upon every good
thing?
Mormon’s discourse on faith,
hope, and charity was prompted by a question. Joseph Smith stated, “I
have a key by which I understand the scriptures. I enquire, what was the
question which drew out the answer?” (Teachings, p. 176) Well, in order
to fully appreciate Mormon’s discussion of faith, hope, and charity, we must
remember the question he is answering, ‘how is it
possible that ye can lay hold upon every good thing?’
Moroni 7:25 men began to exercise faith in Christ
Hugh Nibley
“It
is interesting that though we exercise faith and so can increase it, we have
faith but we never read of receiving it; we ask for and receive health, wisdom,
protection, the necessities of life, and life itself, but we do not ask for
faith; it is a principle that we seem to generate in ourselves, being dependent
on some auxiliary source, for it is stimulated by hope. We can ‘lay hold’ of these things only if we are ‘meek and lowly’ (Matthew 11:29), for we cannot
create power by an act of will; if that were possible Satan would be
all-powerful.” (Approaching Zion, p. 604)
Moroni 7:26 by faith, they become the sons of God
All mankind are the
spiritual offspring of God, and therefore, all are sons and daughters of God
whether they have faith or not. However, in this passage, Mormon is making
reference to the process of becoming a son or daughter of Christ. As king
Benjamin taught, because of the covenant which ye
have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his
daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that
your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of
him and have become his sons and his daughters (Mosiah 5:7).
Moroni 7:26 Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which
is good
There are a few promises in
the Book of Mormon that are repeated over and over again. This promise is a
marvelous promise with grand and eternal implications too often taken for
granted. When the Lord promises to give us whatever we want, which is good, as long as we ask in faith believing
in his name, he means what he says. We have no reason to doubt, no reason to
waver—else we become like a wave of the sea driven
with the wind and tossed (James 1:6). See also commentary for 3 Nephi
18:20.
Neal A. Maxwell
“By
praying, we begin to experience what it is like when we see the interplay of
man's moral agency and God's directing hand. These are things to be learned
only by experience. We learn how important our intentions are, since we are
instructed to pray for that ‘which is right’
(3 Nephi 18:20). Our prayers will be better if they are in fact inspired
prayers.
“Thus
worshipping, serving, studying, praying, each in its own way squeezes
selfishness out of us; it pushes aside our preoccupations with the things of
the world.” (Men and Women of Christ, p. 98)
Moroni 7:30 angels
minister unto them of strong faith and a firm mind
While the faithless ask for
an angelic visitation to consume it upon their lusts, the Lord does not send angels
to the faithless. The sign seeker gets no sign because the Lord has nothing to
prove. Indeed, the sign seeker is the one who has something to prove to the
Lord, not the other way around. Unless they prove to the Lord through obedience
and humility that they are worthy of it, they will never have faith strong
enough nor a mind firm enough to deserve an angelic visitation.
Thus, angels don’t come to
replace or bolster faith. They come to those whose faith is so strong that it
would not be affected by such a visitation.
Hugh Nibley
“…people
of firm mind and strong faith are the only ones an angel can come to.
Otherwise, it will set you off your rocker. Remember, Brigham Young said,
‘Pray that you will never see an angel,’ because almost everyone who has seen
one has apostatized. It's more than they can take.” (Ancient Documents and
the Pearl of Great Price, p. 6)
Moroni 7:33 If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do
whatsoever thing is expedient in me
Faith is a principle of power.
The greater one’s faith, the greater is one’s power for good. Like so much else
in the gospel, the attainment of such power is a process. But this journey has
a destination epitomized by the promise given to Nephi:
‘I will make thee
mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea even that all things
shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that
which is contrary to my will
…ye shall have power
over this people, and shall smite the earth with famine, and with pestilence,
and destruction, according to the wickedness of this people.
Behold, I give unto you
power, that whatsoever ye shall seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven; and
whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven; and thus shall ye
have power among this people.’ (Hel
10:5-7)
How great is this promise!
The Lord says that we will be given power so that we can do whatever we
want. He has promised us that through prayer we can have whatever we
want (v. 26). Thus God allows us to have whatever we want so that we can
do whatever we want. The only caveat is that we must ask for that ‘which is good’, and we must do that which is ‘expedient in [him].’ This shows us how important
it is for us to want only those things which God wants—in effect, to have our
will ‘swallowed up in the will of the Father’ (Mosiah
15:7). As the Bible Dictionary states: “Prayer is the act by which the will of
the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each
other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for
ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but
that are made conditional on our asking for them.”
Bruce R. McConkie
“It
is the power of faith…And the extent to which we become like Him is the extent
we gain His faith, acquire His power and exercise His priesthood. And when we
have become like Him in the full and true sense, then we…shall have eternal
life.” (Conference Report, May 1982 Ensign, “Priesthood Power Should Be
Studied and Magnified”)
Joseph Smith
“…faith
is not only the principle of action, but of power also, in all intelligent
beings, whether in heaven or on earth…
“Faith,
then, is the first great governing principle which has power, dominion, and authority
over all things; by it they exist, by it they are upheld, by it they are
changed, or by it they remain, agreeable to the will of God. Without it there
is no power, and without power there could be no creation nor existence!…
“How
would you define faith in its most unlimited sense? It is the first great
governing principle which has power, dominion, and authority over all things.”
(Lectures on Faith, pp. 8-12)
Moroni 7:35 has the day of miracles ceased?
Spencer W. Kimball
“Making
a stirring appeal following the bloody extinction of his people, the lonely
Moroni, last survivor of a great civilization, looked down the stream of time
to our own day when the Book of Mormon should come forth. Among other erroneous
concepts then held, he predicted, would be the idea that ‘miracles are done away.’ (Morm. 8:26.)
“We who
live now recognize the fulfillment of this prophecy. Fortunately, active Church
members are aware of modern miracles-angelic visitations, gospel restoration,
the Book of Mormon, for example. When we think of miracles, most of us think of
healings under the power of the priesthood. But there is another, even greater
miracle-the miracle of forgiveness.
“Indeed
the day of miracles has not passed except for those who will not heed the call
of the Lord and of his servants, who night and day warn and plead and implore.
There is a glorious miracle awaiting every soul who is prepared to change.
Repentance and forgiveness make a brilliant day of the darkest night. When
souls are reborn, when lives are changed then comes the great miracle to
beautify and warm and lift. When spiritual death has threatened and now instead
there is resuscitation, when life pushes out death when this happens it is the
miracle of miracles. And such great miracles will never cease so long as there
is one person who applies the redeeming power of the Savior and his own good
works to bring about his rebirth.” (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p.
361-2)
Boyd
K. Packer
“Who
would dare to say that the day of miracles has ceased? Those things have not
changed in 150 years, not changed at all.
“For
the power and inspiration of the Almighty rests upon this people today as
surely as it did in those days of beginning: ‘It is
by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and
minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the
children of men, for it is because of unbelief.’ (Moroni 7:37.)
“The
prophet Moroni taught that angelic messengers would accomplish their work, ‘by declaring the word of Christ unto the chosen vessels
of the Lord, that they may bear testimony of him. And by so doing, the Lord God
prepareth the way that the residue of men may have faith in Christ, that the
Holy Ghost may have place in their hearts.’ (Moroni 7:31-32.)
“There
has come, these last several years, a succession of announcements that show our
day to be a day of intense revelation, equaled, perhaps, only in those days of
beginning, 150 years ago.
But
then, as now, the world did not believe. They say that ordinary men are not
inspired; that there are no prophets, no Apostles; that angels do not minister
unto men-not to ordinary men.
“That
doubt and disbelief have not changed. But now, as then, their disbelief cannot
change the truth.
“We lay
no claim to being Apostles of the world-but of the Lord Jesus Christ. The test
is not whether men will believe, but whether the Lord has called us-and of that
there is no doubt!
“We do
not talk of those sacred interviews that qualify the servants of the Lord to
bear a special witness of Him, for we have been commanded not to do so.
“But we
are free, indeed, we are obliged, to bear that special witness…
Compared
to the others who have been called, I am nowhere near their equal, save it be,
perhaps, in the certainty of the witness we share.
“I feel
compelled, on this one hundred fiftieth anniversary of the Church, to certify
to you that I know that the day of miracles has not ceased. I know that angels
minister unto men.” (That All May Be Edified, pp. 149-151)
Heber
J. Grant
“When
my appendix was removed it had broken and blood poisoning, so they said, in the
third and last stage, had set in. There were nine doctors present and eight
said I had to die. The chief surgeon in the Catholic hospital turned to President
Joseph F. Smith, and said: ‘Mr. Smith, you need not think of such a possibility
or probability as that this man shall live. Why, if he should live it would be
a miracle, and this is not the day of miracles.’ That was the message delivered
to me by Joseph F. Smith himself during his last sickness, and he said: ‘Our
doctor friend who said it would be a miracle has passed away. I never saw you
looking healthier in my life than you do today, Heber.’” (Conference Report,
Apr. 1933, p. 10)
Moroni 7:37 if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of
men, for it is because of unbelief
Hugh Nibley
“When
Mormon says that ‘a man being evil cannot do that
which is good; neither will he give a good gift’ (Moroni 7:6, 8, 10), he
really means it. True, ‘awful is the state of man’
only if ‘faith has ceased’—but faith has
ceased! If men insist that there is no redemption, then, sure enough, ‘they are as though there had been no redemption made’ (Moroni
7:38-39). ‘If these things have ceased,’ says
[Mormon] speaking of gifts of the Spirit (Moroni 7:37), ‘wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all
is vain.’ This is no mere figure of speech; if faith fulfills its own
prophecies so does unbelief, and those who insist that all is vain are quite
right; if men reject the gospel they will find everywhere powerful confirmation
for their unbelief, and undeniable evidence to support their contention that
the human predicament is hopeless. Does God cease to do miracles? Indeed he
does, ‘and the reason why he ceaseth to do miracles
among the children of men is because that they dwindle in unbelief’ (Mormon
9:20). Anyone who says there are no miracles, therefore, can quote Mormon to
prove that he is right.” (Since Cumorah, p. 401)
Spencer
W. Kimball
“If the
Bible were ‘the end of the prophets,’ it would be through lack of faith, and
that is the reason the heavens at times were closed and locked and became as
iron and the earth as brass.
“The
Lord will not force himself upon people; and if they do not believe, they will
receive no visitation. If they are content to depend upon their own limited
calculations and interpretations then, of course, the Lord will leave them to
their chosen fate.” (Conference Report, Oct. 1966, p. 22)
Moroni 7:40 How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save ye shall
have hope?
Mormon’s rhetorical question
obviously implies that hope must precede faith. Yet, other scriptures teach
that hope is a product of faith, hope cometh of
faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men (Ether 12:4). So which comes
first, hope or faith? The answer is that there is a hope which must precede
faith and a hope which must follow faith.
Conceptually, the hope which
precedes faith is quite different than the hope which follows faith. The hope which
precedes faith is the desire in one’s heart that God lives and that Jesus is
the Christ. It is that initial wish which prompts the exercise of faith. Alma
32:27 speaks of this hope, let this desire (hope)
work in you, even until ye believe (faith).
This type of hope is so essential to the development of faith that it becomes
part of the definition, faith is things which are
hoped for and not seen (Ether 12:6).
On the other hand, the hope which
follows faith is much more than a wish. It is the calm assurance that one will
be resurrected unto eternal life through the power of Christ’s atonement. This
hope is a virtue of the spiritually mature, for those who have this hope are
not focused on the mundane of this world. Rather, their focus is on a better
life, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope
for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope
cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them
sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God
(Ether 12:4). As Paul said, That being justified by
his grace (through faith), we should be made
heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:7).
Moroni 7:42 if a man have faith he must needs have hope
Jeffrey R. Holland
“What
is the nature of this hope? It is certainly much more than wishful thinking. It
is to have ‘hope through the atonement of Christ and
the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because
of your faith in him according to the promise.’ That is the theological
meaning of hope in the faith-hope-charity sequence. With an eye to that
meaning, Moroni 7:42 then clearly reads, ‘If a man
have faith [in Christ and his atonement] he
must needs [as a consequence] have hope
[in the promise of the Resurrection, because the two are inextricably linked]; for without faith [in Christ's atonement] there cannot be any hope [in the Resurrection].’ (Christ
and the New Covenant, p. 335)
Neal A. Maxwell
“Thus
gospel hope is a very focused and particularized hope that is based upon
justified expectations. It is a virtue that is intertwined with faith and
charity, which virtues are not to be understood either when they are torn apart
from each other or apart from the Lord Jesus Christ, without whom they are all
vague virtues. Doubt and despair go together, whereas faith and hope are
constant companions.” (Notwithstanding My Weakness, pp. 41-2)
Moroni 7:44 none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in
heart
Neal A. Maxwell
“Meekness
ranks low on the mortal scale of things, yet high on God's: ‘For none is acceptable before God, save the meek and
lowly in heart.’ (Moroni 7:44.) The rigorous requirements of Christian
discipleship are clearly unattainable without meekness. In fact, meekness is
needed in order to be spiritually successful, whether in matters of the
intellect, in the management of power, in the dissolution of personal pride, or
in coping with the challenges of daily life.” (Meek and Lowly, p. ix)
Neal A. Maxwell
“In
the ecology of the eternal attributes, these cardinal characteristics are
inextricably bound up together. Among them, meekness is often the initiator,
facilitator, and consolidator.
“Moreover,
if one needs further persuasion as to how vital this virtue is, Moroni warned
that ‘none is acceptable before God, save the meek
and the lowly in heart.’ (Moroni 7:44.) If we could but believe in the
reality of that bold, but accurate, declaration, then you and I would find
ourselves focusing on the crucial rather than the marginal traits. We would
then cease pursuing lifestyles that, inevitably and irrevocably, are going out
of style.
“We
live in coarsening times, times in which meekness is both misunderstood and despised.
Yet it has been, is, and will remain a nonnegotiable dimension of true
discipleship; its development is a remarkable achievement anytime, but
especially in this age. Therefore, how needed are the many fresh, but plain,
scriptural reminders of the necessity of the precious virtue of meekness!” (Plain
and Precious Things, p. 52)
Moroni 7:44 he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he
is nothing
“The
Prime Directive has been delivered to us pointedly by the Savior no fewer than
three times in John's Gospel alone: ‘A new
commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you,
that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my
disciples, if ye have love one to another’ (John 13:34-35). ‘This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I
have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his
life for his friends’ (John 15:12-13). ‘These
things I command you, that ye love one another’ (John 15:17).
“…This is
not emotional fluff. This is not pie in the sky, wishful thinking, or
idealistic gas. Love is not some subsidiary principle that allows the weepy
among us to go off on a crying jag. It's not just something thrown in for the
benefit of the sisters or for the super-sensitive "artsy" types. It
is not an option that may be ignored by those who would prefer not to clutter
their lives with other peoples' problems. There is a grand key here, probably
the grandest of them all. It is this: the heart and soul of the gospel is
love, and all the rest is commentary. Whatever else we may perceive
religion to be, we are wrong—for true religion is love in action—God's love for
us and our love for God and for our neighbors.” (Stephen R. Robinson, Following
Christ, p. 137 – 138)
Jeffrey
R. Holland
“It is
that charity—his pure love for us—without which we would be nothing, hopeless,
of all men and women most miserable… But the ‘pure
love of Christ’ Mormon spoke of is precisely that—Christ's love. With
that divine gift, that redeeming bestowal, we have everything; without it we
have nothing and ultimately are nothing, except in the end ‘devils [and] angels to
a devil.’ (2 Ne 9:9)” (Christ
And The New Covenant, p. 336 – 337)
Moroni 7:46 charity never faileth
The Relief Society motto is
“charity never faileth.” The greatest scriptural commentary on this phrase was
given by Paul:
‘Charity never
faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there
be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall
vanish away.
For we know in part,
and we prophesy in part.
But when that which is
perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.’ (1 Cor 13:8-10)
But because actions speak
louder than words, the greatest commentary for “charity never faileth” has been
given by the lives of those sisters whose service has proven that charity is an
eternal virtue.
Gordon B. Hinckley
“The
Relief Society of the Church . . . has as its motto Charity Never Faileth.
Innumerable are the deeds of these remarkable and wonderful and unselfish women
in succoring those in distress, in binding up the wounds of those who have been
hurt, in giving cheer and comfort to those in distress, in feeding the hungry
and clothing the naked, and in lifting up those who have fallen and giving them
strength and encouragement and the will to go forward.” (Ensign,
November 1990, p. 54.)
Elaine
J. Jack
“A
Relief Society sister who had moved to Texas to continue her education and then
was moving again wrote to me this summer. She told of her experience with the
sisters in her ward, of their quick action, willing hands, warmth, and
kindness. But it wasn’t what they did that prompted her letter; it was why.
They loved her, and she could feel it. As they shared with her, multiplying
their gifts, she too was strengthened in charity. Listen to her story, because
it represents all of you and your quiet goodness:
‘As
I write these words, I have to squint at my computer screen and keep blinking
away tears of gratitude. From the first day I attended the Austin Fourth Ward,
I was touched by the spirit of love and caring I felt in the Relief Society.
These sisters are very diverse. There are converts and lifelong members, native
Texans and Mountain West transplants. They are married, divorced, and single,
some with sufficient means, others with very few resources. Yet it doesn’t seem
to make any difference.
‘I
can’t tell you of the untold kindnesses they’ve done for me. They aren’t earthshaking
events, but an accumulation of small blessings: stopping by my apartment to
take my dog for a walk, offering to take care of some mending, tracking down
packing boxes for me, and including me in their personal prayers. This Sabbath
day, the words of the hymn ‘As Sisters in Zion’ [Hymns, no. 309] keep
running through my mind. I want you to know that the sisters are indeed
‘build[ing] up his kingdom with earnest endeavor,’ and ‘comfort[ing] the weary
and strengthen[ing] the weak’ (letter from Katherine Boswell, 11 Aug. 1996).
“Is there any question of the righteous influence of the women of this Church? In this tabernacle, in Texas, in tiny branches, sprawling wards, and stakes around the world, our efforts sound the theme ‘Charity Never Faileth.’ What a promise! As it is heard here and recorded in heaven, may we remember, sisters, this is our theme and our message to the world. It isn’t what we do; it is the heart with which we do it.” (Conference Report, Nov. 1996 Ensign, “Strengthening in Charity”)
Moroni 7:47 charity is the pure love of Christ
During his mission, the
author was asked, “can a Buddhist have charity?” The answer is that a Buddhist
can have love for his fellowmen without accepting Christ, but there is much
more to charity than just love for one’s neighbors. Without faith and hope in
Christ, the virtue can never be perfected or fully expressed.
“The
phrase ‘love of Christ’ might have meaning in three dimensions: …First, love for
Christ. This concept proclaims Jesus as the object of our love, and our lives
should be an external expression of our gratitude for him…A second dimension of
the meaning of charity is love from Christ. (Ether 12:33-34) The
Savior’s act of redemption for our sins is of no effect without our willingness
to comply with the conditions of his atonement…A third perception of charity is
to possess a love that is like Christ. (2 Ne 33:7-9; Jn 13:34). Charity
is not just…a word to describe actions or attitudes. Rather, it is an internal
condition that must be developed and experienced in order to be
understood…People who have charity have a love for the Savior, have received of
his love, and love others as he does.” (C. Max Caldwell, Ensign, Nov.
1992, pp. 29-30
as taken from Latter-day Commentary on the Book of Mormon compiled by K.
Douglas Bassett, p. 524)
Heber J. Grant
“Many
people imagine that charity is giving a dollar to somebody; but real, genuine
charity is giving love and sympathy.” (Messages of the First Presidency, 5:180)
Marvin J. Ashton
“Real
charity is not something you give away; it is something that you acquire and
make a part of yourself. And when the virtue of charity becomes implanted in
your heart, you are never the same again. It makes the thought of being a
basher [speaking ill of someone] repulsive. Perhaps the greatest charity comes
when we are kind to each other, when we don’t judge or categorize someone else,
when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet.
Charity is accepting someone’s differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings;
having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to
become offended when someone doesn’t handle something the way we might have
hoped. Charity is refusing to take advantage of another’s weakness and being
willing to forgive someone who has hurt us.” (Ensign, May 1992, p. 19 as taken from
Latter-day Commentary on the Book of Mormon compiled by K. Douglas
Bassett, p. 524)
Hugh Nibley
“Charity gives to those who don’t
deserve and expects nothing in return: It is the love God has for us, and the
love we have for little children, of whom we expect nothing but for whom we
would give everything.” (Latter-day Commentary on the Book of Mormon
compiled by K. Douglas Bassett, p. 524)
Moroni 7:48 pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye
may be filled with this love
“Could
it be that the reason we may not feel love for others is that we have not
really prayed for it-or, if we have, it has not been a prayer with all ‘energy of heart’?
The latter part of the passage just quoted mentions love as something
that is bestowed upon the ‘true followers’ of
Jesus Christ. If we do not feel the
whole power of love, perhaps we have not prayed enough for it or are not yet
true followers of Jesus Christ.” (Gayle O. Brown, Book of Mormon
Symposium Series, The Keystone Scripture, edited by PR Cheesman, MS Nyman, and
CD Tate, Jr., 1988, p. 153)
Bruce C. Hafen
“We
apparently cannot develop a complete and permanent Christlike love for other people
on our own, even though we must qualify as ‘true
followers of his Son’ in order to receive this love… charity in its
full-blown sense is ‘bestowed upon’ Christ's righteous followers. Its source,
like all other blessings of the Atonement, is the grace of God…
“The
purpose of charity, however, is not merely to cause a proper motivation for
charitable acts toward other people—though that is of course one important
result. The ultimate purpose is to make Christ's followers like him.” (The
Broken Heart, p. 196)
Spencer J. Condie
“(quotes Moroni 7:48) If the diplomats
of warring nations understood and followed Mormon’s admonition, the world would
be spared the scourge of war. If married couples perpetually pleaded for and practiced
charity, the world would be spared the devastation of broken homes and hearts.
If all those whose lives have been scarred by abuse would pray with all the
energy of their hearts for the pure love of Christ, their burdens would be
lifted and their hearts would be filled with love. Charity, the pure love of
Christ, is acquired only through great effort on our part. After praying with
great energy of heart, then comes the promise: we will be filled with love.
“This single verse is one of the most profound
statements found in holy writ. If this succinct prescription were truly
followed, much of the misery of the human condition would be alleviated. (Heroes
From the Book of Mormon, p. 178)
Moroni 7:48 when he shall appear we shall be like him
Henry B. Eyring
“If
we stay at it long enough, perhaps for a lifetime, we will have for so long
felt what the Savior feels, wanted what he wants, and done what he would have
us do that we will have, through the Atonement, a new heart filled with
charity. And we will have become like him.” (To Draw Closer to God, p.
71 – 72)
Moroni 7:48 Mormon’s
words or John’s?
When the Savior visited the
Nephites, he was very careful to make sure that they had the most important Old
Testament scriptures as part of their scriptural record (see 3 Ne 23:6). But
Moroni 7 reminds us that the Lord was just as careful to restore important New
Testament doctrines to the Nephites. Even the ideas of the early epistles are
expressed in the writings of Mormon and Moroni. We have already commented that
Moroni can be considered a doctrinal companion to Paul (see commentary for
Ether 12:27). In this chapter, we see Mormon using the same language to talk
about charity as Paul did in his epistle to the Corinthians (1 Cor 13).
Furthermore, Mormon’s sermon also included many ideas from the Apostle John.
Hereby, we see the mercy of the Lord in revealing to Mormon and Moroni the same
concepts which had been revealed to the Old World Apostles.
Moroni 7 |
1 John 2-4 |
1. I judge these things of
you because of your peaceable walk with the children of men (v. 4). |
1. He that saith he
abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked (1 Jn 2:6). |
2. every thing which
inviteth and enticeth to do good…is inspired of God (v. 13). |
2. Every spirit that
confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God (1 Jn 4:2). |
3. the Spirit of Christ is
given to every man, that he may know good from evil (v. 16). |
3. Hereby know we the spirit
of truth, and the spirit of error (1 Jn 4:6). |
4. he advocateth the cause
of the children of men (v. 28). |
4. we have an advocate
with the Father, Jesus Christ (1 Jn 2:1). |
5. pray…that ye may be
filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers
of his Son…that ye may become the sons of God (v. 48). |
5. Behold, what manner of
love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of
God (1 Jn 3:1). |
6. that when he shall
appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is (v. 48). |
6. when he shall appear,
we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is (1 Jn 3:2). |
7. that we may be purified
even as he is pure (v. 48). |
7. every man that hath this
hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure (1 Jn 3:3). |