Moroni 10:2 I seal up these records
When Moroni seals up the
records, he is not referring to the sealed portion of the plates, but that he
is about to seal up the record in a stone box. The
box…was formed by laying stones together in some kind of cement. In the bottom
of the box were laid two stones crossways of the box, and on these stones lay
the plates. The final seal placed upon this glorious work was a large
stone lid. This stone was thick and rounding in the
middle on the upper side, and thinner towards the edges, so that the middle
part of it was visible above the ground, but the edge all around was covered
with earth (JS—Hist 1:51-52).
But Moroni was also sealing
the record in the priesthood sense. What had been sealed on earth by priesthood
power could not be unsealed except by the same power. This is the same
priesthood seal that Nephi placed on his last words, declaring, what I seal on earth, shall be brought against you at the
judgment bar; for thus hath the Lord commanded me, and I must obey (2 Ne
33:15).
Moroni 10:3 remember how merciful the Lord hath been
Not everyone who has prayed
about the Book of Mormon has received an answer. There are investigators who have
prayed to know whether the Book of Mormon is true who adamantly declare that
they did not feel a thing! They conclude that the book must not be true and
that Moroni’s promise is hollow.
Yet, we know that the Lord
keeps his promises. Therefore, any investigator who has not received an answer
has not kept his part of the deal. Typically, the first response is to remind
them that they must ask with a sincere heart, with
real intent, having faith in Christ, but these are not the only
requirements. Anyone challenging an investigator to pray about the Book of
Mormon should never read verse 4 without also reading verse 3. Often, when an
investigator does not get the desired response, it is because some of the steps
in verse 3 were omitted.
The overall pattern is to
read—remember—ponder—pray in sincerity and faith. None of these steps may be
left out. If the individual has not read the Book of Mormon, and more
importantly, remembered the Lord’s mercy throughout the ages, they have no
promise. For many Christians, this will require that they ponder the Lord’s
great mercy as revealed in the Bible—they must remember and ponder what the
Lord has already done. Without these elements, even a sincere prayer and an
intense prayer may yield nothing. Again, the indispensable elements are:
1) To read.
2) To remember the Lord’s mercy.
3) To ponder.
4) To ask with a sincere heart.
5) To ask with real intent.
6) To ask with faith in Christ.
No investigator in the
history of the Restoration has ever completed all six of these steps without subsequently
receiving a manifestation of the truth of the Book of Mormon.
Elder John H. Taylor
“It
seems to me that this verse (Moro 10:3) is a preparation to the people who may
read this holy book, that they shall have in their hearts a desire to know the
truth, and to have brought to their remembrance the fact that God has been good
to his children upon the earth; and that, irrespective of the many things that
they have done which have been evil in his sight, God has been willing to
forgive them, make himself manifest to them, and bear record of the
truthfulness of his word. When we realize how good God has been to us, then
desire and hope come into our hearts, and make us humble before God, and we
rather feel that God will also be merciful unto us, his children, and bring
testimony into our hearts. I dare say that whoever reads this holy book, and
reads this first verse, will have a desire that God shall be merciful to, him,
as he has been merciful unto his people before.” (Conference Report,
Apr. 1924, p. 109)
Bruce R. McConkie
“[Moroni]
is not, be it noted, asking us to draw a curtain around the Book of Mormon as
though it were the only book of scripture ever to flow from prophetic pens. All
things must be kept in perspective. He is asking us to ponder what is in the
biblical record and to put the writings of Mormon in their proper relationship
to all else that has come from the Lord. All these things are to be pondered.”
(A New Witness For the Articles of Faith, p. 465)
Moroni 10:3 ponder it in your hearts
Marvin J. Ashton
“By
pondering, we give the Spirit an opportunity to impress and direct. Pondering
is a powerful link between the heart and the mind. As we read the scriptures,
our hearts and minds are touched. If we use the gift to ponder, we can take
these eternal truths and realize how we can incorporate them into our daily
actions.
“Today,
millions, at President Benson’s encouragement, are reading the Book of Mormon,
some for the first time, others as a regular habit. We must remind all that the
fruits of this great book are the most beneficial when we ponder as we read.”
“Pondering
is a progressive mental pursuit. It is a great gift to those who have learned
to use it.” (Conference Report, Nov. 1987 Ensign)
Neal A. Maxwell
“Pondering,
for most of us, is not something we do easily. It is much more than drifting or
daydreaming, for it focuses and stirs us, not lulls us. We must set aside time,
circumstances, and attitude in order to achieve it. In Alma's words, we must ‘give place’ (Alma 32:27). The length of time
involved in pondering is not as important as the intensity given to it.
Reflection cannot be achieved in the midst of distraction.” (That Ye May
Believe, p. 184)
Moroni 10:4 if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent,
having faith
Dallin H. Oaks
“Moroni
makes an explicit promise of a spiritual manifestation to one who seeks to know
the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. But, it must be noted, this promise is
only extended to the person who will ‘ask with a
sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ.’ The
manifestation that is given in response to this promise, therefore, is not a
sign given to convert an unbeliever. It is a sign that follows individual faith
and commitment.” (The Lord's Way, p. 98)
Moroni 10:4 he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of
the Holy Ghost
LeGrand Richards
“The
strength of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the power by
which it is making such rapid growth, is the individual testimony of its
members. They have put this promise to the test, and the Lord has done his
part. Why should one be satisfied with anything less than an individual
testimony, in light of the promises made by James and Moroni…
“The
promised ‘marvellous work and a wonder’ is
here among men. The message and the work may be accepted or rejected. The
choice is yours. You may never again, in this life, judge such an important
matter. Your decision will follow you with its consequences through time and
throughout the eternities to come.” (A Marvelous Work And A Wonder, p.
416)
Milton R. Hunter
“This
dynamic witness has come to me, as it has to thousands of other people who have
followed Moroni's injunction. As a result of a gift from God through the power
of the Holy Ghost, I know as positively as I know any other fact with which I
am thoroughly acquainted that the Book of Mormon is true. It is a divine and
sacred record of the history and religion of the ancient Americans. This
knowledge is so thoroughly entrenched in my entire being that with all my
heart, strength, and might I bear testimony to the divine authenticity of this
holy book.” (Conference Report, Oct. 1965, p. 83)
Bruce R. McConkie
“Now
I am one who knows by the power of the Spirit that this book is true, and as a
consequence I also know, both by reason and by revelation from the Spirit, of
the truth and divinity of all the great spiritual verities of this dispensation.
For instance:
“I
know that the Father and the Son appeared to Joseph Smith -- because the Book
of Mormon is true.
“I
know that the gospel has been restored and that God has established his Church
again on earth -- because the Book of Mormon is true.
“I
know that Joseph Smith is a prophet, that he communed with God entertained
angels, received revelations, saw visions, and has gone on to eternal glory --
because the Book of Mormon is true.
“I
know that the Bible is the word of God as far as it is translated correctly --
because the Book of Mormon is true.
“I
know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the kingdom of God
on earth, the one kingdom with legal administrators who can seal men up unto
eternal life -- because the Book of Mormon is true.
“To
my testimony of the Book of Mormon I add that of the Lord God himself, who said
Joseph Smith ‘has translated the book, . . . and as
your Lord and your God liveth it is true.’ (D&C 17:6.)
“In
the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.” (Conference Report, Apr. 1968, p. 21)
Joseph Smith
“Search
the scriptures…and ask your Heavenly Father, in the name of His Son Jesus
Christ, to manifest the truth unto you, and if you do it with an eye single to
His glory nothing doubting, He will answer you by the power of His Holy Spirit.
You will then know for yourselves and not for another. You will not then be
dependent on man for the knowledge of God; nor will there be any room for
speculation.” (Teachings, p. 11-12 as taken from Latter-day Commentary
on the Book of Mormon compiled by K. Douglas Bassett, p. 531)
Moroni 10:5 by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of
all things
We can’t help but think of
the words of James on the subject of personal revelation, If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that
giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given
him (James 1:5). This passage, which sent young Joseph into the grove to
pray, changed his life forever, marked the beginning of his discipleship, and
spawned the Restoration. Similarly, each of us can have a life-changing
experience which will forever define our discipleship if we apply Moroni’s
promise to the Book of Mormon. Whatever “grove” we enter when we lack wisdom,
we will also learn, in a less dramatic way, that the Lord giveth to all men liberally and that by the power of the Holy Ghost, [we] may know the truth of all things.
Anthony W. Ivins
“[Elder
Ivins tells the story of returning home to find a wayward childhood friend] I found
this man there, presiding as bishop of one of the wards! I found one of his
sons the bishop of another ward. I found another son president of the Mutual
Improvement Association; and one or two of the boys had been on missions. He
had a splendid home there, presided over in dignity by his good wife.
“I
looked at it all with wonder, and he smiled and said, ‘I know what you are
thinking about.’
“I
said, ‘Tell me how it all happened.’
“‘Well,’
he said, ‘you know that I was going just the way my brothers went.’
“‘Yes,’
I said, ‘that is what surprises me.’
“’My
parents had always taught me a better way,’ he said; ‘they had urged me to read
the scriptures, and finally I decided that I would read the Book of Mormon, and
I did while I was freighting. I read it through, and when I came to certain
words in the last chapter of Moroni, I was very deeply impressed with them.’
These are the words to which he referred: (Moroni 10:2-4)
“He
said, ‘When I read those words, I thought I would put the Lord to the test, and
I stopped my team, wrapped the lines around the brake, and got down from that
high seat, on one of those old-fashioned California wagons that were common in
early days, and I turned off from the road; and…went around behind some rocks
where no one could see me, kneeled down there, and thought I would pray, and I
couldn't say a word."
“Have
any of you boys and girls ever tried to pray for the first time and found it
difficult to say a word? There is always someone right there near you telling
you you cannot pray, and it would not do any good if you did. That is one of
the devices of the enemy of truth to prevent you from placing yourself in
harmony with the Lord.
“’But,’
he said, ‘by making a great effort I managed to appeal to the Lord, told him
that I wanted to know the truth, and I want to tell you that those fellows on
the day of Pentecost never received a stronger testimony than I did; I felt
that I was surrounded by consuming fire, and I got up on my feet knowing just
as well that the Lord lived, that Christ was the Redeemer of the world, that
the gospel had been restored through the prophet Joseph Smith, and that the
Book of Mormon is a divine record, as I knew that I was there; and I got on to
my wagon, drove home, left the road and came up here, located on this quarter
section of land, and you can see the rest." (Conference Report, Oct.
1919, p. 175-77)
Parley P. Pratt
“…I
called at [Mr. Hamlin’s] house, where, for the first time, my eyes beheld the
`BOOK OF MORMON'--that book of books . . . which was the principal means, in
the hands of God, of directing the entire course of my future life.
“I
opened it with eagerness, and read its title page. I then read the testimony of
several witnesses in relation to the manner of its being found and translated.
After this I commenced its contents by course. I read all day; eating was a
burden, I had no desire for food; sleep was a burden when the night came, for I
preferred reading to sleep.
“As
I read, the spirit of the Lord was upon me, and I knew and comprehended that
the book was true, as plainly and manifestly as a man comprehends and knows
that he exists.” (Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, pp. 36-37).
Eldred G. Smith
“When
we receive promptings from the Holy Ghost, it is like opening an imaginary door
between the spirit mind and the mortal mind. When this happens, we receive
knowledge which we cannot deny.” (Conference Report, Apr. 1963, p. 18)
Moroni 10:7 deny not the power of God
Neal A. Maxwell
“Granted,
the great answers in the Restoration scriptures will not now be accepted by
disbelievers. Such would not believe the Lord's words—whether coming through
Paul or Joseph Smith—even if they had an original Pauline parchment or direct
access to the gold plates. Referring principally to those plates, the Lord once
comforted Joseph Smith by saying that such individuals would ‘not believe my words. . . if. . . [shown] all these things’ (D&C 5:7).
“Usually
the ‘learned shall not read [these things], for they have rejected them’ (2 Nephi 27:20). The
reference suggests a mind-set of many of the learned of the world, who, by and
large, if they know of it do not take the Book of Mormon seriously. Even when
they read it, it is with a mind-set which excludes miracles, including the
miracle of the book's coming forth by the ‘gift and
power of God.’ Their flawed approach diverts them from scrutinizing the
substance. Sometimes, as has been said, certain mortals are ‘so afraid of being
taken in that they cannot be taken out’ of their mind-sets.
“Obviously
those with the anti-miracle mind-set discount the Book of Mormon because they
cannot see the plates from which it was translated. Furthermore, some say, we
do not know enough about the actual process of translation. But Moroni's
inspired promise (Moroni 10:3-4) concerns reading and praying over the book's
substance-not over the process of its production…The reverse approach, scanning
while doubting, is the flip side of Moroni's methodology, and it produces
flippant conclusions.” (Not My Will, But Thine, p. 24-25)
Moroni 10:8 deny not the gifts of God
Hugh Nibley
“A
long list of these spiritual gifts is given to us by the Lord (Moroni 10:8-18).
We can't conjure them up for ourselves. The Lord gives them, and he says he
gives them. We must ask for them with real intent and with an honest heart. We
can have them—any gift…But we must ask for them, and of course if we ask not we
receive not…how often do we ask for them? How earnestly do we seek for them? We
could have them if we did ask, but we don't. ‘Well, who denies them?’ Anyone
who doesn't ask for them. They are available to all for the asking, but one
must ask with an honest heart, sincerely.” (Approaching Zion, p. 89-90)
Moroni 10:8-18 The Gifts
of the Spirit
The gifts of the Spirit are
listed in three locations in the scriptures: Moroni 10, 1 Cor 12, and DC 46.
Each of these versions offers different informative counsel regarding the
importance and applications of these gifts. From DC 46, we learn That unto some it may be given to have all those gifts,
that there may be a head, in order that every member may be profited thereby
(DC 46:29). From Paul, we learn that the gifts of the spirit are as
indispensable to the body of Christ as any of its individual members, And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of
thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you (1 Cor
12:21). Yet, when we deny or ignore the gifts of the Spirit, we are in effect
saying “I have no need of you.”
Dallin H. Oaks
“Faith
is a spiritual gift. So is personal revelation. So is a testimony of Jesus
Christ. And there are other spiritual gifts. We know too little about spiritual
gifts. This is evident in our communications, and it is also evident in our
failure to seek after and use spiritual gifts.” (Ensign, Sep. 1986,
“Spiritual Gifts”)
Elder John W. Taylor
“…this
people can no more live spiritually without these gifts and blessings and
inspirations from our Father than you can live a month without eating. You will
die a spiritual death, and there will be nothing left of you in the kingdom of
God but a dead form. As the Prophet has said, the letter killeth, but the
spirit giveth life.
“…I
tell you that among the Latter-day Saints there is a famine for the spiritual
gifts of God. That is my testimony unto you. These gifts and blessings are
enjoyed among this people, but we do not enjoy them to that fullness that we
will when we come up to the standard of keeping the commandments.” (Conference
Report, Apr. 1900, p. 27)
Moroni 10:9 to one is given…that he may teach the word of wisdom
Stephen L. Richards
“Wisdom
cannot be disassociated from [the gift of] discernment, but it involves some other
factors…Wisdom is sometimes defined as sound judgment and a high degree of
knowledge. I define wisdom as being the beneficent application of knowledge in
decision. I think of wisdom not in the abstract but as functional. Life is
largely made up of choices and determinations…The really vital things in life
are relatively few, my brethren and sisters—the body, family, property, and
relationship to man and God. You may have wisdom about health, housing,
marriage, children, economics, education, and even government if you truly seek
it and live for it. The fundamental knowledge which the Church brings to you
will bring you understanding. Your testimony, your spirit, and your service
will direct the application of your knowledge; that is wisdom. Every man needs
it a hundred times a day. Every woman needs it. Every youth needs it. The
foolish and the wise are the antipodes of mankind as are the two poles of the
earth. The foolish build on the sand; the wise on the rock. The one perishes;
the other endures. Thank God for the gift of wisdom.” (Conference Report,
Apr. 1950, p. 163-64)
Moroni 10:10 to another, that he may teach the word of knowledge
Boyd K. Packer
“I
determined that among all the gifts that might make one useful to the Lord the
gift to teach by the Spirit would be supreme. I came to feel that if one
desired it, asked for it, prayed for it, studied, pondered, and earned it, and
believed with sufficient faith that he could possess it, the gift would not be
withheld from him.
“Accordingly
I turned to the New Testament to ‘associate’ with and learn from the Lord, who
as a teacher is the ideal. When it came time to submit a subject for a master's
thesis, I presented to my committee the proposal that I study the teaching
techniques used by Jesus. With some considerable reluctance, they approved the
subject. It was a most enlightening experience to ‘walk’ with Jesus and
‘observe’ Him teach. Thereafter, I began with all diligence to pattern my
teaching efforts after Him. Through this association I came to know Him-Jesus
Christ, the Son of God, the Only Begotten of the Father-and that He lives. I
stand in reverence before Him, with deep regard for what He taught and deep
regard for how He taught. It is this knowledge and reverence that can give to
us penetrating power. I have tried to develop the gift so deeply desired-the
gift to teach by the Spirit.” (That All May Be Edified, pp. 5-6)
Moroni 10:13 to another, that he may prophesy concerning all things
Ironically, one of the most
misunderstood gifts of the Spirit is the gift of prophecy. Often, Church
members are so focused on “The Prophet” that they don’t allow anyone else the
exercise of this gift. But prophecy is not limited to any priesthood office. In
fact, this gift is not at all restricted to holders of the priesthood, for the
gifts of the Spirit are not products of the priesthood but products of the
Spirit. Therefore, a sister can be just as filled with the spirit of prophecy
as a brother. Accordingly, the Bible speaks of prophetesses who regularly operated
by this gift (Ex 15:20-22, Judg 4:4, 2 Kgs 22:14-20, Lu 2:36-38).
The scriptures speak of many
who had the gift of prophecy even though they were not “The Prophet.” In the
Book of Mormon, Amulek was a missionary, as were the sons of Mosiah and the
sons of Alma, yet all of these had the spirit of prophecy (Alma 10:12; 17:3;
43:2). Alma spoke of the entire Nephite nation, saying that they had been
highly favored of the Lord, having been visited by
the Spirit of God…having the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation (Alma
9:21). In this dispensation, Oliver Cowdery spoke with the
tongue of angels after his baptism, for he
stood up and prophesied many things which should shortly come to pass (2
Ne 31:13, JS-Hist 1:73).
Finally, we need to remember
that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of
prophecy (Rev 19:10), and that if we are entitled to a testimony of
Jesus then we have equal claim on the spirit of prophecy. Moses had hopes that
all of his people would receive this gift. He declared, would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord
would put his spirit upon them! (Num 11:29)
J. Golden Kimball
“Patriarchs
tell me that prophecy is one of my gifts. It is only my gift through faith and through
living up to the precepts of the Gospel of Christ.
“I have
been told that I should prophesy. I want to say to you Latter-day Saints that
to be a prophet of God all fear and all doubt have to leave your mind, and you
then open your mouth and God gives you the words.” (Conference Report,
Oct. 1932, p. 20)
Elder
John W. Taylor
“The
gift of prophecy…is not a saving principle; it is a gift. It is to comfort our
hearts. It is to give us the testimony of the mind and will of God concerning things
which are to come. As Elder [Heber J.] Grant has said, I may prophesy from now
till the coming of the Son of Man, and if I fail to keep the commandments, I
will not be saved in the kingdom of God.” (Conference Report, Apr. 1900,
p. 26)
Moroni 10:14 to another, the beholding of angels and ministering
spirits
Dallin H. Oaks
“Since
spiritual gifts come by the power of the Holy Ghost, and the gift of the Holy
Ghost comes by the laying on of hands by those holding the priesthood, the
priesthood is always a factor in spiritual gifts. But spiritual gifts obviously
bless the lives of those who do not themselves hold the priesthood.
“Moroni
speaks of the spiritual gift of ‘beholding of angels
and ministering spirits.’ (Moro. 10:14.) Alma and Amaleki both list this
among the various gifts of the Spirit. (See Alma
9:21; Omni 1:25.)
Mary had such an experience when she was visited by the angel who told her that
she was to become the mother of the Son of God. (See Luke 1:26-38.)
“A more familiar gift of the Spirit is personal revelation. Alma described the universal character of this spiritual gift: ‘And now, he imparteth his word by angels unto men, yea, not only men but women also. Now this is not all; little children do have words given unto them many times, which confound the wise and the learned.’ (Alma 32:23.)” (Ensign, Sep. 1986, “Spiritual Gifts”)
Moroni 10:17 they come unto every man severally, according as he will
Boyd K. Packer
“I have
thought that the last phrase, ‘every man severally,
according as he will,’ refers to the man himself. If a man wills that
the gift should come to him, and he desires it, the gift shall be his.” (Teach
Ye Diligently, p. 20)
Elder
John H. Taylor
“I
admonish the Latter-day Saints to seek for the best gifts…Have you a gift from
God? If you have not seek earnestly after these things, for Jesus, speaking of
His second coming, said that the kingdom of God would be likened unto ten
virgins, five of whom were wise and five were foolish, and he said but half of
them would have oil in their lamps. What is that oil? It is the Holy Ghost, the
power of God unto salvation; it is that spirit that will lead you into the ways
of truth; it is that spirit which partaketh of the things of God and reveals
them unto the children of men.” (Conference Report, Apr. 1899, p. 62)
Moroni 10:19 all these gifts…never will be done away, even as long as
the world shall stand
George Q. Cannon
“[Moroni]
informs us that it is the design of God that [these gifts] should continue
among the children of men as long as the earth shall stand. And why should not this be the case? We have had reasoning upon this effect this
afternoon, and this reasoning is consistent--that if one generation needs the
spiritual gifts of God which are bestowed by the presence of the Spirit of God,
another generation which needs salvation, and which stands in need of the
assistance which these gifts bring, should likewise have them bestowed upon
them.
“It is
the greatest folly, it is a fallacy of the worst, and, I might say, of the most
damning character to assert that one generation needs these gifts and that
another generation can be saved without them.
Such a statement is the refuge of those who have no faith, or who do not
believe that God is ‘the same yesterday, today and
forever;’ that He does not deal with His children justly under all
circumstances and in every generation alike.
“Now
this is a cardinal principle in the Gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ. I would not give a fig for a religion that
did not possess these powers and gifts.” (Collected Discourses, Vol.1,
George Q. Cannon, June 16, 1889)
Moroni 10:20 if there must be faith there must also be hope
Joseph B. Wirthlin
“As I read and ponder the scriptures, I see that developing
faith, hope, and charity within ourselves is a step-by-step process. Faith
begets hope, and together they foster charity. We read in Moroni, ‘Wherefore, there must be faith; and if there must be
faith there must also be hope; and if there must be hope there must also be
charity.’ These three virtues may be
sequential initially, but once obtained, they become interdependent. Each one
is incomplete without the others. They support and reinforce each other.”
(Conference Report, Nov. 1998 Ensign, “Cultivating Divine Attributes”)
Russell M. Nelson
“Have
you noticed in the scriptures that hope seldom stands alone? Hope is often
linked with faith. Hope and faith are commonly connected to charity. Why?
Because hope is essential to faith; faith is essential to hope; faith and hope
are essential to charity. They support one another like legs on a three-legged
stool. All three relate to our Redeemer.
“Faith is rooted in Jesus Christ. Hope centers in his Atonement. Charity is manifest in the ‘pure love of Christ.’ (Moroni 7:47) These three attributes are intertwined like strands in a cable and may not always be precisely distinguished. Together they become our tether to the celestial kingdom.” (Ensign, Feb. 1997, “A More Excellent Hope”)
Moroni 10:21 except ye have charity ye can in nowise be saved in the
kingdom of God
Apparently keeping the
outward commandments is not enough to be saved. Those who keep the law of
tithing, follow the word of wisdom, stay morally clean, keep the Sabbath day
holy, and attend church faithfully cannot be saved without the three virtues of
faith, hope, and charity. These former commandments are the “Law of Moses”
commandments of the latter-days. We keep them because we have been commanded
to, not because obedience qualifies us for salvation, for salvation doth not come by the law alone (Mosiah
13:28). This is just as true today as it was for the Law of Moses. Abinadi
continues, and were it not for the atonement, which
God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, that they
must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law of Moses.
It is faith, hope, and
charity which bring the power of atonement into full force in our lives. Without
these three, all of the rest is inadequate.
M. Russell Ballard
“No matter how hard we work, no matter how much we obey, no
matter how many good things we do in this life, it would not be enough were it
not for Jesus Christ and His loving grace. On our own we cannot earn the
kingdom of God—no matter what we do.” (Ensign, Jun 1998, “Build Bridges
of Understanding”)
Moroni 10:22 if ye have no hope ye must needs be in despair
Neal A. Maxwell
“Another
of the consequences of gross sexual immorality with its desensitization is that
it begins to rob man of hope. As an individual is emptied of hope, despair
quickly enters in, for as one prophet said, ‘Despair
cometh because of iniquity.’ (Moroni 10:22.) Thus wickedness and despair
are terrifyingly self-reinforcing.
“More
than we know, the alienation abroad in the land is due in significant measure
to the gross sexual immorality—before which faith, hope, and charity all fall,
for that special triad of virtues is savaged by unchastity. Immorality
enthrones selfishness, that implacable foe of charity.” (Notwithstanding My
Weakness, p. 97)
Neal
A. Maxwell
“The
prophet Moroni said, ‘Despair cometh because of
iniquity.’ (Moroni 10:22.) When iniquity increases, so do despair and
alienation. Paul also said the ignorance of the everlasting truths would cause
unbelievers to be ‘alienated from the life of God.’
(Ephesians 4:18.) No wonder we despair when we sin, because we act against our
own interests and against who we really are. When we are imprisoned by
iniquity, we turn the cell lock ourselves.” (Things As They Really Are,
p. 8)
Moroni 10:27 ye shall see me at the bar of God…And God shall show unto
you that that which I have written is true
The four great abridgers of
the Book of Mormon are Nephi, Jacob, Mormon, and Moroni. Each of these four
prophets has spoken of the judgment bar of Christ, where they will meet us to
hold us accountable for our use (or misuse) of the Book of Mormon. Nephi said:
‘Christ will
show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last
day; and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know
that I have been commanded of him to write these things’ (2 Ne 33:11).
Jacob
said:
‘I bid you farewell,
until I shall meet you before the pleasing bar of God, which bar striketh the
wicked with awful dread and fear. Amen’
(Jacob 6:13).
Mormon
said:
‘I would that I could
persuade all ye ends of the earth to repent and prepare to stand before the
judgment-seat of Christ’ (Mormon 3:22).
We are left to ask, what
else could these great prophets have done to persuade us to prepare for the Day
of Judgment? Have they not taught us, exhorted us, and pleaded with us to
repent? Why have they labored so hard to spare us the punishment of God?
Possibly, it is because they do not want to have to condemn us in judgment at
the last day when God shall show unto [us], that that which [they] have
written is true (v. 29).
Moroni 10:30 touch not the evil gift, nor the unclean thing
James E. Talmage
“’Touch not the evil gift, nor the unclean thing.’
What is meant by that? Satan from the first has been a great imitator; he is an
experienced strategist. Never has the Lord set his hand to do a specific thing
for the good of his people upon the earth, of outstanding feature, but that
Satan has attempted to imitate it in some degree.
“The
Lord manifested himself to Moses, and talked to the man face to face…Then came
Satan, the audacious, the father of lies, and represented himself as being the
son of God in the distinctive sense. Moses was able to discern and perceive.
‘And it came to pass
that Moses looked upon Satan and said: Who art thou? For behold, I am a son of
God, in the similitude of his Only Begotten; and where is thy glory, that I
should worship thee?
For behold, I could not
look upon God, except his glory should come upon me, and I were strengthened
before him. But I can look upon thee in the natural man. Is it not so surely?’ (Moses 1:13-14)
“Oh,
that we all had such power of discernment. That is a gift of the Spirit, to
which we are entitled and we will have it as we live for it. With that gift we
shall be free, to a great extent, from the deception that otherwise might lead
us astray.
“As the
Lord gives revelations, so does Satan, each in his way. As the Lord has
revelators upon the earth, so has Satan, and he is operating upon those men by
his power, and they are receiving revelations, manifestations, that are just as
truly of the devil as was his manifestation to Moses, to which I have
referred.” (Conference Report, Apr. 1031, p. 27)
Moroni 10:31 O daughter of Zion…strengthen thy stakes and enlarge thy
borders forever
Robert E. Wells
“Verse
31 says: ‘Awake, and arise from the dust, O
Jerusalem; yea, and put on thy beautiful garments.’ Then, ‘strengthen thy stakes’ follows, and lastly,
‘enlarge thy borders forever.’ I could
clearly see that ‘enlarge thy borders’ meant
to enlarge the Church through missionary work and to proclaim the gospel
to all the world. It seemed that I could also see clearly that ‘strengthen thy stakes’ meant to perfect the
Saints through the priesthood organizations and the auxiliaries. And, it seemed
to me that ‘put on thy beautiful garments’
referred to the temple robes and going to the temples of the Lrod to redeem
our beloved ancestors.” (Latter-day Commentary on the Book of Mormon compiled by
K. Douglas Bassett, p. 534)
Moroni 10:30-33 come unto Christ, and be perfected in him
Chapter 10 of Moroni opens
and closes with an invitation. It begins with an invitation to the latter-day
investigator of the Book of Mormon and closes with an invitation to the
latter-day saints themselves—the sons and daughters
of Zion. Like bookmarks which enclose the richness of his last sermon,
Moroni has advice for the spiritual child and the spiritual giant. True
discipleship begins with obtaining a testimony of the Book of Mormon and fills
the measure of its creation by the perfecting power of the grace of God.
Prophetically concerned with the perfection of the saints, he invites us all to
come unto Christ and be perfected in him,
telling us those things we need to do to become recipients of the saving grace of
God.
Hopefully someday, the
invitation in the end of Moroni 10 will be as famous and oft quoted among the
members of the church as is the invitation of verses 3-5, for Moroni exhorts us
to reach our full spiritual potential.
Henry B. Eyring
“President
David O. McKay once said: ‘Man is a spiritual being, a soul, and at some
period of his life everyone is possessed with an irresistible desire to know
his relationship to the Infinite. . . . There is something within him which
urges him to rise above himself, to control his environment, to master the body
and all things physical and live in a higher and more beautiful world. (True
to the Faith, p. 244.)
“That
pull upward is far beyond what you would call a desire for self-improvement. When
I felt it, I knew I was being urged to live so far above myself that I could
never do it on my own. President McKay had it right. You feel an urging to rise
above your natural self. What you have felt is an urging from your Heavenly
Father to accept this invitation: (quotes Moroni 10:32-33.)
“That
urge to rise above yourself is a recognition of your need for the Atonement to
work in your life, and your need to be sure that it is working. After all you
can do, after all your effort, you need confidence that the Atonement is
working for you and on you.” (To Draw Closer to God, p. 45 – 46)
Moroni 10:32 by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ
“When
we become one with Jesus Christ, spiritually we form a partnership with a joint
account, and his assets and our liabilities flow into each other. Since he has
more assets than we have liabilities (he has an infinite ocean of assets), the
new account has a positive balance as soon as it is formed, and the partnership
is justified, even though its junior partners (you and me) could not make it on
their own. This is what the Apostle Paul refers to as being ‘in Christ’ (1 Cor. 1:1) and what Moroni calls
being ‘perfect in Christ’ (Moro. 10:32).
“Taken
together, Christ and I make up a new creature. The old creature, the imperfect
me, ceases to exist, and a glorious new creature, a perfect partnership, takes
its place. Taken together as a single entity, the two of us, Christ and I, are
perfect. I do not mean (this is absolutely crucial!) that we can become perfect
later on. I mean that from the moment the partnership is formed in good faith,
from the moment we have sincere faith in Christ, sincerely repent of our sins,
and receive baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost—from this moment the partnership
is celestial. The merits of the Senior Partner make it so. True, this is not
individual perfection, which will indeed come later (much later), rather it is
perfection-in-Christ (see Moro. 10:32-33), through which we receive the
benefits of our partner's merits. Nevertheless, from this moment the kingdom is
ours, provided that we maintain the partnership by abiding in the gospel
covenant. (See 3 Ne. 27:16, 19-21)” (Stephen R. Robinson, Believing Christ,
p. 25)
Moroni 10:33 if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ…then are
ye sanctified
Neal A. Maxwell
“Jesus
called upon us to be ‘perfect even as your Father
which is in heaven is perfect.’ (Matthew 5:48.) Would a Lord who cannot
lie taunt us with any possibility that is irrevocably out of our reach? With
God's helping grace, Moroni promised, we can become ‘holy,
without spot.’ (Moroni 10:33.)
“It can
be done, but not all at once.” (Notwithstanding My Weakness, p. 28)
Bruce
C. Hafen
“We
know very little about this process of sanctification, but it is clear that we
do not achieve perfection solely through our own efforts. Knowing just that
much is enough to give us a new perspective. Because so many of us feel
overwhelmed with the scriptural injunction to be perfect, the idea that divine
grace is the final source of our perfection may seem too good to be true. That
is how Christ's grace appears to those carrying the burden of truly serious
sins. Honest people who carry the burden of being called ‘saints’ may feel the
same way, as they stumble daily through the discouraging debris of their
obvious imperfections. But the gospel has good news not only for the serious
transgressor, but for all who long to be better than they are. We truly become
saints ‘through the atonement of Christ, the Lord,’ which,
after all we can do, has power to help us become ‘as
a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love.’
(Mosiah 3:19; emphasis added.)” (The Broken Heart, p. 18)
Moroni 10:34 I bid unto all, farewell…until…I am brought forth
triumphant through the air
Moroni is not only brought
forth triumphant through the air, he is also the other angel flying in the mist
of heaven. Moroni is the angel spoken of by John, And
I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel
to preach unto them that dwell on the earth and to every nation, and kindred,
and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, fear God, and give glory to
him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven,
and earth and the sea, and the fountains of waters (Rev 14:6-7). The
coming forth of the Book of Mormon is in partial fulfillment of this prophecy.
We still await the privilege of hearing his voice again—only next time, instead
of a whisper out of the dust (2 Ne 2:16), it
will be a loud voice out of the heavens.
Jeffrey R. Holland
“Thus
the Book of Mormon ends, flying as it were with Moroni, on the promise of the
Holy Resurrection. (Rev 14:6) That is most fitting, for this sacred testament—written
by prophets, delivered by angels, protected by God—speaks as one ‘crying from the dead,’ (v. 27) exhorting all to
come unto Christ and be perfected in him, a process culminating in the
perfection of celestial glory. In anticipation of that triumphant hour, God has
set his hand for the last time to gather Jew, Gentile, Lamanite, and all the
house of Israel.
“The
Book of Mormon is his New Covenant memorializing that grand latter-day
endeavor. All who receive it and embrace the principles and ordinances it
declares will one day see the Savior as he is, and they will be like him. They
will be sanctified and redeemed through the grace of his innocent blood. They
will be purified even as he is pure. They will be holy and without spot. They
will be called the children of Christ.” (Christ And The New Covenant, p.
339)
THE END
At the bottom of page 531,
we read “THE END.” Yet, as with a hundred other doctrinal ironies, we know that
there is really no end to the Book of Mormon. There is no end to our study of
the Book of Mormon. There is no end to the influence of the Book of Mormon.
There is no end to the power of its message. There is no end to our potential
if we hearken to its precepts. And there is no end to our study of this manual
for immortality. Indeed, there is no end of our gratitude for those who have
labored to produce this work as a voice from the dust.
Many testimonies have been
given of the Book of Mormon. We can’t even count how many voices have declared
its message. After these many voices have collectively borne indisputable
witness, can we imagine that we can tell the Lord that we didn’t know any
better? To these many voices, my personal testimony would add little, but if I
could just for a moment, join the great chorus of testimonies to the
truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, I would feel privileged. I know that God
lives. I know that Jesus is the Christ. I know that the Book of Mormon is the
word of God. Of this, I would be no more sure if I were given the privilege of
seeing the gold plates. It is my witness that the real question isn’t whether
or not the Book of Mormon is true, but whether or not we are true to the Book
of Mormon. That we may follow the exhortation of Moroni and come unto Christ, and be perfected in him is my prayer
in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. (Bryan Richards, author & editor of
gospeldoctrine.com)
Gordon B. Hinckley
“I
would like to urge every man and woman . . . and every boy and girl who is old
enough to read to again read the Book of Mormon during this coming year. This
was written for the convincing of the Jew and the Gentile that Jesus is the
Christ. There is nothing we could do of greater importance than to have
fortified in our individual lives an unshakable conviction that Jesus is the
Christ, the living Son of the living God. That is the purpose of the coming
forth of this remarkable and wonderful book.” (Teachings of Gordon B.
Hinckley, “Book of Mormon”)