Moroni, Son of Mormon, Covering the Plates With Dirt
Moroni had a few final words of exhortation for us.
He had already written a conclusion to his father’s book (Moroni 8-9), a history of the Jaredite nation (Ether), and some practical instructions for governing the church (Moroni 1-6). He had also shared a sermon and two epistles by his father, Mormon (Moroni 7-9). He was now ready to “seal up the records.” But first, he wanted to give us some final words of counsel.
To “exhort” is to strongly encourage or try to persuade someone to do something. An exhortation is stronger than an invitation, a pleading, or even an admonition. When someone exhorts you to do something, they are concerned about you and feel strongly that you need to take action.
Considering that Moroni saw our day in a vision and knew what kinds of things we would struggle with, we ought to take seriously the three exhortations in this concluding chapter:
- Ask God if the Book of Mormon is true.
- Believe in the power and gifts of God.
- Come unto Christ.
Here are some other lessons I’ve learned from these chapters:
Outline
- Exhortation #1: Ask God if these things are true (v. 1-6)
- Exhortation #2: Believe in the gifts and power of God (v. 7-19)
- Faith, hope, and charity unlock these gifts and power (v. 20-29)
- Exhortation #3: Come unto Christ, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness (v. 30-34)
Key Themes
- God can help us find wisdom and knowledge.
- God’s kindness and love toward people in the past is evidence that He will bless us.
- God wants us to seek and receive spiritual gifts from Him.
- God can help us communicate more effectively with people from different backgrounds.
- You may need to set aside some things in order to focus on higher and holier things.
- Christ’s power begins to flow into our lives the moment we turn to Him.
Connections
- Psalms 14 and 53 both contain this sobering observation: “There is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Psalm 14:3, Psalm 53:3). The apostle Paul interpreted this to mean that we can only be saved by grace. (See Romans 3:9-12, 23-24.) Moroni added that we can only do good if we “work by the power and gifts of God” (Moroni 10:25).
- Moroni provided a list of spiritual gifts which we can receive from God. (See Moroni 10:8-18.) Similar lists are found in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 and Doctrine and Covenants 46:13-25.
Applications
- Come unto Christ, and be perfected in Him.
- Be a good receiver of the gifts of God.
- Learn to value what God values, especially His children.
- Respect not only the diverse gifts of the people around you but also their varied approaches to getting things done.
- Help people make good choices by extending personal invitations to act.
Recommended Posts
- The Title Page and Moroni 10
- What Does It Mean to “Come Unto Christ?”
- What Does It Mean to Do Something with “Real Intent?”
- What Is the Significance of the Name “Jehovah?”
- How Is Christ the Judge of “Both Quick and Dead?”
Blog Posts: December 17-22
Wisdom in God
The phrase “wisdom in God” is strongly associated in the Book of Mormon with the preservation of scripture. Moroni continues this pattern as he assures us that it is “wisdom in God” that we have the Book of Mormon. How grateful we are for that wisdom!
Moroni’s Collaborative Conclusion
Moroni draws heavily on the writings of his precessors in his concluding remarks. This collaboration with prior prophets enhances the power of his message and helps us to see “how merciful the Lord hath been.” in all ages of the world.
His Mercy
Lehi and Mary both marveled at God’s mercy in universal terms, even though they had experienced that mercy in personal ways. Moroni urged us to ponder God’s mercy toward all as we prepare to pray. That helps us pray with more intent, sincerity and faith.
Moroni and Isaiah
In his final chapter, Moroni paraphrases two passages from Isaiah which urge us to live with more enthusiasm and joy because we are aware of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Because of Him, we can engage fully with life and plan for a hopeful future.
Farewell…Until
Three authors in the Book of Mormon say farewell to their future readers. All three assure us that we will see them someday. The gospel assures us that separation is temporary. The most important things we gain in life will endure beyond the grave.
Receiving Gifts
In the last chapter of the Book of Mormon, Moroni urges us to receive the gifts God offers to us. Just as Joseph and Mary gratefully received gifts from the wise men, we can be good recipients of gifts from others and from God.
Thanks Paul. I like how you boiled Moroni’s exhortations into 3 primary invitations. Coincidentally, earlier in my study, I had highlighted the 8 times in this chapter that Moroni exhorts us: read & remember God’s mercy since the creation and ponder (v3), ask God to know of their truth (v4), don’t deny God’s power (v7), don’t deny God’s gifts (v8), remember every good gift comes from Christ (v18), remember that he is the same yesterday, today and forever (v19), remember these things (v27), come unto Christ and lay hold upon every good gift (v30). Isn’t it beautiful how Moroni concludes this marvelous book!
Thanks for sharing the complete list of 8 exhortations. It is useful when a book ends with a call to action. We certainly don’t need to wonder what we should do next after reading this book!
It’s interesting how many of these exhortations boil down to being willing to receive blessings from God. He wants to bless us, but we have to open our hearts and minds to receive those blessings.
Thanks for the comment!