Mormon has died, and he has tasked his son, Moroni, with completing the record. Moroni gives a brief and sobering account of the state of things: “The whole face of this land is one continual round of murder and bloodshed; and no one knoweth the end of the war.” Then he prophesies about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and warns us against judging it harshly. Finally, he speaks about the state of things in our world, which the Lord has shown him. “I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing. He warns us to take care of the most vulnerable among us and not to prioritize things over people.
Chapter Outline
- Mormon has died, and his son Moroni is now keeping the record (v. 1-12)
- The Book of Mormon will come to light, and those who assist will be blessed (v. 13-26)
- The state of the world in the last days: pride, iniquity, and hypocrisy (v. 27-41)
My Takeaways
- Our ability to receive additional spiritual knowledge is dependent on how we use the knowledge we have already received.
- Don’t judge rashly. Take time to gather information before making a decision.
- People are more important than things.
Featured Blog Posts
❖ Moroni’s introduction – Mormon 8:1-12
Whither I Go It Mattereth Not – Mormon 8:4
4 Therefore I will write and hide up the records in the earth; and whither I go it mattereth not. (Mormon 8:4) Moroni models an important characteristic of a follower of Christ: the ability to prioritize and to avoid distractions. Was he traumatized by the tragedy he had just experienced, including the death of his…
Moroni’s Excellent Hope
Moroni had every reason to despair. His people had been destroyed, and he was alone. Yet he wrote extensively about the hope that we receive through the Spirit of the Lord, which helps us endure challenges and which prepares us to return to God’s presence
❖ The coming forth of the Book of Mormon – Mormon 8:13-26
Rashly
Alma counseled his son Shiblon to “bridle all [his] passions, that [he] may be filled with love” (Alma 38:12). He told another son, Corianton, to “cross [himself]” and to “counsel with [his] elder brothers in [his] undertakings.” And he added, “give heed to their counsel” (Alma 39:9-10). While our gut reaction to our circumstances may…
Mormon 8:12 Whoso Receiveth This Record, and Shall Not Condemn It…
12 And whoso receiveth this record, and shall not condemn it because of the imperfections which are in it, the same shall know of greater things than these. Behold, I am Moroni; and were it possible, I would make all things known unto you. (Mormon 8:12) In order to receive revelation from God, we must…
Greater Things Than These – Mormon 8:12
12 And whoso receiveth this record, and shall not condemn it because of the imperfections which are in it, the same shall know of greater things than these. Behold, I am Moroni; and were it possible, I would make all things known unto you. (Mormon 8:12) Near the beginning of his first chapter, Moroni emphasizes one of the central…
Out of Darkness
Our challenges and constraints do not prevent us from uplifting and inspiring other people. We may bring them closer to God even as we pass through difficult experiences.
❖ Characteristics of the last days – Mormon 8:27-41
What’s Wrong with “Costly Apparel?”
People are more important than things. We all know that. But at times we are all tempted to prioritize things over people. Why is that? Here’s one reason: We all want to be appreciated and respected. In our world, appearances matter. The things you own, including the clothes you wear, influence the way other people…
“That Which Hath No Life” – Mormon 8:39
39 Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not? (Mormon 8:39) People are important. So often, we are so focused on inanimate things that we fail to…
The Sick and the Afflicted – Mormon 8:37-39
37 For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.38 O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy…
“O Ye Pollutions”
Moroni asked why we have “polluted to the holy church of God.” The church is a hospital for sinners, but as we participate, we are also doctors and nurses. We ought to approach that responsibility with care, recognizing our shortcomings as we help others.
Old Testament Foundations
Out of the Dust
What do you do when you feel like you’re not being heard or understood? In the middle of a prophecy about the restoration of the gospel, just before introducing the symbolism of a sealed book, the prophet Isaiah shared an image which became meaningful to the writers of the Book of Mormon: Thou shalt be…
“Up, Make Us Gods”
Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made. Isaiah 2:8, 2 Nephi 12:8 When Moses delayed coming down from Mount Sinai, the Israelites became restless. Turning to Moses’ second in command, Aaron, they demanded that he create idols for them to worship, following the…
“Plead the Cause of the Poor and Needy”
Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord issued a clear warning to political leaders: Wo unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; To turn away the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless! Isaiah 10:1-2,…
New Testament Parallels
Another Angel
John said that “another angel” would (1) bring the gospel, (2) make it available to everyone, and (3) prepare us for the return of Jesus Christ. That angel was Moroni, the last author in the Book of Mormon, and the work he started continues today.
The Gall of Bitterness
Peter told Simon that he was in the “gall of bitterness.” Gall is bile. It is a bitter substance which our bodies use for digestion. Alma taught that Jesus can help us overcome spiritual bitterness. When we recognize our need and ask for help, He is there
…More Than These?
Jesus asked if Peter loved Him “more than these?” He might have meant everything around them: the boat, the sea, the nets. Peter was in his comfort zone. Did he love the Savior enough to sacrifice those things he loved so much in order to follow Him?
Church History Connections
Widows and Orphans
In April 1832, the Lord provided specific instructions to the church on caring for those “who have lost their husbands or fathers.” If they lack the resources to support themselves, the combined resources of the church—the Lord’s storehouse—is available to them. “The storehouse shall be kept by the consecrations of the church,” He said; “and widows and…
“Lest Ye Become as the Nephites of Old”
Prosperity without pride is a worthy goal. After Lehi and his family abandoned their home in Jerusalem, leaving behind their gold, silver, and precious things (1 Nephi 2:4), the Lord promised them that, if they would keep His commandments, they would prosper in their new land (1 Nephi 2:20). After arriving on the American continent,…
All Posts Referencing Mormon 8
- “I Have Remembered My Covenant” (3/23/2026)
- Righteousness from Heaven, Truth from the Earth (2/8/2026)
- Don’t Pollute Your Inheritance (9/17/2025)
- Tithing and the Day of Burning (6/19/2025)
- Moroni’s Collaborative Conclusion (12/18/2024)
- “O Ye Pollutions” (11/8/2024)
- Out of Darkness (11/7/2024)
- Moroni’s Excellent Hope (11/6/2024)
- “Vengeance Is Mine” (11/2/2024)
- Another Angel (12/14/2023)
- The Gall of Bitterness (7/12/2023)
- …More Than These? (6/30/2023)
- Investing for the Future in Troubled Times (10/23/2022)
- Justice (10/5/2022)
- Out of the Dust (9/15/2022)
- “Up, Make Us Gods” (4/30/2022)
- His Hands Were Steady (4/10/2022)
- Abram and Lot: No Strife (2/10/2022)
- Glory (12/28/2021)
- Anointed (10/31/2021)
- “Plead the Cause of the Poor and Needy” (10/30/2021)
- Widows and Orphans (7/25/2021)
- “I Know” / “I Know Not” (5/13/2021)
- “Lest Ye Become as the Nephites of Old” (4/17/2021)
- “If Thine Eye Be Single” – 3 Nephi 13:22 (1/21/2021)
- Moroni Wrote to the Lamanites (12/6/2020)
- Imperfections (11/7/2020)
- Rashly (11/5/2020)
- Cumorah (11/1/2020)
- “If There Was No Mistake” – 3 Nephi 8:1-2 (9/15/2020)
- “He Hath Lied Unto Us” – Alma 10:28, Alma 12:3 (6/12/2020)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Fulfill? (12/30/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Refute? (12/29/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Affirm? (12/28/2019)
- What Is the Book of Mormon? (12/27/2019)
- How Can I Recognize the Hand of the Lord in My Life? (10/27/2019)
- What Is the Meaning of the Phrase “Vengeance Is Mine?” (8/8/2019)
- What Are Secret Combinations? (6/25/2019)
- What Is a Covenant? (6/20/2019)
- Why Is Isaiah Quoted So Much in the Book of Mormon? (5/27/2019)
- What’s Wrong with “Costly Apparel?” (4/3/2019)
- How Do Book of Mormon Prophets Use the Title “Savior?” (3/11/2019)
- Why Does the Book of Mormon Quote from the Bible? (1/20/2019)
- What Does It Mean to Search the Scriptures? (1/5/2019)
- “That Which Hath No Life” – Mormon 8:39 (5/30/2017)
- Greater Things Than These – Mormon 8:12 (5/30/2017)
- Why Do Ye Adorn Yourselves with That which Hath No Life? – Mormon 8:39 (12/13/2016)
- The Sick and the Afflicted – Mormon 8:37-39 (12/5/2016)
- That Which Hath No Life – Mormon 8:39 (11/26/2015)
- Whither I Go It Mattereth Not – Mormon 8:4 (11/26/2015)
- Mormon 8:12 Whoso Receiveth This Record, and Shall Not Condemn It… (12/16/2014)