Moroni 10 – Moroni’s Exhortations

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Moroni concludes his father’s book with “a few words by way of exhortation,” directed to us, his future readers. First, he exhorts us to take this book seriously. Read it thoughtfully, ponder its message, and pray to know if it’s true. Second, he exhorts us to believe in the gifts and power of God. Third, he exhorts us to come unto Christ and set aside unclean things so that He can sanctify us and prepare us for the Final Judgment.

Chapter Outline

  1. Exhortation #1: Ask God if these things are true (v. 1-6)
  2. Exhortation #2: Believe in the gifts and power of God (v. 7-19)
  3. Faith, hope, and charity unlock these gifts and power (v. 20-29)
  4. Exhortation #3: Come unto Christ, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness (v. 30-34)

My Takeaways

  1. Remembering God’s mercy can prepare us to pray.
  2. Come unto Christ.
  3. Be a good receiver of the gifts of God.
  4. Remember God’s mercy.
  5. You may need to set aside some things in order to focus on higher and holier things.
  6. God can help us find wisdom and knowledge.
  7. Learn to value what God values, especially His children.

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The Title Page and Moroni 10

The Book of Mormon An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi Wherefore, it is an abridgment of the record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites—Written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and…

❖ Pray to know the truth – Moroni 10:1-6

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!

Remember How Merciful the Lord Hath Been – Moroni 10:3-5

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What Does It Mean to Do Something with “Real Intent?”

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❖ The gifts and power of God – Moroni 10:7-19

Spiritual Gifts

Moroni exhorted us to “deny not the gifts of God” (Moroni 10:8). Paul counseled us to “eagerly desire the greater gifts” (1 Corinthians 12:31, New International Version). And through Joseph Smith, the Lord admonished us, “Seek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given” (Doctrine and Covenants 46:8). All three of…

“Deny Not the Power of God” – Moroni 10:7

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Wisdom and Knowledge – Moroni 10:9-10

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“That He May Prophesy” – Moroni 10:13

“Before it came to pass, I showed them thee.” Isaiah 48:3 One of the gifts Moroni identified that a person can receive by the Spirit of God is “that he may prophesy concerning all things” (Moroni 10:13). (See also 1 Corinthians 12:10, Doctrine & Covenants 46:22, Articles of Faith 1:7.) The Guide to the Scriptures…

“All Kinds of Tongues” – Moroni 10:15

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❖ Faith, hope, and charity – Moroni 10:20-29

Charity

Charity means recognizing things that are valuable and treating them accordingly. Jesus gave His life for us because He had charity for us: He recognized our value. We must emulate Him in that way to receive the blessings He has prepared for us.

❖ Come unto Christ – Moroni 10:30-33

How to “Come unto Christ”

Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me. Doctrine and Covenants 88:63 The phrase “come unto Christ” only appears three times in the Book of Mormon. Jacob tells us that he labored diligently to persuade his people to come unto Christ (Jacob 1:7). Amaleki ends the small plates of Nephi…

What Does It Mean to “Come Unto Christ?”

Near the beginning of the Book of Mormon, the prophet Nephi tells us that his only purpose in writing is to persuade people to “come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved” (1 Nephi 6:4). Nephi later explains to his brothers that the purpose…

How Can I Become More Holy?

Holy – Properly, whole, entire or perfect, in a moral sense. Hence, pure in heart, temper or dispositions; free from sin and sinful affections. Applied to the Supreme Being, holy signifies perfectly pure, immaculate and complete in moral character; and man is more or less holy as his heart is more or less sanctified, or…

❖ Moroni’s farewell – Moroni 10:34

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.

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.

Old Testament Foundations

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.

“In the High and Holy Place”

We worship God not only out of gratitude for his loving-kindness but also in recognition of His supremacy. He is our divine parent, and He has the ability and the desire help us improve, to make us more like Him. Through the prophet Isaiah, God emphasized His own perfection and the perfection of the place…

Ages

Based on: Psalm 90 Core message: We have to expand our perspective, even beyond our own lifetime, if we want to understand God better. Related Book of Mormon passage: Moroni 10:3

Finding Grace

When Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi, arrived in Bethlehem, they needed a way to obtain food. Ruth said, “Let me now go to the field, and glean [fallen grain] after him in whose sight I shall find grace” (Ruth 2:2). Even though the law required farmers to leave their extra grain for the poor, she…

Wise Hearted

To build the tabernacle, Moses needed all who were “willing hearted” to donate materials. (See Exodus 25:2, Exodus 35:5, 21-22, 29.) He also needed people who were “wise hearted” to donate labor. (See Exodus 28:3, Exodus 31:6, Exodus 35:10, 25, Exodus 36:1, 2, 8.) What does it mean to be wise hearted? You can tell…

Unhewn

After delivering the Ten Commandments to Moses, the Lord provided a rather surprising instruction regarding formal worship: If thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it. Exodus 20:25 Hewn stones are stones that have been cut or…

Sanctified

In 1832, as missionaries returned from various parts of the United States to Kirtland, Ohio, Joseph Smith received a revelation about how to receive the power of God. Without God’s power, the revelation taught, no one can see God’s face and live. Now this Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought…

The Red Sea and Real Intent

There were chariots behind them, sand dunes on every side, and just a lot of water immediately ahead. He needed information all right—what to do—but it wasn’t a casual thing he was asking. In this case it was literally a matter of life and death. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “Case Not Away Therefore Your Confidence,”…

“Put Off Thy Shoes”

When God appeared to Moses “in the midst of a bush” on Mount Horeb, He said, “put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground” (Exodus 3:5). This action was a meaningful metaphor for the purity we seek as we approach God. By virtue of living in this world, we all pick…

Holy

To ancient Israel, the Lord said, “Sanctify yourselves…and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 20:7). The apostle Peter later reiterated this admonition: “As he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation [and behavior]. Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16). And Moroni described an…

“No, Not One” – Moroni 10:25

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New Testament Parallels

“Covet Earnestly the Best Gifts”

Paul tells us to appreciate one another’s gifts, but he also tells us to “covet” the best gifts. Those gifts represent divine attributes which God wants to help us develop. We seek them by striving to develop them and by accepting the help God offers us.

Discerning of Spirits

The gift of discernment of spirits enables us to identify hidden errors and evil in others and in ourselves. It also helps us to identify the good that may be concealed in others and in ourselves.

“All Things”

Jesus promised that the Holy Ghost would teach us all things. Nephi and Moroni taught the same. What does that mean? 1. He is omniscient. 2. He can lead us to the next bit of knowledge we need. 3. He can help us in all aspects of our lives on any subject.

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.

Their Angels

Jesus warned us not to despise children, because “their angels do always behold the face of God.” Who are these angels? Nephi, Jacob, and Alma all had angels minister to them. We also may receive heavenly help from angels whom we do not see.

“Clean But Not All”

At the Last Supper, when the meal was finished, Jesus washed the feet of each of His apostles, apparently without explaining why. When it was Peter’s turn, he refused to allow the Savior to wash his feet. Jesus responded, “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.” Peter responded impulsively: “Lord, not my feet…

“Diversities of Operations”

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Paradise

As He hung on the cross, the Savior spoke words of compassion to a man being crucified beside him: “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). The Greek word paradeisos (παράδεισος) comes from an ancient Persian word for a garden or a park. It specifically refers…

“Every Good Gift” – Moroni 10:18

One of Moroni’s exhortations in the final chapter of the Book of Mormon is to “remember that every good gift cometh of Christ” (Moroni 10:18). This echoes the testimony of James: Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17 We’re in gift-giving season. In…

How Is Christ the Judge of “Both Quick and Dead?”

Moroni ends the Book of Mormon by bidding us farewell until he meets us at the Final Judgment. In his description, he refers to the Savior as “the Eternal Judge of both quick and dead” (Moroni 10:34). What does that mean? The phrase actually appears three times in the King James Version of the Bible:…

Church History Connections

Endowed with Power

The Greek word enduo (ἐνδύω) means “to clothe.” In the New Testament it is sometimes used literally (Mark 1:6: “John was clothed with camel’s hair.” ) and sometimes figuratively (Galatians 3:27: “As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”) In the King James Version of the Bible, the word…

The Gift to Be Healed

When Paul and Moroni listed some of the gifts of the Spirit, they both referred to healing in the same way: “the gifts of healing” (1 Corinthians 12:9, Moroni 10:11). When the Lord reaffirmed those lists in an 1831 revelation, He identified two separate gifts related to healing: To some it is given to have faith to…

Expound and Exhort

I’ve been thinking today about two verbs that appear repeatedly in section 20 of the Doctrine and Covenants: “expound” and “exhort.” Elders, priests, teachers, and deacons are all instructed to do both. (See Doctrine and Covenants 20:42, 46, 50, 59.) Several sections later, the Lord directs Emma Smith to “expound scriptures, and to exhort the…

Hypocrisy and Denying the Power of God

Hypocrisy stunts growth by distorting our view of where we are and of what we can become. When we are hypocritical, we substitute human ideals for God’s perspective. He counters by performing “marvelous works,” which help us see how limited our ideals are

“You Have Heard My Voice and Know My Words.”

We may receive a spiritual confirmation after studying the scriptures or while we read. Oliver Cowdery received a confirmation multiple times as he transcribed the Book of Mormon for the first time. The Lord taught him that, when we receive that confirmation, we have heard His voice.

All Posts Referencing Moroni 10

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