Mormon testified that he was following instructions he had received from God, even though he didn't fully understand them. Wilford Woodruff did the same when the Lord instructed him to end the practice of plural marriage. Their examples teach that we can trust and follow divine guidance even when we lack context or clarity.
Unlocking Spiritual Knowledge
Paul described the ancient apostles as "stewards of the mysteries of God." In 1831, six church leaders were similarly assigned as "stewards over the revelations." How grateful we can be for inspired servants who have written and safeguarded God’s words so that we can access spiritual knowledge!
“I Am Mormon”
Mormon tells us three things when he introduces himself in 3 Nephi 5: 1. The origin and significance of his name 2. His calling and purpose 3. His multigenerational perspective
“The Workings of the Spirit of the Lord”
Mormon explains the inclusion of the small plates by saying that he was following "the workings of the Spirit of the Lord." The Spirit helps us contribute to a work bigger than ourselves, and it simultaneously works within us to make us better.
A Hundredth Part: Mormon’s Editorial Decisions
Book of Mormon authors made it clear how much they were leaving out as they wrote this "abridgment" of their history. Here's a diagram showing how many words are dedicated to each of the 103 decades in the book.
“He Worketh in Me” – Words of Mormon 1:7
When Mormon decided to insert 142 pages of unabridged text into his book (1 Nephi through Omni), he knew it was a strange editorial decision. He explained to his future readers that he was doing this "for a wise purpose," even though he did not know what that purpose was. "I do not know all... Continue Reading →
John Whitmer, Record-keeper
Why does the Lord ask us to keep written records? One reason is to communicate our experiences to others, including future generations. But another reason is more immediate: the process of writing forces us to think things through more carefully. We learn and we grow as we write. In March 1831, John Whitmer was called... Continue Reading →
Record-keeping
The first sentence in the Book of Mormon is about the importance of keeping records. Nephi tells us that, because the Lord had blessed him with "goodly parents," who taught him, and because he had been "highly favored of the Lord" in spite of enduring many afflictions, "therefore I make a record of my proceedings... Continue Reading →
Book of Mormon References in Moroni 6
Today as I studied Moroni 6, I found a number of phrases which referenced earlier passages in the Book of Mormon. Obviously, Moroni knew the Book of Mormon well. Still, I thought these references were striking, and I thought I'd share the connections I made today as I studied this chapter. Most of these phrases... Continue Reading →
“Hid up unto the Lord” – Mormon 1:2, 4:23, 5:12
We don't know much about Ammaron, the caretaker of the Nephite records who selected Mormon as his successor. We know that he was the brother of Amos, and therefore a descendant of Alma, who organized the church at the waters of Mormon about 450 years earlier. And we know that he was "constrained by the... Continue Reading →