Mormon - Chapter 9

The chapter heading says:  Moroni calls upon those who do not believe in Christ to repent.  This and Moroni's word in the text seem to indicate that unbelief is a deliberate choice.  This fascinates me.


I once had a friend who declined my invitation to read The Book of Mormon with these words, "If I read it, I'll find out its true and if that happens I'll have to change the way I'm living and I'd rather not do that; so I think I'll pass."  In the end I guess we'll all be judged for our honesty.  I wonder how many people out there know they haven't got it right and are making no honest effort to make the changes, or seek the truth, or attempt to discover God.  Referring to Christ John wrote:

9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.  (John 1:9)

The light of Christ is given to every single one of us.  Can it be that Moroni is telling us that if we follow that light in honest, earnest effort it will always lead us to the Savior?  I think it will.  Now there are certainly those, who following that light in periods of darkness on the earth might not have found him in their life-time; but that honest pursuit of truth and righteous living, inspired by the Light of Christ will still lead him to Christ in the Spirit World. Consider this from Doctrine and Covenants 123:

 12 For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it— 

 13 Therefore, that we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness, wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from heaven—

 14 These should then be attended to with great earnestness.

 15 Let no man count them as small things; for there is much which lieth in futurity, pertaining to the saints, which depends upon these things.

Certainly, we need to work hard to help them find the truth and surely we can speed up the process for them. But this chapter seems to put more onus each individual to earnestly seek the Lord.  Naturally, I must now wonder if I too am too comfortable just where I am and still have some seeking to do.  I know I have found the true church.  I know I have discovered the true and living God.  I just wonder if I have sought to eliminate distractions and obstructions from my view of the truth and from my relationship with my Jesus.

Why not?

  21 Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth.

Mormon - Chapter 8

Moroni clearly did see our day and the pride, wickedness and calamity that would be so prevalent among us.  Too often, I have read this chapter and thought of everybody else; those wicked people who are not us.  Today, I noticed this important little verse:

 36 And I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of very fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts.

It seems pretty clear that Moroni includes even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a church that is polluted by pride.  He is not only speaking from the dust to those wicked other guys, he is clearly speaking to us.

Mormon - Chapter 7

Over and over again The Book of Mormon tells us the simple truth that the way to happiness is through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and repentance.  It is plain and easy to understand and yet we so often fail to get it.  Endless happiness is a result of allowing the Atonement of Christ to work it's miracle in our lives.

Mormon tells us in this chapter that The Bible and The Book of Mormon support each other.

9 For behold, this is written for the intent that ye may believe that; and if ye believe that ye will believe this also; and if ye believe this ye will know concerning your fathers, and also the marvelous works which were wrought by the power of God among them.

It is interesting that he is so bold as to declare that if we believe the Bible we will also believe The Book of Mormon.  I've always looked at it the other way around, seeing that lots of folks seem to believe the Bible and yet reject "another testament of Jesus Christ."  It is not the Bible that teaches them to reject modern revelation, but rather the precepts of men.  I have never known a single person who honestly sought to know the truth of The Book of Mormon, who did not come to know of its truth.  If people who are honest believe the Bible, it will indeed affirm that the book Mormon here provides for us, is also of God.

Mormon - Chapter 6

The first time I read Mormon's cry, "O ye fair ones," I wept.  I was 14 and was approaching the end of my first reading of The Book of Mormon.  I had grown to love the Nephites.  Many had become my heroes.  I had been thrilled at the peace, love and prosperity they had experienced after giving their hearts to Christ upon his arrival on this continent.  My heart broke as I witnessed their destruction.  That process was blessed because that was also the moment that I knew The Book of Mormon was true.  I knew that their lives mattered.  I knew that their Father in Heaven loved them and wept as well.  I knew that the horrible price they paid was a result of their own choices.  I shuddered at their dread and hopelessness.

I have made a lot of poor choices since then.  I have spent years and years in the bondage of addiction.  I have struggled with my desires and my doubts and most of all my fears.  Even so, I have never doubted the verity of the experience I had on that day, which first affirmed to me that what I was reading was true and of God.  So many times I might have given up had it not been for that glorious affirmation.  I might have rejected some points of the gospel, but I could never deny that The Book of Mormon was true.  Through it all, the story of the Nephites, their travail and triumph, magnificence and tragedy were an anchor in the storms of my own life.  I have read it dozens and dozens of times since then and continued to learn and gain insight, but I am no more certain of its truthfulness today than I was all those years ago.

Thank God that despite my problems, sins and weakness, I was able to hear the voice of the Spirit whisper that sweet assurance to my heart, "It is true."

Mormon - Chapter 5

 10 And now behold, this I speak unto their seed, and also to the Gentiles who have care for the house of Israel, that realize and know from whence their blessings come.

  11 For I know that such will sorrow for the calamity of the house of Israel; yea, they will sorrow for the destruction of this people; they will sorrow that this people had not repented that they might have been clasped in the arms of Jesus.

Do we realize and know from whence our blessings come?  Do we have care for the house of Israel?  Do we sorrow for Israel's calamity?  If we do not, perhaps we have yet to have the experience of being clasped in the arms of Jesus.  If we have been clasped in His almighty, loving, forgiving arms, how can we not desire the same blessing for all of our brothers and sisters.

Mormon - Chapter 4

This chapter contains what I take to be a very important principle:

"...it is by the wicked that the wicked are punished..."

I believe it is generally safe to assume that fleeing to Zion will spare the vast majority of the righteous from direct physical conflict with their enemies.  Meanwhile, the enemies will quarrel, battle and destroy among themselves.  Satan does not support his own.  He'll destroy anybody, even those whose loyalty seems to be with him.

In the Book of Moses 7:14 we read of Enoch's Zion:

"...so great was the fear of the enemies of the people of God, that they fled and stood afar off..."

I expect that the Zion of the Latter-days will be similarly full of faith and similarly protected and cared for.  Pretty cool, until you consider how far we have to go, to be so prepared.