Cover image via Gospel Media Library.
Now I, Moroni, after having made an end of abridging the account of the people of Jared, I had supposed not to have written more, but I have not as yet perished; and I make not myself known to the Lamanites lest they should destroy me. For behold, their wars are exceedingly fierce among themselves; and because of their hatred they put to death every Nephite that will not deny the Christ. And I, Moroni, will not deny the Christ; wherefore, I wander whithersoever I can for the safety of mine own life. (Moroni 1: 1-13)
Few writers in the Book of Mormon are as personal as Moroni. Not only does he open up on how alone and vulnerable he is after his people have been destroyed (Mormon 8: 3-5), but he laments his “imperfection,” especially his “weakness” as a writer (vv. 31, 40), and worries that his future readers, those the Lord has tasked him to reach, will “mock” his words and “stumble” because of them (Ether 12:23-25).
Given the personal quality of his writing as well as the precariousness of his predicament, it seems odd that the “few more things” Moroni wrote before he died (Moroni 1:4) would include such impersonal matters as instructions on how to confer the gift of the Holy Ghost, how to ordain priests and teachers, and how to administer the sacrament. One would think that Moroni would conclude with a final testimony, something spiritually intimate, words that came from his core and clarified, once and for all, what he believed and why.
And in a way, Moroni does indeed give such a testimony. Finally, at the end of his book, he addresses the modern descendants of the Lamanites, as well as others, and bears fervent witness of the power of the Holy Ghost; the scope of spiritual gifts; the necessity of faith, hope, and charity; as well as the ability of Christ to perfect us. Finally, he bids all his readers an emotional farewell, going “to rest in the paradise of God, until [his] spirit and body shall again reunite, and [he is] brought forth triumphant through the air, to meet [us] before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge of both quick and dead. Amen” (10:34).
However, the question remains: why would Moroni precede this final testimony with instructions that seem to have little to do with him or his current situation?
Yes, the chapters in Moroni’s book may seem disconnected in this way, but, if we think of them in the context of Moroni’s life and experience, we see that they go a long way towards explaining what led him to feel so strongly about the things he testified of. In order to make this personal connection more apparent, I have altered the text of some verses in Moroni’s book and inserted him imaginatively into them, mostly by changing third person references to first person.
Receiving a meaningful blessing
The words of Christ, which he spake unto me, through my father, as my father laid his hands upon me—And he called me by name, saying: Moroni, thou shalt call on the Father in my name, in mighty prayer; and after thou hast done this thou shall have power that to him upon whom ye shall lay your hands, thou shalt give the Holy Ghost; and in my name shalt thou give it, for thus do mine apostles. (Moroni 2: 1-2; altered)
Yes, my alterations are not, strictly speaking, supported by the text. But is it too much to think that Mormon, Moroni’s father, blessed Moroni in this way? And is it also too much to see him—possibly as a young man, possibly in the context of a patriarchal blessing, possibly for the first time—viewing the words his father uttered as coming not from him but from Christ? I think not. And such an experience would help explain how Moroni began to form a close personal bond with his Savior, a bond that would not allow him to deny “the Christ” despite tragedy and death threats.
It would also explain why Moroni would passionately plead with his readers to “ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things [that he had written] are not true” and, with confidence born from experience, assert that if they would do so God “will manifest the truth of it unto [them], by the power of the Holy Ghost.” For as Moroni was beginning to understand, it is “by the power of the Holy Ghost that [everyone] may know the truth of all things” (Moroni 10:4-5).
Being ordained to the Priesthood
After my father had prayed unto the Father in the name of Christ, he laid his hands upon me, and said: “In the name of Jesus Christ I ordain you to be a priest to preach repentance and remission of sins through Jesus Christ, by the endurance of faith on his name to the end. Amen.” (Moroni 3: 2-3; altered)
The Book of Mormon also does not mention Moroni being ordained to an office in the Priesthood. But how could he not be? And wouldn’t it be natural for his father to perform this ordination? I think it would, and I think that the words of Christ uttered by Mormon during this ordination would further strengthen young Moroni’s relationship with Christ.
These words would also make it clear to Moroni that enduring faith in Christ is central to this budding relationship, so much so that he would meditate on it, contemplate its related qualities, preach it to others as he served faithfully in this Priesthood office, and, perhaps, appreciate it in a new way as he wandered by himself, without supportive friends or family, writing to a people he had seen only in vision. Little wonder then that Moroni would later claim that faith is a necessity and exclaim, “If ye have faith ye can do all things which are expedient unto [God]” (Moroni 10:20, 23).
Administering the Sacrament
The manner of the elders and priests administering the flesh and blood of Christ unto the church; and I, Moroni, administered it according to the commandments of Christ; wherefore I know the manner to be true; and I did minister it—And I did kneel down with the church, and pray to the Father in the name of Christ, saying: “O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it; that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him, and keep his commandments which he hath given them, that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.” (Moroni 4: 1-3; altered)
Again, the Book of Mormon does not show Moroni actually administering the sacrament himself, but he must have done so, often, and thoughtfully. He states that he knew the manner of it, that it was “true,” and reiterates, perhaps from memory, that it represents “the flesh and blood of Christ,” that it was done “according to the commandments of Christ,” and that he, as a follower of Christ, is under covenant to witness that he was willing to take upon himself Christ’s name, to always remember him, and keep his commandments (Moroni 4:1-4).
Certainly, administering the sacrament regularly would have further cemented Moroni’s commitment to Christ and put him in a position where he simply could not “deny the Christ” even at the peril of his life (1:3). Indeed, in his final chapter, Moroni seems to focus on the word “deny” and turn it into something more faith promoting. There, he declares that “nothing that is good denieth the Christ” and implores his future readers instead to “deny not the power of God,” to “deny not the gifts of God,” and to “deny [themselves] of all ungodliness.” (10: 6-8; emphasis added). Moroni then follows up with a promise, assuring his readers that “if [they] shall deny [themselves] of all ungodliness, and love God with all [their] might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for [them], that by his grace [they] may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God [they] are perfect in Christ, [they] can in nowise deny the power of God” (v. 32; emphasis added).
Teaching and Baptizing People
And now I speak concerning baptism. Behold, elders, priests, and teachers in our church were baptized; and they were not baptized save they brought forth fruit meet that they were worthy of it. Neither did I receive any unto baptism save they came forth with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and witnessed unto the church that they truly repented of all their sins. And none were received unto baptism save they took upon them the name of Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end. (Moroni 6: 1-3; altered)
The ordinances presented in the book of Moroni do not follow the order of the standard covenant path: baptism, gift of the Holy Ghost, ordination, etc. Instead, they progress along the road Moroni’s testimony might have taken as he participated in them and made them available to others. Starting with his first spiritual stirrings during a blessing in his youth, Moroni’s feelings gradually grow into a deep commitment as he is ordained to the Priesthood and then uses that priesthood to serve others—administering the sacrament, performing baptisms, and ministering to the members of his congregation.
Such service would have undoubtedly changed Moroni and inspired him as he came to know and admire and love the people he helped. He would have witnessed their humility firsthand as they prepared for baptism as well as their sincere commitment to serve Christ “to the end” (Moroni 6:3).
In other words, I think that Christian service opened Moroni’s heart, expanding his feelings about faith to include hope and especially charity. As he would later write, “Wherefore, there must be faith; and if there must be faith there must also be hope; and if there must be hope there must also be charity. And except ye have charity ye can in nowise be saved in the kingdom of God; neither can ye be saved in the kingdom of God if ye have not faith; neither can ye if ye have no hope” (10:20-21)
Attending Inspired Meetings
And the church did meet together oft, to fast and to pray, and to speak one with another concerning the welfare of our souls. And we did meet together oft to partake of bread and wine, in remembrance of the Lord Jesus. … And our meetings were conducted after the manner of the workings of the Spirit, and by the power of the Holy Ghost; for as the power of the Holy Ghost led us whether to preach, or to exhort, or to pray, or to supplicate, or to sing, even so it was done. (Moroni 6:5-6, 9; altered)
The seventh chapter in the book of Moroni provides us with an example of what such a Spirit-led church meeting was like for Moroni. It is a sermon given by his father “in the synagogue which they had built for the place of worship” (Moroni 7:1). There, Mormon begins by addressing his “beloved brethren” and by stating that he is permitted to speak to them “by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, and his holy will, because of the gift of his calling unto [him]” (vv. 1-2).
Mormon then continues, addressing—and building upon–many of the ideas Moroni had been taught by the Spirit: how it is “the light of Christ” that helps us to discern the difference between good and evil, how it is the devil that persuades us to “believe not in Christ, and deny him”; but especially how faith, hope, and charity work to make us “acceptable before God” (vv. 17, 19, 44)
Regarding charity, Mormon speaks much as Paul did in this first letter to the Corinthians, listing the many qualities of charity and declaring that “charity never faileth” (v. 46). However, Mormon continues. He adds “charity is the pure love of Christ” to the list and admonishes his hearers to “pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure” (vv. 47-48).
Given the fervency of Mormon’s admonition, I can see it sticking in Moroni’s mind, softening his heart, and entering his soul to the point that he could call the descendants of the Lamanites “my brethren” and dedicate his writings, which he had worked on for decades, to them. It must have been difficult. It might have taken a long time, maybe years. After all, the Lamanites had killed his friends and family, destroyed his society, and committed a “great abomination” against his people (9: 9).
And yet in his final chapter Moroni addresses their descendants lovingly, not only calling them his “brethren” two time, but, like his father in this sermon, embracing them as his “beloved brethren” (10: 1,8, 18,19). In this way, Moroni shows not only what an inspired church meeting was for him but also the dramatic effect it could have on the lives of those who participated in them.
Connecting with Us
In the end, this exploration into the development of Moroni’s testimony may be more about me than about him. After all, my first really transcendent experience with the Spirit came while I was being blessed by a patriarch. My ordination to the Melchizedek Priesthood and the mission that soon followed taught me much about the need for enduring faith and provided me with experiences to promote it. And administering the sacrament as well as participating in other priesthood ordinances for people I had taught and come to love strengthened my commitment to Christ, opened my heart, and expanded my feelings beyond my small circle of family and friends. Attending church meetings also expanded that circle and allowed me to hear inspired talks that, more than a few times stuck in my simple mind, softened my hard heart, and entered my resistant soul.
But isn’t that what Moroni wanted as he wandered alone? To connect with us, his future readers, in an authentic, personal, almost spiritually intimate way? I think so. After all, he claimed that he saw us in vision and knew our “doing” (Mormon 8:35). Wouldn’t he want us to see him and know his as well? Again, I think he would, and I think he left clues enough for us to read between his lines, to see him grow spiritually and to see ourselves in the growth.
Consequently, after putting together many of these clues, I feel a greater admiration and a closeness to Moroni that I have ever felt before. To me, he is more than a stock character. He is a person that I can relate to, an actual human being with actual “imperfections” as well as actual strengths. He has become a friend. And I very much hope that one day I too may go to rest in the paradise of God, where my spirit and body may again reunite, and when I am brought forth through the air, that I may meet Moroni before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah and embrace and talk about the experiences behind our testimonies.
