Moroni's Final Exhortation and Promise

Book of Mormon Notes - Tuesday, July 16, 2024, Moroni 10

As a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in southern Italy many years ago, I often wrote my testimony of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon inside the front cover of copies of the Book of Mormon that I gave to interested investigators. Along with my testimony, I often recommended that investigators begin their study of the Book of Mormon with three specific chapters: Alma 32, 3 Nephi 11, and Moroni 10. Moroni 10 is the last chapter in the Book of Moroni, and in the Book of Mormon, and among other things, it contains an exhortation and an invitation to all sincere truth seekers.

Something that is easy to overlook, however, is that Moroni directed his final exhortation and invitation specifically toward his brethren the Lamanites:

Now I, Moroni, write somewhat as seemeth me good; and I write unto my brethren, the Lamanites; and I would that they should know that more than four hundred and twenty years have passed away since the sign was given of the coming of Christ. (Moroni 10:1)

Moroni’s final exhortation and invitation is consistent with the overarching and undergirding purposes of the Book of Mormon, especially as contained in the Title Page of the Book of Mormon. In fact, I wonder if Moroni composed the Title Page of the Book of Mormon during the same time that he composed this final chapter. In the Title Page we learn who the primary audience of the Book of Mormon is:

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 Gentile

and

Which is to show unto the remnant of the house of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever—And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations

The latter-day Lamanites, a remnant of the House of Israel, is therefore, Moroni’s primary audience. (The Book of Mormon, and Moroni’s final chapter are also written to Jew and Gentile.) Each one of the Book of Mormon prophets had faith that the Lord would transmit His word to the latter-day Lamanites:

Behold, there are many things engraven upon the plates of Nephi which do throw greater views upon my gospel; therefore, it is wisdom in me that you should translate this first part of the engravings of Nephi, and send forth in this work.

And, behold, all the remainder of this work does contain all those parts of my gospel which my holy prophets, yea, and also my disciples, desired in their prayers should come forth unto this people.

And I said unto them, that it should be granted unto them according to their faith in their prayers;

Yea, and this was their faith—that my gospel, which I gave unto them that they might preach in their days, might come unto their brethren the Lamanites, and also all that had become Lamanites because of their dissensions.

Now, this is not all—their faith in their prayers was that this gospel should be made known also, if it were possible that other nations should possess this land;

And thus they did leave a blessing upon this land in their prayers, that whosoever should believe in this gospel in this land might have eternal life;

Yea, that it might be free unto all of whatsoever nation, kindred, tongue, or people they may be.

And now, behold, according to their faith in their prayers will I bring this part of my gospel to the knowledge of my people. Behold, I do not bring it to destroy that which they have received, but to build it up. (D&C 10:45-52)

It is interesting to consider that many Nephites dissented and became Lamanites, and that therefore many of the latter-day Lamanites are also Nephites. In any case, they are all mostly Lehites. Although Jew and Gentile are blessed by and benefit from the Book of Mormon, it is clear that Moroni, like each of the previous Book of Mormon prophets, wrote directly to the latter-day Lamanites. This is exciting, because it points to events and prophesies that have yet to be completely fulfilled.

It seems to me that Moroni, like previous Book of Mormon prophets, foresaw that the Gentiles and the Jews would not always, immediately, and gladly receive the Book of Mormon, and that the latter-day Lamanites would receive it in a way to prepare for the blessing of Jews and Gentiles after a period of destruction that parallels the destruction of the Nephites and before them, the Jaredites.

Just as prophesied, the Nephite nation was destroyed 400 years after Christ’s coming among them. Remember Alma’s prophesy:

And these are the words: Behold, I perceive that this very people, the Nephites, according to the spirit of revelation which is in me, in four hundred years from the time that Jesus Christ shall manifest himself unto them, shall dwindle in unbelief.

Yea, and then shall they see wars and pestilences, yea, famines and bloodshed, even until the people of Nephi shall become extinct—

Yea, and this because they shall dwindle in unbelief and fall into the works of darkness, and lasciviousness, and all manner of iniquities; yea, I say unto you, that because they shall sin against so great light and knowledge, yea, I say unto you, that from that day, even the fourth generation shall not all pass away before this great iniquity shall come.

And when that great day cometh, behold, the time very soon cometh that those who are now, or the seed of those who are now numbered among the people of Nephi, shall no more be numbered among the people of Nephi.

But whosoever remaineth, and is not destroyed in that great and dreadful day, shall be numbered among the Lamanites, and shall become like unto them, all, save it be a few who shall be called the disciples of the Lord; and them shall the Lamanites pursue even until they shall become extinct. And now, because of iniquity, this prophecy shall be fulfilled. (Alma 45:10-14)

and the prophesy of Samuel the Lamanite:

And he said unto them: Behold, I, Samuel, a Lamanite, do speak the words of the Lord which he doth put into my heart; and behold he hath put it into my heart to say unto this people that the sword of justice hangeth over this people; and four hundred years pass not away save the sword of justice falleth upon this people. (Helaman 13:5)

Moroni composed this final portion of his book 420 years after the sign was given of the coming of Christ. This means that at the time that Moroni wrote this final message, there was still a little more than a decade before the prophesy concerning Nephite destruction was fulfilled entirely. (The time of Christ’s birth to his Resurrection and visit to the Nephites was about 33 years - 33 - 20 = 13 years).

Moroni wrote a few words of exhortation unto the latter-day Lamanites before sealing up the records. The sealing up of the records was also prophesied and predicted:

Now these things are written unto the remnant of the house of Jacob; and they are written after this manner, because it is known of God that wickedness will not bring them forth unto them; and they are to be hid up unto the Lord that they may come forth in his own due time. (Mormon 5:12)

and

Therefore I will write and hide up the records in the earth; and whither I go it mattereth not.

Behold, I make an end of speaking concerning this people. I am the son of Mormon, and my father was a descendant of Nephi.

And I am the same who hideth up this record unto the Lord; the plates thereof are of no worth, because of the commandment of the Lord. For he truly saith that no one shall have them to get gain; but the record thereof is of great worth; and whoso shall bring it to light, him will the Lord bless. (Mormon 8:4, 13-14)

The hiding up and revelation of the Nephite records parallels the hiding up and revelation of the Jaredite records:

And the Lord spake unto Ether, and said unto him: Go forth. And he went forth, and beheld that the words of the Lord had all been fulfilled; and he finished his record; (and the hundredth part I have not written) and he hid them in a manner that the people of Limhi did find them. (Ether 15:33)

Thus King Mosiah’s translation of the Book of Ether parallels Joseph Smith’s translation of the Book of Mormon.

Moroni’s exhortation to the latter-day Lamanites is famously known as “Moroni’s Promise,” and it applies to all sincere truth-seekers:

Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. (Moroni 10:3-5)

What a promise!

It is true! I know that the Book of Mormon is true, and that Moroni’s promise is real and efficacious. I know it again today as I have known it many times before. Heavenly Father manifests the truth of these things to my mind and heart through the power of the Holy Ghost, the same power by which we may know the truth of all things. That is one of the principal roles of the Holy Ghost, to testify of truth, and above all, to testify of the Truth, of Jesus Christ.

I’ve always thought that it is interesting that Moroni exhorts the latter-day Lamanites to read the Book of Mormon with the caveat “if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them.” Why does Moroni include this comment? I don’t know. But think of his circumstances. He was writing his final message and about to seal up the records. He was the last surviving Nephite, and the Lamanites were hunting him down. Moroni had faith in Christ that his words and the words of his predecessors would whisper from the dust to future generations, and he concluded his work with trust in God’s wisdom. Moroni’s full intent, like that of Nephi, was to turn his readers to God.

Why does Moroni exhort the latter-day Lamanites, and us, to remember how merciful the Lord has been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam to the present? Why does Moroni invite the latter-day Lamanites, and us, to ponder these things in our hearts? There are certainly many reasons, but one that stands out to me is that gratitude and pondering invite revelation. Gratitude and pondering foster an atmosphere of the soul, of the heart and mind, in which pure intelligence can flow, and in which the grateful and meek student of the Book of Mormon can ask God the Eternal Father in the name of Christ, with a sincere heart, real intent, and faith in Christ that He will manifest the truth of it by the power of the Holy Ghost.

Moroni promises that Heavenly Father will reveal the truth of these things by the power of the Holy Ghost to all those who seek the truth in the Lord’s way. Consider Elder Maxwell’s keen insight on this topic:

Now to Moroni’s promise, which is a promise that rests on a premise, a promise with several parts. The reader is (1) to read and ponder, (2) while remembering God’s mercies to mankind from Adam until now, and (3) to pray in the name of Christ and ask God with real intent if the book is true, (4) while having faith in Christ, then (5) God will manifest the truth of the book. The reverse approach, scanning while doubting, is the flip side of Moroni’s methodology and produces flippant conclusions. Moroni’s process of verification is surely not followed by many readers or reviewers of this book. This leads to misapprehension—like mistakenly labeling rumor with her thousand tongues as the gift of tongues!

I have put Moroni’s promise with a premise to the test, and I know that it works. I have also witnessed the flippant conclusions of those who employ the flip-side of Moroni’s methodology. Scanning the Book of Mormon while doubting may align with the methodologies of Descartes, Hume, or other famous skeptics, but the truth of the Book of Mormon will forever elude those who reject Moroni’s methodology of sincerity, faith in Christ, and real intent. Even the best Socratic inquiry into the Book of Mormon will not produce Moroni’s promised results without the requisite gratitude, faithful pondering, memory of God’s mercy, sincerity of heart, real intent, and humility to ask of God.

Moroni’s promise is a beautiful promise, and it is so much more than a way to discover the truth about the Book of Mormon. It is easy to gloss over the stunning promise that by the power of the Holy Ghost we may know the truth of all things. It seems to me that the Book of Mormon helps us to familiarize ourselves with the Lord’s voice, and the power of the Holy Ghost, not only to understand the truth of the Book of Mormon, but to pave the way for greater education in the things of the Lord. The modern invitation that was inserted at the beginning of the Book of Mormon alludes to this process of discovery:

We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. (See Moroni 10:3–5.)

Those who gain this divine witness from the Holy Spirit will also come to know by the same power that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is His revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the Second Coming of the Messiah.

I have gained this Divine witnessed and followed this Divine methodology and I know by the power of the Holy Ghost that just as the Book of Mormon is true, Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, Joseph Smith is His revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the Second Coming of the Messiah. I gratefully and joyfully testify that these things are true.

Building upon his father’s great teachings on faith, hope, and charity, and every good gift that comes from God, Moroni adds to his promise this truth:

And whatsoever thing is good is just and true; wherefore, nothing that is good denieth the Christ, but acknowledgeth that he is. (Moroni 10:6)

Moroni didn’t just want his readers to know that the Book of Mormon is true. His aim was higher. He wanted his readers to know Jesus Christ, to obtain a testimony of Him and become converted to Him and His ways:

And ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever. (Moroni 10:7)

Moreover, Moroni, like his father Mormon, wanted his readers, the Latter-day Lamanites and us, to lay hold upon every good gift and enjoy the gifts of the Spirit that the Lord dispenses to bless and benefit His faithful disciples. To counteract the latter-day lack of faith, hope, and charity, Moroni, like his father Mormon, the Apostle Paul, and the Lord Himself, encourages us to seek spiritual gifts:

And again, I exhort you, my brethren, that ye deny not the gifts of God, for they are many; and they come from the same God. And there are different ways that these gifts are administered; but it is the same God who worketh all in all; and they are given by the manifestations of the Spirit of God unto men, to profit them. (Moroni 10:8)

In earlier posts I focused on the essential role of the Holy Ghost and how the Lord works through His spiritual gifts. It is good to be reminded, as Moroni reminds us, of what those good gifts are, what their purpose is, and especially of where those good gifts come from:

For behold, to one is given by the Spirit of God, that he may teach the word of wisdom;

And to another, that he may teach the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

And to another, exceedingly great faith; and to another, the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

And again, to another, that he may work mighty miracles;

And again, to another, that he may prophesy concerning all things;

And again, to another, the beholding of angels and ministering spirits;

And again, to another, all kinds of tongues;

And again, to another, the interpretation of languages and of divers kinds of tongues.

And all these gifts come by the Spirit of Christ; and they come unto every man severally, according as he will.

And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that every good gift cometh of Christ. (Moroni 10:9-18)

(See also 1 Corinthians 12:8–11 and Doctrine and Covenants 46:8–30)

In the latter-days, in the early days of the Church, the Lord revealed more about the vital nature of the gifts of the Spirit, their purpose, and the protection that they provide against evil and deception:

But ye are commanded in all things to ask of God, who giveth liberally; and that which the Spirit testifies unto you even so I would that ye should do in all holiness of heart, walking uprightly before me, considering the end of your salvation, doing all things with prayer and thanksgiving, that ye may not be seduced by evil spirits, or doctrines of devils, or the commandments of men; for some are of men, and others of devils.

Wherefore, beware lest ye are deceived; and that ye may not be deceived seek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given;

For verily I say unto you, they are given for the benefit of those who love me and keep all my commandments, and him that seeketh so to do; that all may be benefited that seek or that ask of me, that ask and not for a sign that they may consume it upon their lusts. (D&C 46:7-9)