READ Moroni 7:1 And now I, Moroni, write a few of the words of my father Mormon, which he spake concerning faith, hope, and charity; for after this manner did he speak unto the people, as he taught them in the synagogue which they had built for the place of worship.
VIEW Mormon Teaches about Faith, Hope, and Charity 12 min
READ Introduction to Chapter 7: Here we are introduced to Mormon’s powerful sermon as recorded by his son Moroni. Previous to Moroni 7, Mormon’s scriptural work consisted primarily of abridging other prophets’ writings. Here we read Mormon’s powerful sermon that he gave to a righteous group of Church members.
READ Moroni 7:2 And now I, Mormon, speak unto you, my beloved brethren; and it is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, and his holy will, because of the gift of his calling unto me, that I am permitted to speak unto you at this time.
3 Wherefore, I would speak unto you that are of the church, that are the peaceable followers of Christ, and that have obtained a sufficient hope by which ye can enter into the rest of the Lord, from this time henceforth until ye shall rest with him in heaven.
-Why did Moroni write the words of his father’s sermon?
READ Mormon taught Saints who lived in a spiritually deteriorating society how to draw closer to God. This discourse emphasizes the need for proper motivation or intent in our actions, how to discern between good and evil, and the important relationship between faith, hope, and charity.
-Why do you think Mormon viewed his calling as a gift? v2
-How do feel about the callings the Lord has given you? V2
-Why should you feel gratitude for your opportunities to serve? V2
-What is the “rest of the Lord” and how do we enter? V3
READ “One of the most tightly woven and forceful sermons in the BofM is that recorded by Moroni as given by his father, Mormon, on faith, hope and charity. The topic is particularly poignant in its context. Mormon has been killed by the Lamanites, and Moroni is the solitary survivor, recording these words out of his own generosity of spirit. We can also imagine that Moroni is rereading this sermon to strengthen his own faith, hope and charity---a topic Moroni addresses in his concluding words in the BofM.” (Rust, Feasting on the Word, 140-41)
The Light of Christ helps me know truth from error.
READ Many people wonder, “How can I know if an impression comes from God or from my own thoughts?” or “With so much deception today, how can I know what is right or wrong?” Mormon’s words in Moroni 7 give us several principles we can use to answer these questions. Look for them especially in verses 12–20.
READ Moroni 7:12 Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually.
13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.
READ President Thomas S. Monson: “May I provide a simple formula by which you can measure the choices which confront you, It’s easy to remember: ‘You can’t be right by doing wrong: you can’t be wrong by doing right. Your personal conscience always warns you as a friend before it punishes you as a judge.” (Pathways to Perfection, 100)
50 BofM CFM Dec 9–15: Moroni 7-9 “May Christ Lift Thee Up”
14 Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil.
15 For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know
with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.
16 For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.
17 But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.
18 And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged.
-What does it mean to not judge wrongfully?
READ “Sometimes people feel that it is wrong to judge others in any way. While it is true that you should not condemn others or judge them unrighteously, you will need to make judgments of ideas, situations, and people throughout your life. The Lord has given many commandments that you cannot keep without making judgments….Judgment is an important use of your agency and requires great care, especially when you make judgments about other people. All your judgments must be guided by righteous standards. Remember that only God, who knows each individual’s heart, can make final judgment of individuals. (LDS Church, True to the Faith, 90)
19 Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ.
20 And now, my brethren, how is it possible that ye can lay hold upon every good thing?
-“How can I know if an impression comes from God or from my own thoughts?”
Because of Jesus Christ, I can “lay hold upon every good thing.”
READ Mormon asked a question that seems especially important today: “How is it possible [to] lay hold upon every good thing?” . He then taught about faith in Jesus Christ, hope, and charity.
READ Moroni 7:19 Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ.
-What is the “Light of Christ?”
-Is it the same as the Holy Ghost?
READ President Joseph Fielding Smith (1876–1972) identified some differences between the Holy Ghost and the Light of Christ: “The Holy Ghost should not be confused with the Spirit which fills the immensity of space and which is everywhere present. This other Spirit is impersonal and has no size, nor dimension; it proceeds forth from the presence of the Father and the Son and is in all things. We should speak of the Holy Ghost as a personage as ‘he’ and this other Spirit as ‘it,’ although when we speak of the power or gift of the Holy Ghost we may properly say ‘it.’
“The Holy Ghost, as we are taught in our modern revelation, is the third member in the Godhead and a personage of Spirit. These terms are used synonymously: Spirit of God, Spirit of the Lord, Spirit of Truth, Holy Spirit, Comforter; all having reference to the Holy Ghost. The same terms largely are used in relation to the Spirit of Jesus Christ, also called the Light of Truth, Light of Christ, Spirit of God, and Spirit of the Lord; and yet they are separate and distinct things. We have a great deal of confusion because we have not kept that clearly in our minds” (Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [1954–56], 1:49–50).
20 And now, my brethren, how is it possible that ye can lay hold upon every good thing?
READ “The First Presidency has stated: “‘The great religious leaders of the world such as Mohammed, Confucius, and the Reformers, as well as philosophers including Socrates, Plato, and others, received a portion of God’s light. Moral truths were given to them by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of understanding to individuals. …
“‘We believe that God has given and will give to all peoples sufficient knowledge to help them on their way to eternal salvation’ (Statement of the First Presidency regarding God’s Love for All Mankind, 15 Feb. 1978)” (James E. Faust, CR, Apr. 1980, 15)
-So, who does not have access to the Light of Christ?
Mormon taught that faith is the key to laying hold on every good thing. READ Moroni 7:25 Wherefore, by the ministering of angels, and by every word which proceeded forth out of the mouth of God, men began to exercise faith in Christ; and thus by faith, they did lay hold upon every good thing; and thus it was until the coming of Christ.
READ Moroni 7:33 And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me.
34 And he hath said: Repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, and have faith in me, that ye may be saved.
-What important principle should accompany our faith in Jesus Christ?
READ “The combination of faith in Christ plus faith unto repentance is vitally important….Apparently faith great enough to move mountains is not required; faith enough to speak in tongues or to heal the sick is not needed; all that we need is just enough faith to recognize that we have sinned and to repent of our sins, to feel remorse for them, and to desire to sin no more but to please Christ the Lord. Then the greatest miracle of all, the Atonement, whereby Christ rescues us from our deserved punishment, is in effect in our behalf.”
(Wells, The Liahona Triad, 6-7)
READ Moroni 7:35 And now, my beloved brethren, if this be the case that these things are true which I have spoken unto you, and God will show unto you, with power and great glory at the last day, that they are true, and if they are true has the day of miracles ceased?
36 Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved?
37 Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain.
38 For no man can be saved, according to the words of Christ, save they shall have faith in his name; wherefore, if these things have ceased, then has faith ceased also; and awful is the state of man, for they are as though there had been no redemption made.
39 But behold, my beloved brethren, I judge better things of you, for I judge that ye have faith in Christ because of your meekness; for if ye have not faith in him then ye are not fit to be numbered among the people of his church.
READ Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles counseled us on what it means to have faith in Jesus Christ:
“If you are despondent, racked by transgression, are ill, alone, or desperately in need of comfort and support, I solemnly testify that the Lord will help you when you carefully obey the spiritual law upon which that help is predicated. He is your Father. You are His child. He loves you. He will never let you down. I know He will bless you” (CR, Oct. 1991, 118;)
READ Moroni 7:40 And again, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto you concerning hope. How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save ye shall have hope?
41 And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.
42 Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope.
-What is the relationship between faith and hope?
READ Mormon spoke of a hope that comes from or is born of faith in Christ (see Moroni 7:40, 42). Hope, centered in the life and mission of the Lord Jesus Christ, has the power to lift us above any adversity we may face. President James E. Faust (1920–2007) of the First Presidency taught that hope brings peace into a troubled life:
“There are tremendous sources of hope beyond our own ability, learning, strength, and capacity. Among them is the gift of the Holy Ghost. Through the marvelous blessing of this member of the Godhead, we can come to ‘know the truth of all things’.
“Hope is the anchor of our souls. I know of no one who is not in need of hope—young or old, strong or weak, rich or poor. In the Book of
Mormon we are exhorted, ‘Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with
surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.’ [Ether 12:4; italics added]. …
“Everybody in this life has challenges and difficulties. That is part of our mortal test. The reason for some of these trials cannot be readily understood except on the basis of faith and hope because there is often a larger purpose which we do not always understand. Peace comes through hope” (CR, Oct. 1999, 73).
READ Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (1917–2008) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that we can have hope, because divine assistance is always available to us: “Even when the winds of adversity blow, our Father keeps us anchored to our hope. The Lord has promised, ‘I will not leave you comfortless,’ [John 14:18] and He will ‘consecrate [our] afflictions for [our] gain.’ [2 Nephi 2:2.] Even when our trials seem overwhelming, we can draw strength and hope from the sure promise of the Lord: ‘Be not afraid nor dismayed … ; for the battle is not yours, but God’s’ [2 Chronicles 20:15]” (CR, Oct. 1998, 33)
-How is hope an anchor to our soul?
READ Moroni 7:43 And again, behold I say unto you that he cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart.
44 If so, his faith and hope is vain, for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.
-What does it mean to be meek?
READ Elder Ulisses Soares said: “Being meek does not mean weakness, but it does mean behaving with goodness and kindness, showing strength, serenity, healthy self-worth, and self-control.” (Be Meek and Lowly of Heart, 9)
“Charity is the pure love of Christ.”
READ Moroni 7:45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—
47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
-What is charity? Why do we want to possess this in the last day?
-What is the purpose of charity?
READ “The purpose of charity is not merely to cause a proper motivation for charitable acts toward other people….The ultimate purpose is to make Christ’s followers like Him….
“The ultimate purpose of the gospel of Jesus Christ is to cause the sons and daughters of God to become as Christ is….We can give with loving, but we cannot love without giving. If our vertical relationship with God is complete, then, by the fruit of that relationship, the horizontal relationship with our fellow beings will also be complete. We then act charitably towards others, not merely because we think we should, but because that is the way we are.” (Hafen, Broken Heart, 196-97)
-Why are these attributes essential for a disciple of Jesus Christ?
Chapters 8–9 of Moroni offer valuable insight into the importance of living according to the first principles and ordinances of the gospel.
The Baptism of Little Children Prohibited
Moroni 8 contains a letter Moroni received from his father, Mormon, that answers the question of whether little children need baptism. Note that the source for Mormon’s answers on this doctrinal question came to him directly by revelation from the Lord.
READ Moroni 8:7 For immediately after I had learned these things of you I inquired of the Lord concerning the matter. And the word of the Lord came to me by the power of the Holy Ghost, saying:
8 Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance; the whole need no physician, but they that are sick; wherefore, little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin; wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me, that it hath no power over them; and the law of circumcision is done away in me.
READ The ordinance of baptism is “for the remission of sins”
READ D&C 49:13 Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, according to the holy commandment, for the remission of sins.
But little children have no sins. In fact, they are not capable of committing sin, nor can Satan tempt them, as the scripture above (8) explains.
The Prophet Joseph Smith (1805–44) taught that infant baptism denies the character of God and the saving power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ: (History of the Church, 4:554).
READ As the Book of Mormon nears its close, it proclaims the power of the Atonement and demonstrates Mormon’s faithfulness to the cause of righteousness, even while Nephites were falling rapidly into profound wickedness. Mormon’s letters to his son Moroni reveal the inevitable results of sin and how becoming “past feeling” leads to indescribable wickedness.
In contrast to Mormon’s message of love in Moroni 7:44–48, Mormon’s second epistle to Moroni included warnings against something many struggle with today—anger.
Anger leads to sorrow and suffering.
READ Moroni 9:3 And now behold, my son, I fear lest the Lamanites shall destroy this people; for they do not repent, and Satan stirreth them up continually to anger one with another.
4 Behold, I am laboring with them continually; and when I speak the word of God with sharpness they tremble and anger against me; and when I use no sharpness they harden their hearts against it; wherefore, I fear lest the Spirit of the Lord hath ceased striving with them.
5 For so exceedingly do they anger that it seemeth me that they have no fear of death; and they have lost their love, one towards another; and they thirst after blood and revenge continually.
-According to Moroni 9:3–5, what were some of the consequences of the Nephites’ anger?
-What warnings can we take from these verses?
I can have hope in Christ regardless of my circumstances.
After describing the wickedness he had seen, Mormon told his son not to grieve.
READ Moroni 9:25 My son, be faithful in Christ; and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever.
-What does it mean to you for Christ to “lift [you] up”?
-What attributes of Christ and principles of His gospel “rest in your mind” and give you hope?
26 And may the grace of God the Father, whose throne is high in the heavens, and our Lord Jesus Christ, who sitteth on the right hand of his power, until all things shall become subject unto him, be, and abide with you forever. Amen.
-How can you encourage and reassure others in times of trial?
READ Mormon expressed support and confidence in his son Moroni. President Gordon B.Hinckley emphasized the importance of such words, “In your associations one with
another, build and strengthen one another. ‘No man is an
island; on man stands alone.’ We so need help and
encouragement and strength, one from another.”
(Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, 45)
EXTRA CREDIT/ADDITIONAL BLESSINGS: The following study was sent to me by one of my sisters with a recommendation that we might discuss it on a family zoom that we hold each week. I thought it was something that I should share and so, here it is.
Wendy Watson Nelson, in a talk, cited a study examining the results of what happens when you “Let the Spirit (HG) Take the Lead.”
The instructions for implementing the study are:
Results of the Study
Those participating found that they had:
Susan’s (my sister) comments were:
LAST WORDS: In a day when many followers of Christ forsake righteousness to pursue the enticements of the world, what is expected of faithful Church members? President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) explained: “In the final letter recorded in the Book of Mormon from Mormon to his son Moroni, he gave counsel that applies to our day. Both father and son were seeing a whole Christian civilization fall because its people would not serve the God of the land, even Jesus Christ. Mormon wrote, ‘And now, my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God’ (Moroni 9:6). You and I have a similar labor to perform now—to conquer the enemy and rest our souls in the kingdom.” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1987, 104; or Ensign, Nov. 1987, 85).
Does the news in the world ever disturb or depress you? Consider the world that Moroni faced. In Chapter 8:3-24 Mormon informed his son Moroni of the extreme wickedness and barbarism of the Lamanites and Nephites. But in the middle of this sad report, Mormon interjects a choice expression that applies to all of us in our own day of wickedness. Look for the three reasons we should press forward to “labor diligently,” even when it appears that there are no positive results of our labors: “And now my beloved son, notwithstanding all their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God” (verse 6). We always hope and pray that our efforts to love and serve others will yield results in their lives, but when it doesn’t seem to work out, we can know that we are preparing to “rest our souls” with God (see also D&C 4:2, 4).
Note the additional touching communications from Mormon to Moroni in 8:2-3, 30; 9:22, 25-26. These verses represent the thoughtful, loving, godly feelings of all righteous parents toward their children, and are a delightful insight into the character and relationship of these father/son prophets. In verse 25 Mormon blessed his son not to be weighed down over the tragic attitudes and events of their day.
We can likewise take solace in Mormon’s words to Moroni as we ‘liken’ his messages unto us. We have a loving God who is our Father, and an elder Brother who died that we might live. If we permit Him, Christ will lift us up.
Let us live this week in a manner that lets us be lifted. Consider implementing the study cited by Sister Nelson on the previous page. Don’t save it for the New Year’s resolution list. Have a good week, have hope in what is to come and be of good cheer.
Greg