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CHAPTER 7An invitation to enter into the rest of the Lord—Pray with real intent—The Spirit of Christ enables men to know good from evil—Satan persuades men to deny Christ and do evil—The prophets manifest the coming of Christ—By faith miracles are wrought and angels minister—Men should hope for eternal life and cleave unto charity. [Between A.D. 400 and 421] |
Moroni, as spokesman of his father Mormon, sets forth the invitation to
man whereby thy may enter into that HOPE of obtaining 'the rest of the Lord'
through Faith in and through Christ by the walking in the Love of God which
is Charity— Prayer is to be with real intent—It is Satan who persuades men to evil and to deny Christ—It is the Spirit of Christ which persuades men to good and to life eternal—Prophets manifest Christ and his coming—By Faith are miracles wrought and do angels minister unto this second estate—Man's great Hope is unto eternal life which they may obtain through the Love of God in them unto Charity. [Between A.D. 416 and 421] |
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1 AND now I, Moroni, write a few of
the words of my father Mormon, which he
spakea concerning
afaith, hope, and
charityb; for after this manner did
he speak unto the people, as he taught them in the
bsynagogue which they had built for the place of worship.
2 And now I, Mormon, speak unto you, my beloved brethren; and it is by the agrace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, and his holy will, because of the gift of his bcalling unto me, that I am permitted to speak unto you at this timea.
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1a I, Moroni, write a few of the words of
my father Mormon, which he spake Mormon did upon occasion speak
unto the Nepites in their synagogues as the prophet of God. But as Mormon's
attention did turn unto the wars and battles of the Nephites, Moroni was
called to the ministry, and while Mormon fought the battles, it was Moroni,
Mormon's son, who became the 'spokesman' to the people in behalf of the
Prophet Mormon. Futher, it is Moroni which did carry the work of his father
Mormon to a conclusion and to the bring it forth, as his father's spokesman,
to the world. And it was Moroni who was endowed with the keys of the stick
of Ephraim, which the Book of Mormon is only a part.
1b faith, hope, and charity Moroni was much impressed upon these three principles of the Gospel. He must have fully appreciated what it was that his prophet father Mormon was speaking of concerning faith, hope and charity, as Moroni quotes his father's talk upon this subject. Later Moroni will again speak relative to these topics when referencing the teaching of Ether upon the same topic and finally a third time, Moroni will then expond his own understanding upon the topic of faith, hope and charity. This triple coverage speaks much for the importance of the topic of 'faith, hope, and charity'. 2a I am permitted to speak unto you at this time Much of the time of Mormon's leadership over the armies, he was not permited by the Lord to preach unto the people. Though he was God's prophet, the words of Mormon was prohibited due to the wicked state of the Nephite nation, their lack of faith. Upon occasion, Mormon was allowed to address the more righteous as in this case before a 'church' (synagogue) gathering of the minority which did remain among the Nephites who were the peaceable followers of Christ. This was not a strong message of repentance which would have been delived to the wicked of the Nephtes, which at times Mormon was allowed to speak. This was a dissertation before a righteous body teaching them the higher principles of salvation and the gospel of faith, hope, and charity. |
1a
1 Cor. 13:13 (1-13); Ether 12:3 (3-37); Moro. 8:14; Moro. 10:20-23; 2 Ne. 26:30 b Alma 16:13; 3 Ne. 18:32 2a TG Grace b 3 Ne. 5:13; TG Called of God
It is thought by some that Moroni had something like unto a Church handbook which had esential ordiances and doctrines recorded in it for such dissemination through out the church. This would explain the presentation of such esential ordiances of the church in the chapters of Moroni's final short book. The esential doctrine of faith, hope, and charity seems to be somewhat in parallel with the Lectures on Faith as delivered to the school of the Prophets in the restored church. An esential understanding of God is presented, the workings of faith and a hope in Christ being coupled with the Love of God is presented in both. |
Mormon Speaks on Faith, Hope, and Charity |
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3 Wherefore, I would speak unto you that are of the
achurch, that are the bpeaceable
followers of Christ, and that have obtained a sufficient
chope by which ye can enter into the
drest of the Lord, from this time henceforth until ye shall
rest with him in heaven.
4 And now my brethren, I judge these things of you because of your peaceable awalk with the children of men. 5 For I remember the word of God, which saith by their aworks ye shall know them; for if their works be good, then they are good also.
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3a
TG
Jesus Christ, Head of Church b Acts 13:16; Rom. 16:20 c Alma 7:16; Ether 12:4; D&C 138:14 d TG Rest 4a 1 John 2:6; D&C 19:23 5a 3 Ne. 14:20 (15-20)
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6 For behold, God hath said a man being aevil
cannot do that which is good; for if he boffereth a gift,
or cprayeth unto God, except he shall do it with real
dintent it profiteth him nothing.
7 For behold, it is not counted unto him for righteousness. 8 For behold, if a man being aevil giveth a gift, he doeth it bgrudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God.
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6a
Matt. 7:16 (15-18) b Lev. 17:8-9; D&C 132:9 c Prov. 28:9; Alma 34:28; TG Prayer d Lev. 19:5; TG Hypocrisy TG Motivations; TG Sincerity 8a Prov. 15:8 b 1 Chr. 29:9; D&C 64:34
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9 And likewise also is it counted evil unto a man, if he shall pray
and not with areal intent of heart; yea, and it profiteth
him nothing, for God receiveth none such.
10 Wherefore, a man being evil cannot do that which is good; neither will he give a good gift. 11 For behold, a bitter afountain cannot bring forth good water; neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter water; wherefore, a man being a servant of the devil cannot follow Christ; and if he bfollow Christ he cannot be a cservant of the devil.
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9a
James 1:6-7;
James 5:16;
Moro. 10:4; TG Sincerity 11a Prov. 13:14; James 3:11 b Matt. 6:24; Matt. 8:19; 2 Ne. 31:10-13; D&C 56:2 c TG Servant
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12 Wherefore, all things which are agood cometh of
God; and that which is bevil cometh of the devil; for the
devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and
inviteth and enticeth to csin, and to do that which is evil
continually.
13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do agood continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and benticeth to do cgood, and to love God, and to serve him, is dinspired of God. 14 Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is aevil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil.
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12a
Gen. 1:31;
James 1:17-21; 1 John 4:1-6; 3 John 1:11 (1-14); Ether 4:12; D&C 59:17 (16-20); Moses 2:31 b Isa. 45:7; 2 Cor. 4:4; TG Evil c Alma 5:40 (39-42); Hel. 6:30; TG Sin 13a D&C 35:12; D&C 84:47-51 b 2 Ne. 33:4; Ether 8:26 c TG Benevolence d TG Inspiration 14a Isa. 5:20; 2 Ne. 15:20; D&C 64:16; D&C 121:16
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15 For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to
ajudge, 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 aSpirit of Christ is given to every bman, that he may cknow good from evila; 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 aevil, 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.
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16a the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil And it is that spirit which persuadeth man to do good. Thus the Spirit of Christ is also preliminary and a forerunner unto the reception of the Holy Ghost and those extended purposes and those things of that spirit of revelation which does reveal the Father and the Son and revealeth all truth and all the gifts of God unto the children of men. And while the two roles of the Spirit of Christ and the Spirit of the Holy Ghost may be so set forth distinctly as such, in the performance of the works of the spirit they are not so succinctly divided. And thus often in the scripture, when the 'Spirit of God' is referenced it could be the Spirit of Christ or the Spirit of the Holy Ghost, and it mattereth not which. For the Godhead worketh as One God, unto the one and the same purpose, which is to the bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. But one should understand the intents and purposes unto the ordinances of the gospel, that the Gift of the Holy Ghost is given only in conjunction with those ordinances of salvation which pertain unto it. Other than that, the spirit of the Holy Ghost may function and come unto man and leave again outside of that constantan companionship given by the ordinance of the bestowal and gift of the Holy Ghost upon man. And it is to this end that the concept of the Spirit of Christ bringeth man unto repentance and baptism through the choosing of good over evil and then it is by the ordiances of baptism, even by that of water and of the spirit, that man does receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and that constant companionship to be with him to the extent that he does not rebell against it. Thus in precisely defined roles, the Spirit of Christ is preliminary in bring man unto repentance and the Holy Ghost is to that which man is brought and the reception thereof an is that constant companion and comforter that other comforter promised by the Lord that was to come and be upon man unto the purpose, intent and process of salvation, exaltation, even eternal life. |
15a
Ezek. 44:24;
TG
Discernment, Spiritual 16a TG Conscience; TG God, Spirit of; TG Light of Christ b TG Mortality c Gen. 3:5; Amos 5:14-15; Matt. 12:33-37; 2 Ne. 2:5, 18, 26; Mosiah 16:3; Alma 29:5; Hel. 14:31; Ether 4:12 (11-12) 17a TG Sin
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18 And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the
alight by which ye may judge, which light is the light of
Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same
bjudgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged.
19 Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the alight 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 bchild of Christ.
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18a
Mosiah 16:9;
Ether 3:14;
D&C 50:24; D&C 88:13 (7-13); TG Light of Christ b Luke 6:37 19a D&C 84:45; D&C 88:7 (6-13) b Mosiah 15:10; Mosiah 27:25; TG Sons and Daughters of God
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20 And now, my brethren, how is it possible that ye can lay hold
upon every good thing?
21 And now I come to that faith, of which I said I would speak; and I will tell you the way whereby ye may lay hold on every good thing. 22 For behold, God aknowing all things, being from beverlasting to everlasting, behold, he sent cangels to ministera unto the children of men, to make manifest concerning the coming of Christ; and in Christ there should come every good thing.
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22a angels to minister We do believe in the ministering of angels for of such has been that order of things in the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Book of Mormon (Omni 1:25) and not today in the latter days. And there are no angels who minister to this earth but those that do belong or have belonged, that is pertained unto it. This including even Jesus Christ, our God and Lord of the Old Testament, for indeed he did and does pertain unto it and does minister there to in all things in the stead of the FATHER, the FATHER being exalted beyond this estate of this earth and not to retrogress to so minister unto it but by way of the Son. |
22a
TG
God, Foreknowledge of; TG God, Omniscience of b 2 Ne. 19:6; 2 Ne. 26:12; Mosiah 3:5; Alma 11:39 (38-39, 44); Moro. 8:18; TG God, Eternal Nature of c Acts 10:3, 22; 2 Ne. 10:3; 2 Ne. 11:3; Jacob 7:5
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23 And God also declared unto prophets, by his own mouth, that
Christ should come.
24 And behold, there were divers ways that he did manifest things unto the children of men, which were good; and all things which are good cometh of Christ; otherwise men were afallen, and there could no good thing come unto them. 25 Wherefore, by the ministering of aangels, 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. 26 And after that he came men also were asaved by faith in his name; and by faith, they become the bsons of God. And as sure as Christ liveth he spake these words unto our fathers, saying: cWhatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is good, in faith believing that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you.
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24a
2 Ne. 2:5 25a Alma 12:29 (28-30); Moses 5:58 26a D&C 3:20 b TG Sons and Daughters of God c 3 Ne. 18:20; TG Prayer
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27 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, have amiracles
ceased because Christ hath ascended into heaven, and hath sat down on the
right hand of God, to bclaim of the Father his rights of
mercy which he hath upon the children of men?
28 For he hath answered the ends of the law, and he claimeth all those who have faith in him; and they who have faith in him will acleave unto every good thing; wherefore he badvocateth the cause of the children of men; and he dwelleth eternally in the heavens. 29 And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have aangels ceased to minister unto the children of men.
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27a
TG
Miracle b Isa. 53:12 (11-12); 2 Ne. 2:9 28a TG Motivations b 1 John 2:1; 2 Ne. 2:9; Mosiah 14:12; Mosiah 15:8; 3 Ne. 18:35; TG Jesus Christ, Relationships with the Father 29a Judg. 13:3; Luke 1:26; Acts 5:19-20; TG Angels; TG Miracle
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30 For behold, they are subject unto him, to minister according to
the word of his command, showing themselves unto them of strong faith and a
firm mind in every form of agodliness.
31 And the office of their ministry is to call men unto repentance, and to fulfill and to do the work of the covenants of the Father, which he hath made unto the children of men, to prepare the way among the children of men, by declaring the word of Christ unto the achosen vessels of the Lord, that they may bear testimony of him. 32 And by so doing, the Lord God prepareth the way that the aresidue of men may have bfaith in Christ, that the Holy Ghost may have place in their hearts, according to the power thereof; and after this manner bringeth to pass the Father, the covenants which he hath made unto the children of men.
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30a
TG
Godliness 31a D&C 20:10 32a Acts 15:17; Moses 7:28 b Acts 16:5; D&C 46:14
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33 And Christ hath said: aIf ye will have
bfaith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is
cexpedient in me.
34 And he hath said: aRepent 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.
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33a
Moro. 10:23 b Gal. 2:16; TG Faith c D&C 88:64-65 34a 3 Ne. 27:20; Ether 4:18
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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 apower and great glory at the last
bday, 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 awithheld 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 amiracles 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 bunbelief, 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.
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35a
2 Ne. 33:11;
Ether 5:4-6 b Morm. 9:15; D&C 35:8 36a 1 Ne. 10:17-19; Moro. 10:7 (4-5, 7, 19) 37a Matt. 13:58; Morm. 8:26; Morm. 9:20; Ether 12:12-18 b Moro. 10:19-27
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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 afit to be numbered among
the people of his church.
40 And again, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto you concerning ahope. How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save ye shall have hope? 41 And what is it that ye shall ahope for?a Behold I say unto you that ye shall have bhope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life ceternalb, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.
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41a what is it that ye shall hope
for? Faith, Hope and Charity work together unto exaltation. But
often 'Hope' is confused in with and becomes a part of 'Faith' and to some
people it is not a well distinguished concept. Faith is that belief in God,
in Christ which moves men into action. Hope is that aim, goal or distination
toward which that faith unto action is directed. It is that eternal goal
which we ought to have ever before us which may be stated in various manners
and ways which aid in man's understanding of what that eternal aim, goal and
untimate hope of man is in relationship to how man may go about to attain it.
Then Charity being that pure love of God which brings to pass the pureness
and acceptability of all intent, purpose and action. Indeed if one does love
God, he will keep his commandments unto salvation.
41b to be raised unto life eternal Simply stated this is our ultimate great Hope, that in and through the atonement of Christ we many be saved unto life eternal. This Hope is also stated in Ether 12:4 in defering terms. There it states it as that 'hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God'. And thus it is as man's understanding of God increases, that Hope becomes more fully understood. And as a bright and shining star to which men do strive and attain to, it becomes that 'anchor to the souls of men', which they may look to. It being that guiding beacon and light whereby if men walk within it, the may become EVAN AS GOD IS. And the light, beacon, way, path, truth and life is in and through Jesus Christ, that as we do seek to follow him as his true disciples, we may become even as He and as the Father are. And if we come to know that God, the Son and the Father, and seek after him unto putting on the very image of Christ, in that Christ so has marked to way before us whereby we may obtain that HOPE, the Kingdom of the Father, to become Kings and Queens of the most high forever and ever, Amen. |
39a
TG
Worthiness 40a Heb. 11:1; Ether 12:4; TG Hope 41a D&C 138:14 b Zech. 9:12 (11-12); Titus 1:2; Jacob 2:19; Alma 46:39 c TG Eternal Life
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42 Wherefore, if a man have afaith he
bmust needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be
any hope.
43 And again, behold I say unto you that he cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be ameek, and lowly of heart. 44 If so, his afaith and hope is vain, for none is bacceptable before God, save the cmeek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and dconfesses 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.
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42a
TG
Faith b Moro. 10:20 43a TG Humility 44a 1 Cor. 13:13 (1-13); Alma 7:24; Ether 12:31 (28-35) b Lev. 10:19 c TG Meekness d Luke 12:8-9; TG Holy Ghost, Gifts of; TG Testimony;
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45 And acharity suffereth long, and is
bkind, and cenvieth not, and is not
puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily dprovoked,
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—
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45a
1 Cor. 13:4 (1-13) b TG Kindness c TG Envy d TG Provoking
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47 But acharity is the pure blove
of Christ, and it endureth cforever; and whoso is found
possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, apray 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 bfollowers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall cbe like him, for we shall see him as he isa; that we may have this hope; that we may be dpurified even as he is pure. Amen.
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48a when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is John the Beloved states the same thing in 1 John 3:2. Here Moroni is conveying the teachings of his father Mormon, whether Moroni embelishes them or not it is not totally clear. But it does make one wonder whether Mormon or Moroni did so encounter the beloved apostle John to have obtained the same conclusion, or whether it was taught to them from some other joint source, be it scriptural or of the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Give the certainty of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, it would be of some interest to know from whence the exact parallel was derived from. |
47a
Rom. 13:10;
2 Ne. 26:30;
TG
Charity b Josh. 22:5; Ether 12:34; Moro. 7:48; TG Love c TG Eternity 48a TG Communication; TG Prayer b TG Jesus Christ, Exemplar c 1 John 3:2 (1-3); 3 Ne. 27:27 d 3 Ne. 19:28-29; TG Cleanliness; TG Purity
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