Book of Mormon Commentary - Moroni 9

by Don R. Hender

THE BOOK OF MORONI The second epistle of Mormon to his son Moroni.
Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 9 Both the Nephites and the Lamanites are deprived and degenerate—They torture and murder each other—Mormon prays that grace and goodness may rest upon Moroni forever. [Between A.D. 400 and 421]	Both the Nephites and Lamanites are deprived and degenerate to the point that Mormon in his record refused to further record their wars and activities so gross were they—This letter gives a brief hint of what it was that Mormon had refused to recite in his record—Mormon prays for Moroni's success with the gospel in the lands still north which he is attempting to protect but he hold little hope for the Nephite people as a whole—He does hold out blessings of hope upon his son Moroni unto grace and goodness upon him forever. [Letter written about A.D. 380 (See Mormon 5:6]	Rather than stating it as 'the second letter', perhaps callig it 'another letter' from Mormon to his son Moroni than that recorded in chapter 8 would be more correct, for we know not how many letters Mormon did write to his son, and the when and where of all of them—Again, this letter is written after the one in chapter 8 and while Moroni is in Nephite lands north of the lands of Mormon's battles, likely about the time of the 'Jordan defense' colapse when Mormon's intent was to protect the lands north of him as recorded in the first of Mormon chapter 5 and/or thereafter.
The State of the Affairs It is considered here that Mormon is located in the midst of the on going war between the ever retreating Nephites and the advancing Lamanites. And Moroni is much further north in a relative place of security at the time with the retreating Nephites, organizing, ministering to them and being their religious Church leader. It is likely with Moroni that the safety of the Nephites records are also in place and relatively secure with those Nephites who live and who have retreated further north from the on going battle line and forces of the armies of Mormon against the armies of Aaron, the Lamanite King. Fitted to Mormon's account in the small abridge immediate book entitled Mormon, it seem to most readily fit at that stage and time when the last attempted Nephite 'stand' was being attempted as recorded in Mormon chapter 5. There in verse 2 Mormon records that he was 'without hope' for he knew that judgements of the Lord. At the time Mormon and his forces held a where they had feld to at the city of Jordan. And there, while in possession with other Nephites cities, Mormon's forces make a stand and able to at first maintain 'the city' of Jordan where Mormon was. And they were able to maintain the strongholds at that time of Jordan and other cities such as are believed to have been mentioned by Mormon in his letter to his son Moroni listed in this current 'letter chapter' to Moroni. So with that association of Mormon's stand as recorded in the first verses of Mormon 5 in combination with this letter to Moroni at about that same time, we can fit to gether a larger view of the events when the retreating Nephites did hold for a time at the 'Defense of Jordon' and just how it was and how it was that even in the midst of it all, it was still all just falling apart for the Nephites. THE DEFENSE AT JORDON WITH OTHER CITIES Compare Mormon 5:3-7 & Moroni 9:all
1 MY beloved son, I write unto you again that ye may know that I am yet alive; but I write somewhat of that which is grievous. 2 For behold, I have had a sore battle with the Lamanites, in which we did not conquer^a; and Archeantus has fallen by the sword, and also Luram and Emron^b; yea, and we have lost a great number of our choice men. 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 ^aanger one with another.	2^a I have had a sore battle with the Lamanites, in which we did not conquer Mormon had 'conquered' three times previous. He had delived the Nephites in the land of Zarahemla when his armies defeated the armies of Aaron when Mormon was yet but age about 20. Then after a period of about 14 years, a period of personal life and securding the records according to the word of Ammaron, Mormon retured to service and delived the Nephites after they had lost Zarahemla and been persued by the Lamanites on passed the land of Boaz and thence to Shem, where Mormon was able to rally the Nephites and did 'conquer' again. After that occasion, Mormon remained their leader over some 10 years of peace, but he did continually prepare for war at the site of the northern defense of the narrow neck, the city of Desolation. And when the Lamanites did come again, again Mormon prevailed and 'conquered'. Thus in all three major wars with the Lamanites which Mormon had led them in, he has 'conquered'. Now in this last return to the defense of the Nephites, Mormon has finally met with defeat and conquered not. He had hope at the Jordan defense and with the defensive cities and strong holds such as Sherrizah and Moriantum to again conquer and deliver the Nephites. He had stalled them for a time, but now Mormon reports that he has been over run and is without hope except unto continual retreat. 2^b Archeantus has fallen by the sword, and also Luram and Emron The specific naming of these three particular men to Moroni seems to suggest that these are men with whom Moroni is familiar with and would have been concerned about. Moroni would have spent time with his father and become aquianted with a number of Mormon's highly respected and reveared associates in military matters. The loss of such specific choice men with whom Moroni was familiar with as well as a 'great number' of other such choice men in this 'last' real chance of success, would have been quite devastating and of a significant matter to give to Moroni for his understanding of the nature of the matter. In short that land was falling and Mormon had failed in his attempt to keep the Lamanites in check to the end of protection the lands further north. The time for repentance had run out, even for those further north where Moroni was performing his ministry unto the people, attempting to call them unto repentance.	3^a TG Anger
4 Behold, I am laboring with them continually; and when I speak the word of God with ^asharpness they tremble and anger against me; and when I use no sharpness they ^bharden their hearts against it; wherefore, I fear lest the Spirit of the Lord hath ceased ^cstriving 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 ^athirst after blood and revenge continually.		4^a 2 Ne. 1:26-27; W of M 1:17; D&C 121:43 (41-43) ^b TG Hardheartedness ^c Moro. 8:28; D&C 1:33 5^a Morm. 4:11-12
6 And now, my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor ^adiligently; for if we should cease to ^blabor, 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.		6^a TG Dedication; TG Diligence; TG Perserverance ^b 1 Sam. 8:9; 2 Cor. 5:9; Jacob 1:19; Enos 1:20; TG Duty; TG Priesthood, Magnifying Callings within
Matching Account to Mormon 5 It is in Mormon chapter 5 that Mormon leaves off giving a fuller account of the Nephite's continual retreat and wars for a time of about 3 to 4 years until they have come to the far north regions where they'll take their final stand at Cumorah. Because of these missing details, many 'quick study' Book of Mormon scholars do base their analysis of the Book into a very limited Book of Mormon geography even to the point of placing the hill of Cumorah within a day's journey or so from their proposed narrow neck of land. They just do not reckon that the Nephites did flee and retreat under such poor conditions which Mormon would no longer give an accounting of even though Mormon states such. "And now, I, Mormon, do not desire to harrow up the souls of men in casting before them such an awful scene of blood and carnage as was laid before mine eyes; but I, knowing that these things must surely be made known, and that all things which are hid must be revealed upon the house-tops—therefore I write a small abridgement, daring not to give a full account of the things which I have seen, because of the commandment which I have received, and also that ye might not have too great sorrow because of the wickedness of this people." ~ Mormon 5:8 & 9 {selective} With that Mormon explains that even though commanded to make his record, he has determined to make his highly abridged account even more highly abridged to leave out much of the awfulness of the proceedings of the war for the next 3 to 4 years. But we do capture here in Moroni 9 just a brief snippet of one little sequence of battle that Mormon does confide in a letter to his son Moroni. As you read these horrors know they are but a very small fraction of what Mormon has actually withheld from us, not wishing to burden us with it. But we ought not leave Mormon in the middle of the center of the land within a day's march from the narrow neck just to create a false image of the geography of the Book of Mormon as some have done. Now on to just a couple of those horrors Mormon withheld from us in his record.
7 And now I write somewhat concerning the sufferings of this people. For according to the knowledge which I have received from Amoron, behold, the Lamanites have many prisoners, which they took from the tower of Sherrizah; and there were men, women, and children. 8 And the husbands and fathers of those women and children they have slain; and they feed the women upon the ^aflesh of their husbands, and the children upon the flesh of their fathers; and no water, save a little, do they give unto them.		8^a Lev. 26:29; 1 Ne. 21:26
9 And notwithstanding this great ^aabomination of the Lamanites, it doth not exceed that of our people in Moriantum. For behold, many of the daughters of the Lamanites have they taken prisoners^a; and after ^bdepriving them of that which was most dear and precious above all things, which is chastity and virtue^b— 10 And after they had done this thing, they did murder them in a most ^acruel manner, torturing their bodies even unto death; and after they have done this, they devour their flesh like unto wild beasts, because of the hardness of their hearts; and they do it for a token of bravery.	9^a many of the daughters of the Lamanites have they taken prisoners Over the course of a war there are many back and forth battles. Here is given the nature of the armies. When the Lamanites would come against the Nephites, they did not march as men alone, the families of those men would march forth with them, their women and their children. This was a population movement. Mormon reports that in this war he does not couquer, yet in the battles back and forth, the Lamanites who would seemingly be far away from their last lands of possession, Zarahemla, have their daughters and family with them. That is, as the Lamanties do march against the Nephites, they are bring their families with them and so populating the lands of the Nephites all along the way. What might be motivating this type of warfare and general population war movement can but be contemplated. Had the lands of the Lamanites become drought ridden? Or was it just out of their absolute hatred for the Nephites that they were so motivated to move forth with families in tow? There are various evidences that the Lamanite populations of Peru if not also Zarahemla, were experiencing drought and famine conditions in the south. Thus perhaps coupled with their hatred of the Nephites, they were also fighting their own battle for survival. 9^b that which was most dear and precious above all things, which is chastity and virtue Now sexual sin is already next to murder as to the seriousness of the sin. And who is to say that but such forced rape with the eventual intent to murder the innocent, is not even greater than that of simple sheading of innocent blood. Thus this is one of the grossest sins that can ever be committed if not the most gross of all sins for the age of some of these daughters would likely have placed them in the range of being but children. And were the unpardonable sin unto that of becoming a Son of Perdition includes the denial of Christ after the sure witness of the Holy Ghost, which sin cast man off forever into outer darkness with Satan in the sides of the pit; yet this degree and level of sin must be thought to be that in which a man would receive no degree or glory, to be left unto himself even after the resurrection unto mortality which comes upon all men.	9^a TG Body, Sanctity ^b TG Sensuality ^c TG Chastity ^d TG Virtue 10^a TG Cruelty
11 O my beloved son, how can a people like this, that are without civilization^a— 12 (And only a few years have passed away, and they were a civil and a delightsome people)
13 But O my son, how can a people like this, whose ^adelight is in so much abomination— 14 How can we expect that God will ^astay his hand in judgment against us? 15 Behold, my heart cries: Wo unto this people. Come out in judgment, O God, and hide their sins, and wickedness, and abominations from before thy face!		13^a 2 Ne. 9:9 (8-9); Jacob 3:11 14^a 2 Sam. 24:16; Alma 10:23
16 And again, my son, there are many ^awidows and their daughters who remain in Sherrizah; and that part of the provisions which the Lamanites did not carry away, behold, the army of Zenephi has carried away, and left them to wander whithersoever they can for food; and many old women do faint by the way and die^a. 17 And the army which is with me is weak; and the armies of the Lamanites are betwixt Sherrizah and me; and as many as have fled to the army of ^aAaron^a have fallen victims to their awful brutality. 18 O the depravity of my people! They are without ^aorder and without mercy. Behold, I am but a man, and I have but the ^bstrength of a man, and I cannot any longer enforce my commands^a. 19 And they have become strong in their perversion; and they are alike brutal, sparing none, neither old nor young; and they delight in everything save that which is good; and the suffering of our women and our children upon all the face of this land doth exceed everything; yea, tongue cannot tell, neither can it be written^a.	17^a as many as have fled to the army of Aaron This would seem to be Mormon's 'arch enemy', the king of the Lamanites, Aaron, who Mormon defeated back in the land of Zarahemla when but 20 years old. Now Mormon is in his 60s, as would likely be this King Aaron if it be that he is this same Aaron. 18^a I cannot any longer enforce my commands The wickedness of the Nephites is to the extent that they do not any longer follow their leaders. In fact they do rebell against all such authority over them especially it it comes from God. Thus it is that Mormon cannot any longer enforce his commands, as they do not obey them but rather do as they will do in and of themselves. This is a rebellion against order. God is a God of order and not of chaos. And the Nephites no longer obey but are given unto the chaos of the natural man, yeilding not unto any control or order whatsoever. 19^a tongue cannot tell, neither can it be written What Mormon writes to his son Moroni is but a minute fractional hint of the terrible horror and grossness of the scene before his eyes. And what little he wrote to Moroni in this letter never did he record any of it in his own record. There he states, ' ... I, Mormon, do not desire to harrow up the souls of men in casting before them such an awful scene of blood and carnage as was laid before mine eyes ... therefore I write a small abridgement, daring not to give a full account of the things which I have seen, because of the commandment which I have received, and also that ye might not have too great sorrow because of the wickedness of this people' (Mormon 5:8&9).	16^a Mosiah 21:10, 17; TG Widows 17^a Morm. 2:9 18^a TG Order ^b TG Strength
20 And now, my son, I dwell no longer upon this horrible scene^a. Behold, thou knowest the wickedness of this people; thou knowest that they are without principle^b, and past feeling; and their wickedness doth ^aexceed that of the Lamanites. 21 Behold, my son, I cannot recommend them unto God lest he should smite me.	20^a I dwell no longer upon this horrible scene 20^b thye are without principle What gives the order or truth to the Kingdom of God is the concept of principles. That is matters of correct and proper living. When a people is 'without principle', they no longer consider the order and the ways of God and righteousness. They have no sense of morality, no sense of right and wrong. They have given in totally to the opposition rather than just experiencing it and turning there from, they have become totally engulfed by it. This is the state of having become ripened in their sins when they care no more for anything good, but are partakers of evil continually. The best one can do for such is to end their mortal probation for they are no longer is any control of themselves but in total bondage to sin. For such the only hope is that 'eternal punishment' of the spirit prision away from the body of their corruption where they may through the passage of much time resolve to turn from such wickedness and be sanctified to a stae of righteousness and incorruption, and a lesser kingdom of glory at best.	20^a Hel. 6:34 (18-35)
22 But behold, my son, I recommend thee unto God, and I trust in Christ that thou wilt be saved; and I ^apray unto God that he will ^bspare thy life, to witness the return of his people unto him, or their utter destruction; for I know that they must perish except they ^crepent and return unto him. 23 And if they perish it will be like unto the ^aJaredites, because of the wilfulness of their hearts, ^bseeking for blood and ^crevenge. 24 And if it so be that they perish, we know that many of our brethren have ^adeserted over unto the Lamanites, and many more will also desert over unto them; wherefore, write somewhat a few things, if thou art spared and I shall perish and not see thee; but I trust that I may see thee soon; for I have sacred records that I would ^bdeliver up unto thee^a.	24^a I have sacred records that I would deliver up unto thee It ought not be considered that Mormon had all of the records of the Nephites that he had been set in charge to protect with him in the midst of the heat of the battle field. Surely the precaution had been to send them far and away to the north with Moroni, the church and the saints who the armies were striveing to protect. But Mormon seems to have kept a few 'plates' / records with him in order to keep that immediate history of his time which the Lord had additionally commanded him to keep. One might jump here to think these were the few plates Mormon later gives Moroni at Cumorah. I'd suggest not, for those where such that Moroni was to further his part of the record upon and Mormon had added his recordings unto the rest of the records of the Nephites that Moroni had been keep safe, and at Cumorah the bulk of the finished records were put into the hill of Cummorah. Yet by Moroni's wordings of 'finishing his father's record' there is some reason to think the two 'little records' where closely related as Moroni did first finish his father's record and a that time consider he was finished. And then he later provided the record of Ether and did also prepare his own small book of Moroni as well.	22^a W of M 1:8 ^b Morm. 8:3 ^c 1 Sam. 7:3; Hel. 13:11; 3 Ne. 10:6 (5-7); 3 Ne. 24:7 23^a Jacob 5:44 ^b Morm. 4:11-12 ^c Ether 15:22 (15-31) 24^a Alma 45:14 ^b Morm. 6:6; Morm. 8:1
25 My son, be faithful in Christ; and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto ^adeath; but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and ^blong-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your ^cmind forever. 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 ^aright hand of his power, until all things shall become subject unto him, be, and abide with you forever. Amen.		25^a TG Jesus Christ, Death of ^b TG Forbearance ^c TG Mind 26^a TG Jesus Christ, Relationship with the Father

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