Book of Mormon (Plain English Version)/Moroni

From Wikisource

←Ether

The Book of Mormon (Plain English Version) Moroni

Moroni writes to latter-day Lamanites... (compare Moroni, chapter 1)

When I, Moroni, finished engraving my shorter version of Ether's record, I thought I would not be able to engrave more words. I thought by now I would have been killed by the Lamanites.

But I have survived by hiding from them. Their wars among themselves are very fierce, and because of their hatred, they kill every Nephite that will not deny Christ. I will not deny Him, so I go wherever I can to save my life.

Since I am still alive, I will engrave a few more words that may perhaps be of worth to my brethren, the Lamanites, in some future day, according to the Lord's will.

These are the words that Christ spoke to each of His twelve disciples as He laid His hands upon them:

Giving gift of Holy Ghost... (compare Moroni, chapter 2)

Calling them by name, He said,

“

"You will call on the Father in my name in mighty prayer. After this, you will have the power to lay your hands upon others and in my name give them the Holy Ghost, for this is what my apostles do."

”

Christ said these words to His disciples when He first appeared, and the multitude did not hear. But the disciples heard Christ, and the Holy Ghost fell upon all those on whom the disciples laid their hands.

Ordaining to priesthood... (compare Moroni, chapter 3)

This is how the disciples, who were called the elders of the church, ordained priests and teachers:

After they had prayed to the Father in the name of Christ, they laid their hands upon them, and said,

“

In the name of Jesus Christ, I ordain you to be a priest (or teacher). I ordain you to preach repentance and remission of sins through Jesus Christ, by enduring to the end with faith in His name. Amen.

”

This is how they ordained priests and teachers according to God's gifts and callings to men. They ordained them by the Holy Ghost's power which was in them.

Blessing the bread... (compare Moroni, chapter 4)

This is how the elders and priests administered the sacrament of Christ to the church. They did it according to Christ's commandments, and so we know it is the true way. They knelt down with the church and prayed to the Father in Christ's name, saying,

“

Oh 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, Oh 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 has given them, that they may always have His Spirit to be with them. Amen.

”

Blessing the wine... (compare Moroni, chapter 5)

This is the way they administered the wine. They took the cup and said,

“

Oh God, the Eternal Father, we ask Thee, in the name of Thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of Thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto Thee, Oh God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember Him, that they may have His Spirit to be with them. Amen.

”

Taking the name of Christ... (compare Moroni, chapter 6)

Now I will write about baptism. Elders, priests and teachers were baptized only if they were found worthy. And they baptized only those who had a broken heart and contrite spirit, who were willing to do God's will, and who witnessed to the church that they had truly repented of all their sins.

Also, only those who were willing to take Christ's name upon themselves, having a determination to serve Him throughout their lives, were baptized.

After being baptized, they were given the Holy Ghost to come upon them and cleanse them. Then they were numbered among the people of Christ's church. Their names were written down so they would be remembered and taught God's good word.

This teaching helped them do right, to be continually watchful by praying, and to rely only upon the merits of Christ--the author and finisher of their faith.

The church met together often to fast and pray, and to speak with one another about the welfare of their souls. They also took the bread and wine in remembrance of the Lord Jesus. They were strict in seeing that there was no sinfulness among them.

If anyone was found committing sin, three witnesses of the church testified against him before the elders. And if he did not repent and confess his sins, then his name was removed from the record of Christ's people. But if he did repent and desired forgiveness with real intent, then he was forgiven.

Their meetings were conducted by the church according to the workings of the Spirit. For when the Holy Ghost's power led them to preach, or to pray, or to sing, that is what they did.

Moroni writes Mormon's words of faith, hope, charity... (compare Moroni, chapter 7)

Now I, Moroni, will write a few of the words my father Mormon spoke about faith, hope, and charity. This is what he taught our people in their synagogue:

I, Mormon, speak to you, my beloved brothers and sisters. I am allowed to speak to you now because of the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, because of His holy will, and because of the gift of His calling to me.

Because of this calling, I speak to you who are of the church, who are the peaceful followers of Christ. You have obtained enough hope by which you can enter into the Lord's rest, from now until the time when you will rest with Him in heaven.

I believe this of you because you are at peace with all people. I remember God's word, that says by their works you will know them, for if their works are good, then they are good.

God said an evil person cannot do good, for if he offers a gift or prays to God without being sincere, he receives nothing, for his works are considered not righteous.

If an evil man gives a gift, he can only do it with a grudge, so it is the same as if he had not given the gift, and he is still evil before God.

It is the same when an evil person prays. If he prays without real intent of heart, he receives nothing, for God rejects such prayers. This is why evil people cannot do good nor give a good gift.

A filthy fountain cannot bring forth good water, nor can a good fountain bring forth filthy water. Those who serve the devil cannot follow Christ and those who follow Christ cannot serve the devil.

All good things come from God and all evil things come from the devil, for the devil is God's enemy and never stops fighting Him.

The devil invites and entices us to sin and do evil continually. But whoever invites and entices us to do good continually, to love God and serve Him, is inspired of God.

So take this warning, my beloved brothers and sisters, so that you do not mistake evil to be of God, or good to be of the devil. The way to judge good from evil is as plain as judging day from night, and you may have a perfect knowledge of what is good and what is evil.

The Spirit of Christ is given to everyone so they may know good from evil. Let me tell you how to use your gift in order to judge properly.

Everything that invites you to do good and that persuades you to believe in Christ is sent by Christ's power as His gift. By this you may know with a perfect knowledge that it is of God.

When something persuades you to do evil, to deny Christ and not serve God, by this you may know with a perfect knowledge that it is of the devil. For this is how the devil works. He does not persuade anyone to do good, not even one person, nor do his angels.

And those who surrender their will to the devil cannot persuade anyone to do good.

My brothers and sisters, now that you know of this light of Christ by which you may judge, be sure that you do not judge wrongfully. For you will be judged at the last day according to how you judged others on earth.

I beg you to search diligently, using the light of Christ, so you may know good from evil.

If you embrace every good thing and do not condemn it, you will certainly become a Child of Christ. And how do you embrace every good thing? Through faith.

Because God knows all things, He sent angels to His children to tell of Christ's coming, and that every good thing comes from Him. And God Himself told His prophets Christ would come.

There were many ways that God showed good things to His children, through their faith, all of which came from Christ.

If there were no faith, people would be fallen, and good things could not come to them.

Because of visiting angels and by God's words, people began to have more faith in Christ, and with that faith they accepted every good thing. This is how people were saved before Christ came.

After He came, people were also saved by faith in His name. By faith, they became the sons and daughters of God.

As sure as Christ lives, He spoke these words to our fathers:

“

Whatever you ask the Father in my name, if it is good, and you have faith that you will receive, then it will be done for you.

”

My brothers and sisters, have miracles stopped because Christ has gone to heaven and sat down on the right hand of God, to claim His rights of mercy upon all people?

Christ answered the ends of the law, and He claims all who have faith in Him. Those who have faith in Him will hold onto every good thing. Christ pleads their cause as He lives eternally in the heavens.

And again I ask, because He has gone have miracles ceased? No, they have not, nor have angels stopped visiting people.

Angels are subject to Christ. According to His command, they show themselves to those who have strong faith and a firm mind in every form of godliness.

The office of the angels' ministry is to call people to repentance and do the work that fulfills the Father's covenants. Angels also prepare the way of Christ by declaring His word to chosen servants, who in turn bear their testimonies of Him.

By sending His angels, the Lord prepared a way for people to have faith in Christ. And faith allows the Holy Ghost to have a place in their hearts, according to His power.

This is how the Father fulfills the promises He has made to all people (the covenant to Abraham, that through his descendants all the nations of the earth would be blessed).

Christ has said,

“

If you have faith in me, you will have the power to do whatever is necessary for my cause. Repent, all people of the earth. Come to me, be baptized in my name, and have faith in me, that you may be saved.

”

If what I've said is true, are the days of miracles over? No, for with great power and glory, at the last day, God will show you that these things are true!

   Have angels stopped appearing to people?
   Has God kept the Holy Ghost's power from them?
   Will He ever withhold this power as long as there is one person on earth to be saved?

No, for miracles come by faith.

Angels appear and speak to people because of their faith. So if these things have stopped, it's because the people no longer believe.

Then they are cursed and everything they do is in vain.

No one can be saved according to Christ's words unless they have faith in His name. If miracles have stopped, then so has faith, and the people are in an awful situation, for Christ's redemption has no effect on them.

But I judge better things of you, for you have faith in Christ because of your meekness. If you had no faith in Him, then you would not be worthy to be numbered among the people of His church.

And how can you have faith unless you have hope? And what do you hope for? You hope to be raised to eternal life through Christ's atonement and the power of His resurrection. You hope for this because of your faith in Him and His promises.

So if you have faith, you also have hope, for without faith there is no hope.

And you cannot have faith and hope unless you are humble.

If you are proud, then your faith and hope are in vain, for only the humble are acceptable before God.

If you are humble and confess by the Holy Ghost's power that Jesus is the Christ, then you must have charity, for without charity you cannot do this, and you are nothing.

Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, pray to the Father with all the energy of your heart, that you may be filled with this love--a love He gives to all true followers of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Pray that you may become the sons and daughters of God--that when He appears you will be like Him, for we will all see Him as He is.

May we have this hope and be purified, even as He is pure. Amen.

Mormon's emphatic words against infant baptism... (compare Moroni, chapter 8)

This is a letter my father Mormon wrote to me, Moroni, soon after I was called to the ministry:

My beloved son, Moroni,

I rejoice greatly because your Lord Jesus Christ has remembered you and called you to His ministry and holy work.

I always remember you as I pray to God the Father in the name of His Holy Child, Jesus Christ. I pray He will protect you through His infinite goodness and grace because of your constant faith in His name throughout your life.

I'm very sorry the people you're teaching argue over the issue of infant baptism.

Now my son, I want you to work hard to stop this great error of baptizing little children. This is why I'm writing this letter.

Just as soon as I read your letter, I asked the Lord about it. His word came through the Holy Ghost, saying,

“

Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. I did not come into the world to call the righteous to repentance, but sinners. The healthy do not need a doctor, but those who are sick. Children are completely alive in Christ, not able to sin. Through me the curse of Adam is taken and has no power over them. Also, the law of circumcision is done away because of me.

”

Moroni, this is how the Holy Ghost spoke God's word to me. Because of this, I know it is solemn mockery before God to baptize little children.

Teach repentance and baptism of those who are accountable and capable of committing sin. Teach parents to repent, to be baptized and humble themselves as their little ones. Tell them if they do this they will be saved with their children.

Teach that their little children do not need to repent or be baptized. Baptism is only for those who repent. Baptism fulfills the commandment to repent for all who are accountable, bringing them a remission of their sins.

But little children are saved by Christ, and always have been. If this were not true, then God would be an unfair God, saving only those who have been baptized, for how many little children have died without baptism!

If little children could not be saved without baptism, there must be many little children in an endless hell, but we know this is not so.

Those who believe infants need baptism are controlled by their sinfulness and are full of bitterness....with no faith, hope, or charity. Those who die in this belief will suffer in hell.

It is awful wickedness to believe that God saves one child because of baptism and another goes to hell without baptism. Those who distort the Lord's ways in this manner will be cursed, for they will die spiritually unless they repent.

I speak with boldness, having authority from God. I'm not afraid of what anyone may do to me, for perfect love removes all fear.

I'm filled with charity--an everlasting love. All children are alike to me. I love them with a perfect love, and they are all saved. I know God is not unfair and doesn't change His ways.

Little children cannot repent, so it's awful wickedness to deny the pure mercies of God to them, for they're all alive in Him because of His mercy.

Those who say little children need baptism deny Christ's mercy, for they dismiss His atonement and the power of His redemption. Such people are cursed and in danger of spiritual death, hell and endless torment of soul.

God has commanded me to speak boldly. Listen to me and be obedient or my words will stand against you at the judgment-seat of Christ.

All little children and all those without Christ's law are alive in Him. The power of His redemption saves all who have no law. They are not condemned, for with no law, they cannot repent. This is why baptizing those without the law is meaningless.

To put trust in dead works such as baptizing those with no law is to deny Christ's mercy and the power of His Holy Spirit--it is mockery before God.

Moroni, my son, this thing should not be done. Repentance and baptism are only for those under condemnation and the curse of a broken law.

The first act of repentance is baptism, which is an act of faith toward fulfilling all the commandments. This brings the remission of sins, which in turn brings meekness and humility.

My son, I'll write you again soon, unless I go out against the Lamanites. The pride of this Nephite nation will cause their destruction unless they repent soon. Pray for them my son, that repentance may come to them.

But I'm afraid the Spirit has already stopped working with them. In this part of the land, they're trying to put down all power and authority from God. They're denying the Holy Ghost.

After rejecting such great knowledge, my son, they must perish soon and fulfill the words of the prophets and of our Savior.

Farewell, my son, until I write or meet you again.

Mormon's description of Nephite atrocities... (compare Moroni, chapter 9)

Another letter from Mormon, to his son, Moroni:

I now write again, my son, that you may know I'm still alive. But I write about something very sad.

We lost a great battle with the Lamanites. Archeantus, Luram and Emron have all fallen by the sword. We lost a great number of our choicest men.

I'm afraid the Lamanites will destroy all our people, for they will not repent, and Satan never stops stirring them up with anger toward one another.

I work with them constantly. When I speak God's word with sharpness they become very angry with me. When I use no sharpness they harden their hearts against God's word.

I'm afraid the Lord's Spirit has stopped working with them. They're so angry they seem to have no fear of death. They've lost their love for one another and continually want to kill and get revenge.

And now my beloved son, in spite of their hardness, let's continue to work diligently, for if we stop our work we will be brought under condemnation.

We have a purpose while yet live...to conquer the enemy of all righteousness! Then our souls will rest in God's kingdom.

Now I must tell you about the suffering of our people.

According to what Amoron has told me, the Lamanites have taken many men, women and children as prisoners from the tower of Sherrizah. They killed the men and fed their flesh to their wives and children and gave them only a little water.

Even though this is a great abomination, our people the Nephites in Moriantum have done worse. They captured many of the Lamanites' daughters, and after taking away that which was most dear and precious above all, which is chastity and virtue, they killed them in a most cruel manner, torturing them to death.

After this, they ate their flesh like wild animals. They did this because of the hardness of their hearts, and as a token of bravery.

Oh my beloved son, how can we expect a people like this--a people without civilization, who only a few years ago were a civil and delightful people, who now delight in so much abomination--to be spared from God's judgments?

My heart cries, "Our people are cursed! Come out in judgment, oh God, and hide their sins, wickedness and abominations from before Thy face!"

Also, my son, the Nephite army of Zenephi has taken what little food the Lamanites left. Because of this, many widows and their daughters in Sherrizah now wander about looking for food, and many of our old women faint by the road and die.

My army is weak, and the Lamanite armies are between us and Sherrizah. All who have run to Aaron's army have fallen victim to the awful brutality of the Lamanites.

Oh, the depravity of my people. They are without order and without mercy.

I have only the strength of a man, and I can no longer enforce my commands. They have become strong in their perversion, and they are all brutal, sparing no one, old or young. They delight in everything evil.

The suffering of our women and children in this land is worse than anything. It cannot be spoken, neither can it be written.

And now, my son, I will write no more about this horrible scene. You know the wickedness of this people--that they have no principles and are past feeling. They are more wicked than the Lamanites. If I recommended them to God, He would smite me.

But my son, I recommend you to God, and I trust in Christ that you will be saved. I pray to God that He will spare your life to witness the return of His people to Him, or to witness their utter destruction.

I know they will perish unless they repent and return to Him. And if they perish, their destruction will be like the Jaredites' because of their strong desire for blood and revenge.

Even if our people are destroyed, we know many of our brethren have deserted to the Lamanites and many more will.

I'm writing these few things in case I don't see you again. But I trust that I may see you soon, for I have sacred records to give you.

My son, be faithful in Christ, and do not let the things I've written cause you to sorrow or weigh you down to death, but rather may Christ lift you up.

May His suffering and death, the showing of His body to our fathers, His mercy, long-suffering and hope of His glory and eternal life rest in your mind forever.

And may the grace of God the Father, whose throne is high in the heavens, and of our Lord Jesus Christ, who sits on the right hand of His power until all things become subject to Him, be and abide with you forever. Amen. Moroni writes to latter-day Lamanites... (compare Moroni, chapter 10)

Now I, Moroni, will engrave some things I feel will benefit my brethren, the Lamanites. I want them to know that more than 420 years have passed since the sign was given of Christ's coming.

I will hide these records after I write a few very direct words to you, my brethren and sisters (the latter-day Lamanites).

When you read these records, if in God's wisdom you should read them, I invite you to remember how merciful the Lord has been to His children, from the creation of Adam and Eve down to the time when you will read these records.

I also invite you to...

   ...think carefully about these words.
   ...trust the feelings of your heart.

After you do this, I urge you to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these records are true.

If you ask with a sincere heart, having faith in Christ, He will show you they are true by the power of the Holy Ghost. For by the power of the Holy Ghost you may know the truth of all things.

Whatever is good is also just and true, and nothing that is good denies Christ, but acknowledges that He lives!

You may know that He lives by the power of the Holy Ghost.

I urge you to not deny God's power, for He works by power according to the faith of His children, just as He always will. Again, I urge you, my brothers and sisters (the latter-day Lamanites), to not deny God's gifts, for they are many. They all come from the same God who gives them to His children through His Spirit to profit them.

Gifts From God & Christ's Spirit

1. One may be given wisdom by God's Spirit, so he may teach wisdom.
2. Another given knowledge by the same Spirit, so he may teach knowledge.
3. By God's Spirit, some are given very great faith.
4. To others, gifts of healing are given.
5. Another may be given the gift to work mighty miracles.
6. To yet another, God's Spirit gives the gift to prophesy of all things.
7. Others are given the gift of seeing angels and spirits, sent to teach them.
8. Some are given the gift of speaking all types of languages.
9. Others are given the gift of interpreting languages.

All these gifts come by Christ's Spirit to different people according to His will.

Remember, every good gift comes from Christ, and He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Remember, that all these spiritual gifts will never be taken away as long as the world exists, unless the people stop believing.

There must be faith, hope and charity, for unless you have these three things, you cannot be saved in God's kingdom.

If you have no hope, you are in despair, and despair is the result of sin. And Christ truly said to our fathers,

“

If you have faith, you can do anything necessary to further my work.

”

Now I speak to all people from the ends of the earth:

If the day comes that God's power and gifts are not among you, it will be because of unbelief. If this is your condition, then you are cursed, for in such a condition there will be no one who does good among you--not even one.

And if there is even one among you who does good, he will do it by God's power and gifts.

Whoever does away with the gifts of God and dies is cursed, for he dies in his sins and cannot be saved in God's kingdom.

I write according to Christ's words and I do not lie.

Remember these things, for the time soon comes when you'll know I have not lied. You will see me at the bar of God, and the Lord will say to you,

“

Did I not declare my words to you, written by this man, as one crying from the dead, even as one speaking out of the dust?

”

I write these things so the prophecies will be fulfilled, for this book will go forth from the mouth of the everlasting God, and His word will call to all people from generation to generation. God will show you what I have written is true. Again, I urge you to come to Christ and to hold on to every good gift. Do not touch the evil gift or unclean thing.

“

Awake and arise from the dust, oh Jerusalem. Put on your beautiful robes, oh daughter of Zion (The New Jerusalem). Strengthen yourselves and increase your influence forever, that you may no longer be confused--that the covenants of the Eternal Father, which He made to you, oh house of Israel, may be fulfilled.

”

Note: Above (in blue), Moroni quotes Isaiah 52:1, as did the Savior 400 years before him (3 Ne 20:36). And 600 years prior to Christ, Nephi first quoted Isaiah 52:1 (2 Nephi 8:24).

This single verse of Isaiah is a call for latter-day Israel to be clean and pure.....that the impure and those who make no covenants with God may no longer be among them, that the covenant made to Abraham may be fulfilled.

Moroni chose Isaiah 52:1 as his final quote, as part of his final plea to latter-day Israel to become sanctified....to be filled with Christ's love....faith, hope and charity...to stand pure before God at the last day.

Come to Christ and be perfected in Him. Deny yourselves all ungodliness. If you deny yourselves all ungodliness and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then His grace is enough to make you perfect in Christ, after which you cannot deny God's power.

And if you are made perfect in Christ and do not deny His power, then you are sanctified in Christ by God's grace. This is done because of the Father's covenant--the shedding of Christ's blood, which takes away your sins and makes you holy and spotless.

Now I bid farewell to all. Soon I will rest in God's paradise, awaiting the resurrection, when my spirit and body will be reunited, and I will be brought triumphantly through the air to meet you before the pleasing bar of the Great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge of both the living and the dead. Amen.