Verse 1: Behold I, Moroni, do finish the record of my father, Mormon. Behold, I have but few things to write, which things I have been commanded by my father.
Verse 5: Behold, my father hath made this record, and he hath written the intent thereof. And behold, I would write it also if I had room upon the plates, but I have not; and ore I have none, for I am alone. My father hath been slain in battle, and all my kinsfolk, and I have not friends nor whither to go; and how long the Lord will suffer that I may live I know not.
Moroni is writing to finish what his father asked him to do. Then he writes about his state of being without kinsfolk and friends because they have all been killed. He is alone and doesn’t know what is going to happen to him. In this condition he is completing what his father, the prophet, asked of him.
How many of us focus on doing what the prophet has asked of us when we are in trouble and having trials? Do we have the faith, like Moroni, when life is tough to obey God’s commandments given through His prophets?
Verse 12: And whoso receiveth this record, and shall not condemn it because of the imperfections which are in it, the same shall know of greater things than these. Behold, I am Moroni; and were it possible, I would make all things known unto you.
Moroni identifies that he knows more than is contained in the record but that it is not possible for him to share it all with us. He promises that if we will treasure the record made that we will know of even greater things. That is a promise I want to receive. I want to treasure the Book of Mormon so much that at some point I’ll receive the greater things that the Lord has for those who utilize the truths He has given.
Verse 14: And I am the same who hideth up this record unto the Lord; the plates thereof are of no worth, because of the commandment of the Lord. For He truly saith that no one shall have them to get gain; but the record thereof is of great worth; and whoso shall bring it to light, him will the Lord bless.
Verse 15: For none can have power to bring it to light save it be given him of God; for God wills that it shall be done with an eye single to His glory, or the welfare of the ancient and long dispersed covenant people of the Lord.
By the time Moroni writes this verse, he knows that he’ll finish the record as the Lord has commanded. He has confidence that the plates will be kept safe and will be brought forth to us for our benefit. He testifies that only God’s power will bring the record to us. The purpose of the record is for God’s glory and the keeping of His promises to His ancient covenant people. Moroni has strength and confidence in his writing at this point. He is doing God’s will and knows it.
Verse 22: For the eternal purposes of the Lord shall roll on, until all His promises shall be fulfilled.
Let us seek the eternal purposes of God so that we can receive His promises and be part of his work. We can trust that the Lord will fulfill His promises.
Verse 33: O ye wicked and perverse and stiffnecked people, why have ye built up churches unto yourselves to get gain? Why have ye transfigured the holy word of God, that ye might bring damnation upon your souls? Behold, look ye unto the revelations of God; for behold, the time cometh at that day when all these things must be fulfilled.
Verse 34: Behold, the Lord hath shown unto me great and marvelous things concerning that which must shortly come, at that day when these things shall come forth among you.
Verse 35: Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.
Verse 36: And I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of very fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts.
Verse 37: For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.
Verse 38: O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies—because of the praise of the world?
Verse 39: Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not?
Verse 40: Yea, why do ye build up your secret abominations to get gain, and cause that widows should mourn before the Lord, and also orphans to mourn before the Lord, and also the blood of their fathers and their husbands to cry unto the Lord from the ground, for vengeance upon your heads?
Moroni speaks his heart as he writes his final words to the descendants of his people who live in our day. His words are a help to all of us today to understand where danger lies in walking in pride, loving money more than people, focusing on those things which have no worth while ignoring the things of God which have eternal benefit.
He reminds us that in the revelations God gave to His prophets are God’s words which will all be fulfilled. It is Jesus Christ who is the hope for our day as in all generations since the beginning of time. He is the only One who can save us. He is the only Truth, Way, and Life who can give us Eternal Life. Let us come unto Him and be saved.
Moroni testifies of Jesus Christ and our hope for salvation. Will we listen? Will we seek Jesus and come unto Him so that He will be able to receive us when He comes again in His glory?
It is my prayer that we will do so.
Dani