Lessons for Our Day From the Book of Mormon Another Testament of Jesus Christ - 2024
Lesson No. Thirty-Six

Moroni’s Final Exhortations and His Latter Day Ministry

In his final testimony Moroni gives eight urgent exhortations to people in the latter days. (The dictionary defines exhort, “to give urgent advice, recommendations, or warnings”)

1. Remember and ponder the Lord’s mercy: “Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your heart” (Vs 3).

2. Pray to know the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon: “And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost” (Vs 4).

3. Deny not miracles or the power of God: God’s power is manifested by miracles: “And ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever” (Vs 7).

4. Deny not the many gifts of God, given through the Holy Ghost, to bless all mankind: “And again, I exhort you, my brethren, that ye deny not the gifts of God, for they are many; and they come from the same God. And there are different ways that these gifts are administered; but it is the same God who worketh all in all; and they are given by the manifestations of the Spirit of God unto men, to profit them” (Vs 8).

5. Remember that every good gift cometh of Christ: “And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that every good gift cometh of Christ” (Vs 18).

6. Remember God is consistent, certain, and sure, and He always fulfills His promises: “And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that he is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that all these gifts of which I have spoken, which are spiritual, never will be done away, even as long as the world shall stand, only according to the unbelief of the children of men” (Vs 19).

7. Remember that there will be a day of Judgment and accountability: “And I exhort you to remember these things; for the time speedily cometh that ye shall know that I lie not, for ye shall see me at the bar of God; and the Lord God will say unto you: Did I not declare my words unto you, which were written by this man, like as one crying from the dead, yea, even as one speaking out of the dust?” (Vs 27).

8. Come unto Christ, and by s doing we can lay hold on every good thing: “And again I would exhort you that ye would come unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift, and touch not the evil gift, nor the unclean thing” (Vs 30).

Moroni as a resurrected and glorified personage has a unique mission in the latter days:

1. Moroni holds the keys of the Book of Mormon (See DC 27:5). We do not know all that is involved with these unique keys that Moroni holds, but his responsibility for the Book of Mormon is not completed. He will be among the noble and great of every dispensation that will be in a very special sacrament meeting with the Savior as described in DC 27:5-14.

2. Moroni dedicated sites for temples in Kirtland, Nauvoo, St George and Manti, and likely others. (See H. Donl Peterson, Moroni: Ancient Prophet, Modern Messenger, chap. 5)

3. Moroni, the guardian of the Book of Mormon plates and the mentor of Joseph Smith. Moroni first instructed Joseph three times during the night of September 21-22, 1823. The same instruction was given the fourth time in a farm field the next day. The same instruction repeated four times indicates the importance of the message, and is without precedent in the scriptures. Moroni instructed Joseph on the same day for the next four years until the plates were delivered to Joseph on September 22, 1827. (See Joseph Smith History 1:27-54). Moroni. instructed Joseph many times until the translation was completed and Joseph delivered the plates back to Moroni. Moroni appeared to Joseph 22 different times that we know of.

4. Moroni, the guardian angel of America. “Elder Orson Hyde, a member of he Council of the Twelve who served under the leadership of three later-day prophets (Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor)….Elder Hyde taught that Moroni was “the guardian angel of America….In the Salt Lake Tabernacle on the morning of the fourth of July, 1854….remembering the American Revolution and the battles won, when the odds were so overwhelmingly against victory, Elder Hyde taught it was by the agency of that same angel of God that appeared unto Joseph Smith….This same angel presides over the destinies of America, and feels a lively interest in all our doings. He was in the camp of Washington; and, by an invisible hand, led on our fathers to conquest and victory; and all this to open and prepare the way for the Church and kingdom of God to be established on the western hemisphere, for the redemption of Israel and the salvation of the world. This same angel as with Columbus….Under the guardianship of this same angel or Prince of America, the United States has grown and increased, and flourished, like the sturdy oak by the rivers of water” (Ibid).

Testimony – One verse Moroni wrote in his concluding testimony has blessed the lives of millions of people world-wide: “And when ye shall receive these things (the Book of Mormon) I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost” (Moroni 10:4).

I have put the Book of Mormon to this test, and I know that it is true. And because I know the Book of Mormon is true I also know “that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, that Joseph Smith is His revelator and prophet in these last days, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s kingdom once again established on the earth, preparatory to the Second Coming of the Messiah” (Book of Mormon, Introduction).

Released on December 15th. 2024