Mormon 9

Racked with a consciousness of guilt

Moroni warns us that we'd be better off repenting of our sins and changing our ways in this life rather than facing God and being "racked with a consciousness of guilt." (Mormon 9:3) He teaches us that we'd be more miserable in the presence of God than with the damned souls of hell and that our nakedness (not being clothed in purity … see 2 Nephi 9:14) would be like a flame of unquenchable fire. (Mormon 9:5)

We are not helpless with regard to being racked with a consciousness of guilt. We can do something about this matter in this life. We can repent and turn to God.

Man is the Variable, Not God

Many people say that God has changed. They think that since there are not many miracles occurring today that God has changed. It seems that many preachers in Joseph Smith's era taught that God had revealed all to the biblical prophets and that he no longer dealt in revelations or miracles. This notion is incorrect. God does not change his modus operandi. Rather it is the natural man who varies and changes. We think God has changed when indeed he is "the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Mormon 9:9)

Mormon later explains that "the reason why he [God] ceaseth to do miracles among the children of men is because that they dwindle in unbelief." (Mormon 9:20) Again, the natural man is the one who changes his beliefs. God does not change.

Ask and ye shall receive

One of the most repeated messages in the scriptures is the message of asking God and receiving. Mormon repeats this important message in Mormon 9:21.

"Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ is shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth."

When we do ask of our Father, we must "doubt not, but be believing." (Mormon 9:27)

Work out your own salvation

God will never take away our agency. No man will be forced to Heaven. He had given His son so that we have a chance to repent. Christ has done His part and now all that is left to be done is if we repent and keep the commandments. We are responsible for our salvation. Through the grace of God, the way is made possible. But we must do our part.

As Paul wrote to the Philippians, "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

"Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

"That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world." (Philippians 2:12-15)

More Counsel from Mormon

"Be wise in the days of your probation." In other words, don't waste time in sin. Repent and keep the commandments.

"Strip yourselves of uncleanness." Is our desire like the Lamanite king who Aaron taught in that we desire to "give away all [our] sins" to know God? (Alma 22:18)

"Ask with a firmness unshaken, that ye will yield to no temptation." How often do we pray that we are not lead into temptation? I think that if we prayed for this more often, we'd see a significant increase in our purity.

"Serve the true and living God." In our prayers, we should also ask for strength in our efforts to serve others.

Reformed Egyptian

There seems to be a lot of academic studies on the Book of Mormon being written in reformed Egyptian. Moroni explains in Mormon 9:32-33 that were they able to write in Hebrew, there would have been no imperfections. Instead, the Book of Mormon writers used reformed Egyptian to perhaps save on space.

The "I Have a Question" section in the October 1986 Ensign does a pretty good job of explaining the writing process of the Book of Mormon historians.

Below are some pictures from the Reformed Egyptian Wikipedia entry.

Mormon 8

In chapter 8, Moroni begins to finish what his father intended to finish. We learn from Moroni that Mormon was hunted by the Lamanites and killed.

Moroni's Concern

In Mormon 8:12, Moroni seems to express concern about imperfections in the record. But he quickly counsels that whoever does not condemn the Book of Mormon for its imperfections, "the same shall know of greater things than these."

In Ether 12:22-29 we read that Moroni expressed this same concern to the Lord. The Lord then instructed Moroni that, "fools mock, but they shall mourn; and my grace is sufficient for the meek, that they shall take no advantage of your weakness … I will show unto the Gentiles their weakness, and I will show unto them that faith, hope and charity bringeth unto me - the fountain of all righteousness."

The Worth of the Plates

We learn in Mormon 8:14 that the gold plates upon which the Book of Mormon is written are of no monetary worth because of “the commandment of the Lord.” The real worth of the Book of Mormon is vastly more valuable than its price in actual gold.

The Eternal Purposes of the Lord Shall Roll On

The next few verses of chapter 8 deal with the coming forth of the Book of Mormon in the modern world. Just as we read in Church history, many people tried to get the plates for money and to destroy the work of the Lord. But as Mormon 8:22 states, “the eternal purposes of the Lord shall roll on, until all his promises shall be fulfilled.”

Joseph Smith latter wrote in the Wentworth Letter,

"The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done." (History of the Church 4:540)

The Revelations of God

Wise counsel is given in Mormon 8:33 – “look … unto the revelations of God.” We must look to and understand the revelations of God so that we are prepared for them, for they will come to pass. Heavenly Father, in essence, has given us the answers to the exam and all we need to do is to prepare for it.

Earlier, Moroni counsels us to "search the prophecies of Isaiah." (Mormon 8:23) Nephi and other prophets from the Book of Mormon have given us the same counsel. Even Christ, when he visited the Nephites, commanded them to study Isaiah.

Moroni's Criticism to Us

Moroni concludes chapter 8 with scathing warnings to us in the latter days. He warns us of becoming obsessed with fine apparel and clothing. He warns us to avoid strifes and malice and persecutions. He warns against pride and the love of money and substance. He tells us that we should be more concerned with adorning the poor with food and clothing than adorning our churches. I particularly love the part in Mormon 8:38 when he says, “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?”

D&C 105:3-5 says, "But behold, they have not learned to be obedient to the things which I required at their hands, but are full of all manner of evil, and do not impart of their substance, as becometh saints, to the poor and afflicted among them;

"And are not united according to the union required by the law of the celestial kingdom;

"And Zion cannot be built up unless it is by the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom; otherwise I cannot receive her unto myself."

Mormon 7

Mormon's Last Words

Chapter seven are the last words we read from Mormon. As many previous Nephite prophets, Mormon was continually concerned about the welfare of the Lamanites. His final words are directed to the descendants of the Lamanites with the hope that the Lamanites would some day return to the gospel of Christ.

Delight No More in the Shedding of Blood

Mormon 7:4 says, "lay down your weapons of war, and delight no more in the shedding of blood, and take them not again, save it be that God shall command you."

We live in an age where we hear of wars and rumors of wars (see D&C 45:26). We are taught that this trend will continue until the 2nd Coming of Christ. I fear we are a blood-thirsty society. We want justice and revenge. I often wonder what our nation's reaction would be if after being attacked we did not fight back. I think there would be a huge outcry of rage and the people would demand that we fight back. I know we are taught to defend ourselves and we would not be in the wrong for doing so, but I wonder if our nation has crossed the line in the past and in recent years.

Endless Happiness

One scripture that I really love from this chapter is verse 7. Mormon explains that Christ has brought to pass the redemption of the world and if people repent of their sins and are found guiltless (notice that he did not say perfect) at the last day, then they will dwell in the kingdom of God forever “in a state of happiness which hath no end.” In plain words, Mormon tells us what we are aiming for in this life. If we prove ourselves worthy to live with God, we’ll be eternally happy. What a blessing!