Story: “If I’m going to die, I want to die a Mormon.”
-In Ether 12 when referring to weakness, Moroni says “our”. He may be hesitant to finish his father’s words.
Example: White flower taking on the color of the water they are placed in.
How do we let our environment influence us?
How do we choose to make a place holy like Mormon? President Holland’s message on x.
Opposite of anger, violence, hatred, vengeance, causing harm?
Love, goodness of God, bringing life (video of boys meeting baby brother), healing, resurrection of the dead
Messianic words: “Bear, borne, carry, deliver. These are powerful, heartening messianic words. They convey help and hope for safe movement from where we are to where we need to be—but cannot get without assistance. These words also connote burden, struggle, and fatigue—words most appropriate in describing the mission of Him who, at unspeakable cost, lifts us up when we have fallen, carries us forward when strength is gone, delivers us safely home when safety seems far beyond our reach.”
Sin resistant generation – He will strengthen us
What is the key thing he is trying to teach you and me? How do we make a place holy?
Mormon 1:1 And now I, Mormon, make a record of the things which I have both seen and heard
Before we discuss Mormon's personal record, we should note that this verse marks an important transition from Mormon's role as abridger to personal historian. Mormon's greatest accomplishment was that he had abridged the Large Plates of Nephi from the days of Lehi to his own (WofM 1:3,9). The portion of this record that we have today (Mosiah to 4 Nephi) spans a time period of over 450 years. For his prophetic condensing, editorializing, and admonishing, we will always be grateful. Apparently, this great work was accomplished prior to writing his own history as evidenced by the smooth transition from 4 Nephi to Mormon.
Furthermore, we learn from the Words of Mormon that Mormon's work on the abridgement and his personal history took place just before the final battle of 385 AD (See Mormon 6:6 and WofM 1:1). This places his age over 70 and demonstrates his perspective as he abridges the record. Mormon is writing the words we know as the Book of Mormon after collecting all the wisdom of age and experience. He commonly includes stories of the Gadiantons because he has already seen the role the Gadiantons played in the final destruction of his people (Mormon 1:18). He is fatalistic about the Nephites, not just because he knows of prophecies concerning their destruction, but because he has already witnessed almost all of their destruction. We found the same pattern in the life of Nephi, who began writing the record we know as 1 and 2 Nephi long after many events had already transpired-as late as 569 BC (2 Ne 5:28-30).
Jeffrey R. Holland
"In one of the loneliest scenes in scriptural history, a silent, war-weary soldier looked out across time and the unspeakable tragedy his family and followers faced. Mormon, the man destined before the world was formed to abridge and summarize the Nephite story-and in so doing to have his name forever immortalized with this additional testament of Jesus Christ-surveyed the casualties of a nation that had turned from the Lord. As sobering as the account is, it does not give a full account of all the sin and sadness Mormon had seen. Indeed, such an account probably would have been impossible to record." (Christ and the New Covenant, p. 317)
Mormon 1:2 I perceive that thou art a sober child
Ammaron's spiritual perceptiveness is amazing. While others saw in Mormon a ten-year old boy, Ammoron saw a future prophet and guardian of the plates. While others may have discounted him, Ammaron acknowledged him as a sober child, quick to observe-a youth whose pre-mortal intelligence was already evident.
Jeffrey R. Holland
"We know that 'every man who has a calling to minister to the inhabitants of the world was ordained to that very purpose' in his premortal existence. (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 365.) Perhaps that call has an effect on those men even in their earliest mortal years, for Mormon was recognized by his predecessor Ammaron as being 'a sober child' and one 'quick to observe.' (Morm. 1:2.)" (Ensign, Mar. 1978, "Mormon: The Man & The Book")
Story of Casper Yenter- aunt telling him he had an important work to do.
Mormon 1:14 there were no gifts from the Lord, and the Holy Ghost did not come upon any
Mormon must have been thinking about this time period when he included the following in an epistle to Moroni:
'...have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them?...if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief and all is vain....then has faith ceased also; and awful is the state of man' (Moroni 7:36-8).
Mormon 1:16 I did endeavor to preach unto this people, but my mouth was shut
Jeffrey R. Holland
"The maturing Mormon, by then fifteen years of age, stood beyond the sinfulness around him and rose above the despair of his time. Consequently, he 'was visited of the Lord, and tasted and knew of the goodness of Jesus,' trying valiantly to preach to his people. But as God occasionally does when those with so much light reject it, Mormon literally had his mouth shut. He was forbidden to preach to a nation that had wilfully rebelled against their God. These people had rejected the miracles and messages delivered them by the three translated Nephite disciples, who had now also been silenced in their ministry and been taken from the nation to whom they had been sent.
"Remaining among those people but silenced in his testimony." (Christ And The New Covenant, p. 318)
Sterling W. Sill
"Mormon had to be restrained in his desire to preach the gospel...Most of us have to be coaxed and begged and reminded to do our duty. Mormon had to be held back." (quoted in Daniel Ludlow, A Companion to Your Study of the Book of Mormon, p. 298)
Mormon 2:2 I did go forth at the head of an army of the Nephites
Sterling W. Sill
"If you think it an inspiration that a 16 year old boy could win the leadership of a great national army what would you think of a man between the ages of 65 and 74 who was still the best man among his entire people for this top position of leadership, and in those days the general marched at the head and not in the rear of his troops. (Mormon 6:11) It is one thing to shoot a guided missile at an enemy a thousand miles away, but it is quite another thing to meet the enemy face to face, and with a sword or a battle axe, take on all comers, old and young, on any basis they might choose to elect; and still be in there fighting at age 74. No weakling or coward survives a test like that. His leadership and great skill in battle must have been an inspiration to those fortunate companions in arms who were privileged to fight at his side" (quoted in Daniel Ludlow's A Companion to Your Study of the Book of Mormon, p.299)
Mormon 2:3 they begat to retreat towards the north countries
The geography here is much different than in previous battles. This is not just because of the great transformation of the land which occurred at Christ's death. These battles took place in lands further north than any other battles. We learn of completely new cities and lands: the city of Angola (v. 4), the land of David (v. 5), the land of Joshua (v. 6), the land of Jashon (v. 17), and the city of Shem (v. 21). While very young, some of these areas may have been Mormon's playground, but as a teenage military captain, they became his battleground.
Mormon 2:13
Neal A. Maxwell
"...we see so much 'sorrowing of the damned'-this by those in a psychological no-man's-land (see Mormon 2:12-13). These individuals can no longer take pleasure in sin, but they do not fully repent, either. They hope somehow to be saved in their sins instead of being willing to 'give away all [their] sins' in order to know God (Alma 22:18)." (If Thou Endure It Well, p. 16)
Mormon 2:15 I saw thousands of them hewn down...and heaped up as dung
Neal A. Maxwell
"For Mormon, seeing thousands of bodies 'heaped up as dung upon the face of the land' must have produced profound emotions within him, not unlike those a British journalist experienced when he went to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp at the end of World War II, the opening lines of whose dispatch were, 'It is my duty to describe something beyond the imagination of mankind' (Time Magazine, April 29, 1985, p. 133, International Edition).
"Again, the words of Mormon: 'And it is impossible for the tongue to describe, or for man to write a perfect description of the horrible scene of the blood and carnage which was among the people, both of the Nephites and of the Lamanites; and every heart was hardened, so that they delighted in the shedding of blood continually' (Mormon 4:11)."
Mormon 2:17 I had gone according to the word of Ammaron, and taken the plates of Nephi
Mormon was faithful in executing Ammaron's command. Ten years prior to 345 AD, at the age of 24, Mormon took the large plates of Nephi from among a huge collection of other records and began to record his history. Elder Anthony W. Ivins said, "It will be observed that at this time only the plates of Nephi were removed from the hill Shim, by Mormon." (Conference Report, Apr. 1928, p. 12) Over thirty years later, after 375 AD, Mormon decided it was time to take possession of all the other records (Mormon 4:23). He was their custodian until just before the great and last battle, 385 AD, when he placed them securely in the hill Cumorah (see Mormon 6:6).
Mormon 2:19 I know that I shall be lifted up at the last day
"One great objective of our lives should be to make our calling and election sure, that is, to so live that we receive assurance from the Lord that when this life is over, we shall be exalted and dwell with him. Mormon may have had this blessing, as did other Nephite prophets (see Mosiah 26:20; Enos 1:27; 3 Nephi 28:3), for he tell us: 'I know that I shall be lifted up at the last day.' (Mormon 2:19)
'Those members of the Church who devote themselves wholly to righteousness, living by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God, make their calling and election sure. That is, they receive the more sure word of prophecy, which means that the Lord seals their exaltation upon them while they are yet in this life...
'...The more sure word of prophecy means a man's knowing that he is sealed up unto eternal life, by revelation and the spirit of prophecy through the power of the Holy Priesthood.' (D. & C. 131:5.)...The prophet, for one, had this seal placed upon him...To him Deity said: 'I am the Lord thy God, and will be with thee even unto the end of the world, and through all eternity; for verily I seal upon you your exaltation, and prepare a throne for you in the kingdom of my Father with Abraham your father.' (D. & C. 132:49.)' (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, pp. 109-110)"
(Book of Mormon Student Manual, 1981, p. 459-60)
Mormon 2:26 the strength of the Lord was not with us...we had become weak like unto our brethren
"By using his own people as an example, Mormon provides us with a significant doctrinal teaching concerning the 'strength of the Lord' that comes by the power of the Holy Ghost through personal righteousness. 'I know, in the strength of the Lord thou canst do all things,' Lamoni testified (Alma 20:4). There is a real power, both physical and spiritual, that can come into the life of every man or woman who is filled with the Holy Ghost. That power constitutes the 'strength of the Lord'--a divine, unlimited power. Without that strength and power we are left only with the limited mortal abilities of man. Mormon informs us that his people were without the Spirit. Having no claim upon the infinite powers and strengths of God, being cut off from the blessings of the Spirit, they were left to their own natural abilities, which were infinitely inferior to the 'strength of the Lord.' Thus they were nothing special or unique; they were just like any other natural man. Ammon clearly understood the difference between the strength of the Lord and mortal man's weakness. He testified: 'I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things' (Alma 26:12).
"This important doctrinal message was also forcefully impressed upon the heart and soul of the young prophet Joseph Smith after the loss of the 116 manuscript pages of the Book of Mormon. To him the Lord declared: 'For although a man may have many revelations, and have power to do many mighty works, yet if he boasts in his own strength, and sets at naught the counsels of God, and follows after the dictates of his own will and carnal desires, he must fall and incur the vengeance of a just God upon him.' The Lord further instructed Joseph to be faithful and repent of his sins, and then again warned: 'Except thou do this, thou shalt be delivered up and become as other men' (see D&C 3:4, 11, italics added).
"To ensure that we do not disqualify ourselves from having the strength of the Lord we must live our lives in such a way as not to repel the Spirit. By being faithful, obedient, penitent, and spiritually vigilant we can have the companionship of the Holy Ghost, which strengthens and protects in both physical and spiritual ways (we D&C 35:14; D&C 84:33; D&C 89:18-20; see also Teachings, p. 323)." (McConkie, Millet, and Top, Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 4, p. 220)
Mormon 3:3 it was the Lord that had...granted unto them a chance for repentance
Much like Mormon gave the Nephites their final warning, the Lord has instructed us to issue the same warning, the voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, whom I have chosen in these last days (DC 1:4)...For behold, this is the last time that I shall nourish my vineyard (Jacob 5:71). Certainly, the destruction of the Nephite nation is a type for the destruction which will come upon the wicked at the Second Coming.
Mormon 3:9 they would avenge themselves of the blood of their brethren
Hugh Nibley: Finally they're going to settle the Lamanite question once and for all with a big battle, because they've got them on the run now. But they shouldn't have done that." (Teachings From the Book of Mormon, Lecture 105, p. 201)
Mormon 3:10-11 they did swear by the heavens, and also by the throne of God, that they would...cut them off
Hugh Nibley
"And from that time on, Mormon says, I was through. Now here was their greatest general, the great hero, the one who had won the battles, etc. This was the ultimate folly, the last straw." (Teachings From the Book of Mormon, Lecture 105, p. 201)
Jeffrey R. Holland
"It was a wrenching time for him because these were his people, and he loved them. Indeed, he loved them 'with all [his] heart.'...In such frustration and sorrow, Mormon stepped back from leading an army that would not repent, and he refused to go up against their enemies. At the Lord's command, he stood as 'an idle witness' to his own generation while writing to a future generation the lessons his people had failed to learn." (Christ and the New Covenant, p. 320)
Mormon 3:12 my soul had been poured out in prayer...nevertheless it was without faith
We can judge whether or not we have sufficient charity by whether we pray on behalf of others. Mormon both lived this principle and taught it, charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever...Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love (Moroni 7:47-8). We don't doubt but that Mormon had been filled with this love for his task was to love a people who deserved it the least. They had been given everything yet remained in open rebellion against the truth. Nevertheless, the charity in Mormon's heart was as Nephi before him who said, I pray continually for them by day, and mine eyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry (2 Ne 33:3). The only difference between the prayers of Nephi and Mormon was that Mormon couldn't pray with faith, for he knew his people were past feeling, concluding, I cannot recommend them unto God lest he should smite me (Moroni 9:20-1).
Imbedded in that question is the faith and understanding that there is always a purpose in the Lord’s patterns and so there must be a divine purpose in concluding with the plates of Ether. The Lord told the Elders of this last dispensation, “I will give unto you a pattern in all things, that ye may not be deceived” (D&C 52:14). Elder Marvin J. Ashton noted that the “‘pattern in all things’ is one of the Lord’s greatest gifts and promises.” He continued, “There are patterns for all worthy things if we will search for them. ‘And behold, it must be done according to the pattern which I have given unto you’ (D&C 94:2). There is no other proven way” (21).
The Lord, in chastising the elders of this dispensation, called the Book of Mormon a covenant: “And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon” (D&C 84:57). How is the Book of Mormon a covenant, and what is there in this sacred volume that makes it a covenant? Fundamentally, a scriptural covenant is a contractual promise between God and man. President Joseph Fielding Smith said, “A covenant is a contract and an agreement between at least two parties. In the case of gospel covenants, the parties are the Lord in heaven and men on earth. Men agree to keep the commandments and the Lord promises to reward them accordingly” (26). Anciently, these covenants that man made with God were entered into with a specific formula which bound both parties. The biblical scholar George Mendenhall identified six common steps in ancient covenants and treaties (Interpreter’s Dictionary 1:714). These elements are as follows: (1) the preamble, (2) historical prologue, (3) stipulations, (4) blessings and curses, (5) witnesses, and (6) deposit and public reading of the covenant.
the tragic theme of the 15 books of the Book of Mormon and is a prophetic reminder that our own survival depends on our ability to make and keep covenants.
establish the covenant with latter-day readers and to warn them away from a similar fall.
In America two great civilizations, the Jaredite and the Nephite, were completely annihilated because of their rejection of the laws of righteousness which God revealed unto them. In both cases, the Lord, through His prophets, pointed out their iniquities, warned them, and predicted their destruction if they did not repent. This they did not do. Consequently they were totally destroyed. We today are approaching the close of a similar cycle. We have been warned that we are ripening in iniquity and that we will be destroyed if we do not repent. (14–15)
We become the third Book of Mormon civilization to enter into the covenant to serve Jesus Christ, the God of this land. The Book of Mormon record of the covenant becomes our own record. Our civilization’s survival, like that of the Nephite and Jaredite nations, depends on our keeping the covenant to serve Jesus Christ as the God of this land.
Mormon 3:16 The Lord commanded Mormon to “stand as an idle witness to manifest unto the world the things which [he] saw and heard, according to the manifestations of the Spirit which had testified of things to come” (Mormon 3:16). As shown by the following verse, his being an idle witness was through his writing: “Therefore I write unto you, Gentiles, and also unto you, house of Israel, when the work shall commence, that ye shall be about to prepare to return to the land of your inheritance” (v. 17). Mormon’s words were addressed to people in the latter days, when the gathering of Israel would be beginning.
Mormon 3:20 The people to whom Mormon wrote will also be accountable when they appear at the judgment bar for what he recorded on the plates that were translated into the Book of Mormon. Mormon continued to testify: “And these things doth the Spirit manifest unto me; therefore I write unto you all. And for this cause I write unto you, that ye may know that ye must all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, yea, every soul who belongs to the whole human family of Adam; and ye must stand to be judged of your works, whether they be good or evil; And also that ye may believe the gospel of Jesus Christ, which ye shall have among you” (Mormon 3:20–21). All will be judged by the words written by Mormon.
Mormon 3:21 the Jews...shall have other witness
Jeffrey R. Holland
"The principal and commanding figure in the Book of Mormon, from first chapter to last, is the Lord Jesus Christ. In its unparalleled focus on the Messianic message of the Savior of the world, the Book of Mormon is rightly referred to as God's 'new covenant' with the house of Israel. It is literally a new testament or (to avoid confusion) 'another testament' of Jesus Christ...From the title page to the book's final declaration, this testament reveals, examines, underscores, and illuminates the divine mission of Jesus Christ as recorded in the sacred accounts of two New World dispensations (Jaredite and Lehite) written for the benefit of a third dispensation, the dispensation of the fulness of times. The Book of Mormon has many purposes, but this one transcends all others. Written by prophets and preserved by angels, it was written for the fundamental and eternally essential purpose of 'convincing . . . the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations'...Thus the Book of Mormon is the preeminent statement of God's covenant with and his love for his children here on earth. It is his definitive latter-day declaration regarding the atoning sacrifice of his Son. It is his great revelation of the greatest Revelation God has ever given us." (Christ And The New Covenant, p. 4)
Mormon 4:5 it is by the wicked that the wicked are punished
"'Often, very often, we are punished as much by our sins as we are for our sins,' Elder Boyd K. Packer has written (Teach Ye Diligently, p. 262). As was the case with the Nephites, so often is it the case that God does not have to personally curse, condemn, or punish the wicked; their actions and associations produce natural consequences that in and of themselves become severe punishments. Many of the destructions, plagues, and atrocities that come upon the world are a direct result of the wickedness of man. C. S. Lewis insightfully observed: 'The possibility of pain is inherent in the very existence of a world where souls can meet. When souls become wicked they will certainly use this possibility to hurt one another; and this, perhaps, accounts for four-fifths of the suffering of men. It is men, not God, who have produced racks, whips, prisons, slavery, guns, bayonets, and bombs; it is by human avarice or human stupidity, not by the churlishness of nature, that we have poverty and overwork.' (The Problem of Pain, p. 89.)" (McConkie, Millet, and Top, Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 4, p. 228)
Mormon 5:1 I...did repent of the oath which I had made
Thirteen years prior, Mormon had given up on his wicked armies. They had become proud and boastful, going on the offensive for the sake of revenge (Mormon 3:9-11). Now, the situation is different. The Nephites cannot go on the offensive. Mormon knows that his armies will remain on the defensive until they are ultimately destroyed. Undoubtedly, his change of heart was because of the greatness of his heart. He was full of compassion, even for his wicked people, and the greatness of his soul would allow him to stand as an idle witness no longer.
Hugh Nibley
"In this crucible of wickedness the true greatness of Mormon shines like a star as he calls his son to action, telling him that no matter how bad things are, we must never stop trying to do what we can to improve matters, 'for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay' (Moroni 9:6). In this spirit Mormon took over command of the army even when he knew that all was lost, 'for they looked upon me as though I could deliver them from their afflictions. But behold, I was without hope' (Mormon 5:1-2). His is the predicament of the true tragic hero: 'I had led them, notwithstanding their wickedness, . . . and had loved them . . . with all my heart; and my soul had been poured out in prayer unto my God all the day long for them; nevertheless, it was without faith, because of the hardness of their hearts' (Mormon 3:12)." (Since Cumorah, p. 400)
Mormon 5:9 therefore I write a small abridgment, daring not to give a full account
Even Mormon's book (Mormon 1-7) is an abridgment. He was the author of a much fuller account which he described in Mormon 2:18 (see commentary). These seven chapters, then, are written with us in mind. As Hugh Nibley reminds us, "The main point is this: if we ignore the lessons of history, we're doomed to repeat them. These things must be made known. Why should these awful things be made known, and be made known unto us? As Brother Benson says, it's particularly for us in our time. Well, that must be very, very relevant, so we must pay very close attention here." (Teachings From the Book of Mormon, Lecture 105, p. 206)
Mormon 5:10 the Gentiles who have care for the house of Israel
Since when do the Gentiles have a responsibility to take care of the house of Israel? What does Mormon mean by this statement? Isaiah prophesied, Behold I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people; and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders (1 Ne 21:22). Nephi interpreted this passage as follows:
'Nevertheless, after they (the House of Israel) shall be nursed by the Gentiles, and the Lord has lifted up his hand upon the Gentiles and set them up for a standard, and their children have been carried in their arms, and their daughters have been carried upon their shoulders, behold these things of which are spoken are temporal; for thus are the covenants of the Lord with our fathers; and it meaneth us in the days to come, and also all our brethren who are of the house of Israel.
And it meaneth that the time cometh that after all the house of Israel have been scattered and confounded, that the Lord God will raise up a mighty nation among the Gentiles, yea, even upon the face of this land; and by them shall our seed be scattered.
And after our seed is scattered the Lord God will proceed to do a marvelous work among the Gentiles, which shall be of great worth unto our seed; wherefore, it is likened unto their being nourished by the Gentiles and being carried in their arms and upon their shoulders.
And it shall also be of worth unto the Gentiles; and not only unto the Gentiles but unto all the house of Israel, unto the making known of the covenants of the Father of heaven unto Abraham, saying: In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.' (1 Ne 22:6-9)
Mormon 5:11 they will sorrow that this people had not repented that they might have been clasped in the arms of Jesus
Bruce C. Hafen
"The inevitability of belonging either to Satan or to Christ is graphically portrayed by the scriptural imagery of that most human expression of belonging-to be embraced, or as the scriptures say, 'to be encircled about.' Those who follow Christ until they are accepted into his covenants of true belonging will one day be, as was Father Lehi, 'encircled about eternally in the arms of his love.' (2 Nephi 1:15.) That is why Mormon lamented in his 'sorrow for the destruction of [his] people': 'They will sorrow that this people had not repented that they might have been clasped in the arms of Jesus.' (Mormon 5:11.) Mormon's sorrow was not just that his unrepentant people would be left unattended to continue wandering as they desired; rather, Mormon knew, as Alma explained, that 'this was a snare of the adversary, which he has laid to catch this people, that he might bring you into subjection unto him, that he might encircle you about with his chains.' (Alma 12:6; emphasis added.)" (A Belonging Heart, p. 141)
Hugh Nibley: Now this hardness, you’ll notice. What are the two expressions that are used? Hardness of heart, and what is the other having to do with the neck? The people are hard-hearted and stiff-necked. Hardness and stiffness are lack of adaptability, lack of flexibility, etc. Hardness of heart, we’re told, put a curse on their doings—just like hardness of the arteries. When you start getting old, things get hardened. They squeak and don’t work so well, and the joints are the same way. They become stiff, stiffness of joints, stiffness of neck, hardening of arteries, hardening of everything else. What is that? That’s inability to change or refusal to change, to yield, to adapt. They can’t repent, you see. So that’s the thing that holds you back, and when you reach a certain stage, when you’ve lost all flexibility and you won’t change, then it’s time to ring down the curtain. There’s no point to going on with the story because you’re not going to repent. Of course progress and everything else is progressive repentance. You have to repent. But their sins harden into policy now, just like concrete. Nothing’s going to change them, and that’s Mormon’s problem. This is what he says is going to be your problem, too. We can see it today.
