1 NOW I, Moroni, write somewhat as seemeth me good; [ What is another way of saying that? I will write to you a little of some things that I think are really important for you as I finish things up. Moroni will try to bring our attention to 3 principals that he feels are important for us to understand. They are as follows: We need to learn and have a witness of the truths found in this sacred record; as well as the bible. Second is a charge to understand and acquire the spiritual gifts that are available to us, and finally, he pleads for us to come unto Christ and be perfected in Him. ] and I write unto my brethren, the Lamanites; and I would that they should know that *more than four hundred and twenty years have passed away since the sign was given of the coming of Christ.

2  And I seal up these records, after [ So I have them with me right now but I will put them away in hiding again after I write a few more things. I think this gives us an idea of how tenuous Moroni's situtation was. He really does not know minute to minute which will be his last. We can also look at sealing them up as a stamp of approval, that just like in the temple were we are sealed here these records are sealed as being part of God's record of man, it is official. This seal carry's with it a promise from God, Moroni seals it with a promise that if you will ask if it is true God will answer you. In addition, Moroni knew of Isaiah’s prophecy about “a book that is sealed” (Isaiah 29:11) that would come forth “out from the dust” (Isaiah 29:4), as it was quoted by Nephi in 2 Nephi 27:7–9. One might wonder if Moroni had Isaiah 29 in mind when he sealed up the final record. ] I have spoken a few words by way of exhortation unto you. [ Moroni is going to use the words exhort you 8 more times in this chapter. Teaching pattern of outlining the important things he wants us to do. ]

3 Behold, I would exhort you [ To advise or warn earnestly. ] that when ye shall read these things, [ Moroni identifies these things in Mormon 7:9 These things (Book Of Mormon) was written so that we would believe that (Bible). ] if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, [ Why would it not ever be wisdom in God that you should read them? Not ready? ] that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, [ The Book of Mormon ends as it started. Remember that Nephi said in he had seen many afflictions, 1 Ne 1:1 " “nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and mysteries of God ...” Referring implicitly to God’s mercy, Nephi assures us as readers that the Lord does visit, he assists, he reassures, he blesses, and reveals his will to people." he goes on in verse 20 and declares that the Lord showed "tender mercies" to his father and family/ What does that mean - to remember how merciful the Lord has been unto the children of men? Have you ever stop to think about that? What specifically are the ways in which the Lord has been merciful to the children of men? How was he merciful to the children of Israel? To Abraham? To Adam? To Noah? To all his children? To you? It all started with giving us our agency - in the per-earth life, a chance to grow to be like him, experience pleasure, joy and pain, to the house of Israel saved from the floods, promised sacred blessings... Then last but not least it provided for the atonement. It is called the "plan of Mercy by Alma in Alma 42:15. This Plan of Mercy, this plan of happiness, the plan of salvation, the plan of redemption...God's plan for us. Ponder the mercy of God. Interesting that the Book of Mormon ends with the same plead as it starts with. 1 Ne. 20; 2 Ne 9: 6,8,19,25,53 (Ponder the mercies of God). ] from the creation of Adam [ Man or mankind – in the council in heaven we agreed using our agency to be bound by the consequences of any action of Adam who was to be our first parent – just as we are bound by any actions of any other of our parents – some are born into the church others are not… Where do we read about the creation of Adam (the Bible). ] even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, [ From Adam down thru Christ is all found in the Bible - Receive What things? The Book Of Mormon ] and ponder it [ What is the it that we are supposed to ponder? The creation, and how merciful the Lord has been to his children through out all of time. Why does he want us to ponder the creation and the mercy of God? What does doing that do to/for us? Pondering these things become not so hard to believe, they have a familiar spirit, as the Holy Ghost helps us remember our pre-earth life, those things that we know and might have not been remembering. ] in your hearts.

4 And when ye shall receive these things, [ What are these things of which he speaks here? The Book Of Mormon ] I would exhort [ To encourage, to embolden, to cheer, to advise. The primary sense seems to be to excite or to give strength, spirit or courage. ] you that ye would ask God, [ How does that work? How do we ask? Pray What else have we learned in the Book Of Mormon about prayer? examples? We have to pray with faith - as did - 1) Nephi - I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded. 2) Enos - Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never . . . seen, 3) Alma . . . being exercised with much faith. 4) Alma - faith is not to have a perfect knowledge. 5) Alma - this was their faith, that by so doing God would prosper them. 6) The Lord - your faith is sufficient that I should heal you. 7) Brother Of Jarad - he had faith no longer, for he knew. 8) Moroni - ask . . . with real intent, having faith in Christ. ] the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, [ Teaching us how to pray - To God thru Jesus Christ just is case you are reading these things and are not sure where to start - this is how you should begin 1) Call upon Our Eternal Father - we ask the Father 2) Through the name of his son Jesus Christ ] if these things are not true; [ If what things are not true? The Book of Mormon. Well one might ask the question How do I know if they are true - How would you answer? Compare the feelings you had when you pondered the creation, and the feeling that you had when you reflected on the mercies of God Do you have the same feelings now? The creation, that there is a God, that he loves us, that he has created and ordained a plan for our salvation. Now compare those feelings to those feelings that you feel when you read these things. It is remarkable to me how often when we contemplate our pre-earth life we get enough of a glimpse even if in feeling alone to know - ye that sounds familiar, it feels good. ] and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, [ What must we do to have a sincere heart and real intent? Want to know, not be afraid of learning the truth. “Moroni did not promise a manifestation of the Holy Ghost to those who seek to know the truth of the Book of Mormon for hypothetical or academic reasons, even if they ‘ask with a sincere heart.’ The promise of Moroni is for those who are committed in their hearts to act upon the manifestation if it is received. Prayers based on any other reason have no promise because they are not made ‘with real intent’” (Pure in Heart Dallin H. Oaks [1988], 19–20). ] having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, [ Truth of what (it)? The Book of Mormon, as well as the entire gospel and his plan for us. We will receive the keys to all truth, because it all comes from the same source that familiar spirit. He doesn't promise to us that we'll know whether the Book of Mormon is true. That's not how he words it. He says that the truth of it will be manifest. The truth of something is way bigger than whether it's true or false. The truth of it sounds like I will provide you with a lot more depth. ] by the power of the Holy Ghost.

5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things. [ In other words - using these principles we can know the truth of anything. What are those principles again? 1) Remember the mercies of God to his children - get in an attitude of humility and gratitude towards God 2) Ponder the new thing in your hearts and balance those feelings with the feelings you feel when you ponder the mercies of God 3) Ask Heavenly Father with a sincere heart if they are true 4) Have faith that he will answer. ]

6 And whatsoever thing is good is just and true; wherefore, nothing that is good denieth the Christ, [ So if you are with someone and they deny Jesus Christ then that gives you an attitude of who they might be. ] but acknowledgeth that he is.

7 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; [ How do we deny the power of God? Do you ever consciously or sub-consciously put limits on God? vs 8 deny the Gifts of God What can we do to receive the full power of God? seek for the gifts of the spirit Have you ever sit down and asked for the gifts of the spirit? Should we do that - ask for the gifts of the spirit? If they are good and God is the same yesterday and today should we not ask to have them in our lives? Why does the Lord provide gifts of the spirit? that we might come closer to Jesus Christ. Why is it important for us to have the gifts of the spirit in our lives today? If I stood up here and said that we live far below our spiritual means and that we should pray every day to receive the gifts of the spirit - How would you respond? What are you going to do about it? Elder George Q. Cannon said "How many of you, my brethren and sisters, are seeking for these gifts that God has promised to bestow? How many of you when you bow before your Heavenly Father in your family circle or in your secret places, contend for these gifts to be bestowed upon you? How many ask the Father in the name of Jesus to manifest Himself to you through these powers and these gifts? Or do you go along day by day like a door turning on its hinges, without having any feeling on the subject, without exercising any faith whatever; content to be baptized and be members of the church, and to rest there, thinking that your salvation is secure because you have done this? I say unto you in the name of the Lord, as one of his servants, that you have need to repent of this . You have need to repent of your hardness of heart, of your indifference, and your carelessness. There is not that diligence, there is not that faith, there is not that seeking for the power of God that there should be among a people who have received the precious promises we have...I say to you it is our duty to avail ourselves of the privileges which God has placed within our reach..." Millennial Star vol56 [1894] pp 260-261 Having read that what are your thoughts about asking for gifts of the spirit? Do you think that we live far below our spiritual means? ] for he worketh by power, [ What are the powers that he works by? Faith in him, and the priesthood. I think it is interesting here that Moroni suggests that we do not deny God and his power. Moroni is coming to the end of his record and this in my opinion is Moroni's way of testifing of all of the many miracles that he has beheld in his lifetime. While he abridged the Book of Mormon, Moroni undoubtedly was touched by the many narratives of faithful people who were blessed with and by gifts of the Spirit. Like Nephi, the people of Ammon, and many others had the gift of exceeding great faith. He was familiar with those who “beheld angels and ministering spirits”— including Nephi and his brothers, Alma the Younger and his companions, the people and their children upon Christ’s appearance in Bountiful, and many others. Also, the Lord had blessed Moroni with the gift of “tongues and interpretation of languages” as he worked on the plates in general. He relied on these gifts as he abridged the Jaredite records. ] according to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever. [ Let's reflect back to what he said Nephites when he came to the Americas - what did he say? 3 Ne 19:35 And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of praying he came again to the disciples, and said unto them: so great faith have I never seen among all the Jews; wherefore I could not show unto them so great miracles, because of their unbelief. How would you feel if you did not get to receive all of the blessings that he has to offer because you have not strengthened your faith sufficiently? What should we do to strengthen our faith? He is going to walk us right into the answers - thru the gifts of the spirit.]

8 And again, I exhort you, my brethren, that ye deny not [ To contradict; to declare a statement or position not to be true. To disown; to refuse or neglect to acknowledge; not to confess, To reject; to disown; not to receive or embrace. So in verse 7 he suggested that we should not deny the power of God now he suggests that we should not deny the spirit of God either. ] the gifts of God, [ Mormon 9:7-9; D&C 11:25 Elder Bruce R McConkie said "The purpose of spiritual gifts] is to enlighten, encourage, and edify the faithful so that they will inherit peace in this life and be guided toward eternal life in the world to come. Their presence is proof of the divinity of the Lord’s work; where they are not found, there the Church and kingdom of God is not. The promise is that they shall never be done away as long as the earth continues in its present state, except for unbelief (Moro. 10:19), but when the perfect day comes and the saints obtain exaltation, there will be no more need for them. As Paul expressed it, ‘When that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.’ (1 Cor. 13.) “Faithful persons are expected to seek the gifts of the Spirit with all their hearts. They are to ‘covet earnestly the best gifts’ (1 Cor. 12:31; D.&C. 46:8), to ‘desire spiritual gifts’ (1 Cor. 14:1), ‘to ask of God, who giveth liberally.’ (D.&C. 46:7; Matt. 7:7–8.) To some will be given one gift; to others, another; and ‘unto some it may be given to have all those gifts, that there may be a head, in order that every member may be profited thereby.’ (D.&C. 46:29.)” (Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. [1966], 314). ] 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. [ How do the gifts of the spirit profited us? Is it not thru the gifts of the spirit that our faith is strengthened? “If any of us are imperfect, it is our duty to pray for the gift that will make us perfect. … No man ought to say, ‘Oh, I cannot help this; it is my nature.’ He is not justified in it, for the reason that God has promised to give strength to correct these things, and to give gifts that will eradicate them. If a man lack wisdom, it is his duty to ask God for wisdom. The same with everything else. That is the design of God concerning His Church. He wants His Saints to be perfected in the truth. For this purpose He gives these gifts, and bestows them upon those who seek after them, in order that they may be a perfect people upon the face of the earth” (Millennial Star, 23 Apr. 1894, 260).]

How does having different people with different gifts strengthen us as individuals? When we see one's faith and outward actions change as a result of their gifts our own faith is strengthened as well. compare vs 8-17 with D&C 46:11-30

Any number of examples in our ward - so I would like to take the most recent example Bill Houellen - Who's life has not been strengthened by watching the workings of the gifts of the spirit in Bill's life? ]

9 For behold, to one is given by the Spirit of God, that he may teach the word of wisdom; [ Meaning what exactly? Who would this be a blessing to? "Wisdom cannot be disassociated from [the gift of] discernment, but it involves some other factors...Wisdom is sometimes defined as sound judgment and a high degree of knowledge. I define wisdom as being the beneficent application of knowledge in decision. I think of wisdom not in the abstract but as functional. Life is largely made up of choices and determinations...The really vital things in life are relatively few, my brethren and sisters-the body, family, property, and relationship to man and God. You may have wisdom about health, housing, marriage, children, economics, education, and even government if you truly seek it and live for it. The fundamental knowledge which the Church brings to you will bring you understanding. Your testimony, your spirit, and your service will direct the application of your knowledge; that is wisdom. Every man needs it a hundred times a day. Every woman needs it. Every youth needs it. The foolish and the wise are the antipodes of mankind as are the two poles of the earth. The foolish build on the sand; the wise on the rock. The one perishes; the other endures. Thank God for the gift of wisdom." Stephen L. Richards (Conference Report, Apr. 1950, p. 163-64) ]

10 And to another, that he may teach the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; [ Meaning what exactly? Who would this be a blessing to? "I determined that among all the gifts that might make one useful to the Lord the gift to teach by the Spirit would be supreme. I came to feel that if one desired it, asked for it, prayed for it, studied, pondered, and earned it, and believed with sufficient faith that he could possess it, the gift would not be withheld from him. "Accordingly I turned to the New Testament to 'associate' with and learn from the Lord, who as a teacher is the ideal. When it came time to submit a subject for a master's thesis, I presented to my committee the proposal that I study the teaching techniques used by Jesus. With some considerable reluctance, they approved the subject. It was a most enlightening experience to 'walk' with Jesus and 'observe' Him teach. Thereafter, I began with all diligence to pattern my teaching efforts after Him. Through this association I came to know Him-Jesus Christ, the son of God, the Only Begotten of the Father-and that He lives. I stand in reverence before Him, with deep regard for what He taught and deep regard for how He taught. It is this knowledge and reverence that can give to us penetrating power. I have tried to develop the gift so deeply desired-the gift to teach by the Spirit." (That All May Be Edified, pp. 5-6) Boyd K. Packer ]

11 And to another, exceedingly great faith; [ Meaning? Importance of? ] and to another, the gifts of healing [ What are the gifts of healing? To heal and to be healed. different types of healing? different gifts? ] by the same Spirit;

12 And again, to another, that he may work mighty miracles; [ Meaning? Importance? Use/purpose? ]

13 And again, to another, that he may prophesy concerning all things; [ Meaning? Importance? Use/purpose? Elder David A. Bednar taught, “Revelations are conveyed in a variety of ways, including, for example, dreams, visions, conversations with heavenly messengers, and inspiration. some revelations are received immediately and intensely; some are recognized gradually and subtly.” Ironically, one of the most misunderstood gifts of the Spirit is the gift of prophecy. Often, Church members are so focused on "The Prophet" that they don't allow anyone else the exercise of this gift. But prophecy is not limited to any priesthood office. In fact, this gift is not at all restricted to holders of the priesthood, for the gifts of the Spirit are not products of the priesthood but products of the Spirit. Therefore, a sister can be just as filled with the spirit of prophecy as a brother. Accordingly, the Bible speaks of prophetesses who regularly operated by this gift (Ex 15:20-22, Judg 4:4, 2 Kgs 22:14-20, Lu 2:36-38). The scriptures speak of many who had the gift of prophecy even though they were not "The Prophet." In the Book of Mormon, Amulek was a missionary, as were the sons of Mosiah and the sons of Alma, yet all of these had the spirit of prophecy (Alma 10:12; 17:3; 43:2). Alma spoke of the entire Nephite nation, saying that they had been highly favored of the Lord, having been visited by the Spirit of God...having the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation (Alma 9:21). In this dispensation, Oliver Cowdery spoke with the tongue of angels after his baptism, for he stood up and prophesied many things which should shortly come to pass (2 Ne 31:13, JS-Hist 1:73). Finally, we need to remember that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (Rev 19:10), and that if we are entitled to a testimony of Jesus then we have equal claim on the spirit of prophecy. Moses had hopes that all of his people would receive this gift. He declared, would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them! (Num 11:29) J. Golden Kimball "Patriarchs tell me that prophecy is one of my gifts. It is only my gift through faith and through living up to the precepts of the Gospel of Christ. "I have been told that I should prophesy. I want to say to you Latter-day Saints that to be a prophet of God all fear and all doubt have to leave your mind, and you then open your mouth and God gives you the words." (Conference Report, Oct. 1932, p. 20) Elder John W. Taylor "The gift of prophecy...is not a saving principle; it is a gift. It is to comfort our hearts. It is to give us the testimony of the mind and will of God concerning things which are to come. As Elder [Heber J.] Grant has said, I may prophesy from now till the coming of the son of Man, and if I fail to keep the commandments, I will not be saved in the kingdom of God." (Conference Report, Apr. 1900, p. 26) ]

14 And again, to another, the beholding of angels [ Meaning? Importance? Use/purpose? Why does the Lord send angels? see Moroni 7:30,31,22 "Since spiritual gifts come by the power of the Holy Ghost, and the gift of the Holy Ghost comes by the laying on of hands by those holding the priesthood, the priesthood is always a factor in spiritual gifts. But spiritual gifts obviously bless the lives of those who do not themselves hold the priesthood. "Moroni speaks of the spiritual gift of 'beholding of angels and ministering spirits.' (Moro. 10:14.) Alma and Amaleki both list this among the various gifts of the Spirit. (See Alma 9:21; Omni 1:25.) Mary had such an experience when she was visited by the angel who told her that she was to become the mother of the son of God. (See Luke 1:26-38.) "A more familiar gift of the Spirit is personal revelation. Alma described the universal character of this spiritual gift: 'And now, he imparteth his word by angels unto men, yea, not only men but women also. Now this is not all; little children do have words given unto them many times, which confound the wise and the learned.' (Alma 32:23.)" (Ensign, Sep. 1986, "Spiritual Gifts") Dallin H. Oaks. ] and ministering spirits; [ Meaning? Importance? Use/purpose? ]

15 And again, to another, all kinds of tongues; [ Meaning? Importance? Use/purpose? ]

16 And again, to another, the interpretation of languages and of divers kinds of tongues. [ Meaning? Importance? Use/purpose? ]

17 And all these gifts come by the Spirit of Christ; and they come unto every man severally, [ What does that mean severally? Respectively different; various, Being of a number more than two or three, Without limit - you don't just get to pick one - you can have it all. It is not a gift from God if we somehow create these things by ourselves. It is a spiritual gift when it is given by Christ and by God’s will. What does the word “severally” mean? The phrase “joint and several liability” is familiar legal terminology. People who are “jointly liable” can be sued as a group and, if any one person in the group is found to be in the wrong, each person would pay an equal amount due the victim or plaintiff. However, if the liability is several, then each one of them can be sued individually without involving the entire group or whole partnership. “Severally” is an old way of saying “individually.” “Collectively” or “individually” means the same as “jointly” or “severally.” For instance, in the Parable of the Talents, before traveling into a far country, a man called his servants together and gave one of his servants one talent, two to another, and five to another— “to every man according to his several ability” (Matthew 25:15). Moroni was saying that the spiritual gifts are given severally —individually— because God knows who we are. He knows what we can do, what we should do, and what he would like us to have the opportunity to do. It is useless to envy the gifts of others. ] according as he will. [ According to who's will? President Boyd K Packer provided council concerning gifts of the spirit: “I must emphasize that the word ‘gift’ is of great significance, for a gift may not be demanded or it ceases to be a gift. It may only be accepted when proffered. “Inasmuch as spiritual gifts are gifts, the conditions under which we may receive them are established by him who offers them to us. Spiritual gifts cannot be forced, for a gift is a gift. They cannot, I repeat, be forced, nor bought, nor ‘earned’ in the sense that we make some gesture in payment and expect them to automatically be delivered on our own terms. “There are those who seek such gifts with such persistence that each act moves them further from them. And in that persistence and determination they place themselves in spiritual danger. Rather we are to live to be worthy of the gifts and they will come according to the will of the Lord. “Brigham Young said something in his day that surely applies to ours: “‘There is no doubt, if a person lives according to the revelations given to God’s people, he may have the Spirit of the Lord to signify to him His will, to guide his duties in his temporal as well as his spiritual exercises. I am satisfied however, that in this respect, we live far beneath our privileges.’ (Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 32.) “Spiritual gifts belong to the Church and their existence is one of the great and abiding testimonies of the truth of the gospel. They really are not optional with the Church. Moroni taught that if they were absent then ‘awful is the state of man.’ . . . “We are to seek to be worthy to receive these gifts according to the way that the Lord has directed. “Now, I say that again—we are to seek for spiritual gifts in the Lord’s way” (“Gifts of the Spirit” [unpublished remarks at a 16-stake fireside, Brigham Young University, Jan. 4, 1987], 5–6).]

18 And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that every good gift cometh of Christ. [ What is the significance of understanding that all good cometh from Christ? We can keep our spiritual compasses trained to follow his path - he will never do anything to or for us that is not for our best good, who else can you trust enough to say that about? What are some less conspicuous gifts of the spirit? “Let us review some of these less-conspicuous gifts: the gift of asking; the gift of listening; the gift of hearing and using a still, small voice; the gift of being able to weep; the gift of avoiding contention; the gift of being agreeable; the gift of avoiding vain repetition; the gift of seeking that which is righteous; the gift of not passing judgment; the gift of looking to God for guidance; the gift of being a disciple; the gift of caring for others; the gift of being able to ponder; the gift of offering prayer; the gift of bearing a mighty testimony; and the gift of receiving the Holy Ghost” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1987, 23; or Ensign, Nov. 1987, 20).]

19 And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that he is the same yesterday, today, and forever, [ So if you take the fact that he just stated in verse 18 that all good gifts come from God. And if he is the same always then there is no reason for you to not expect the gifts in your life if you will apply the principles. How is that message important for use living today? we can read of all of the miracles and blessings of the saints of old and recognize that we can have the very same miracles in our lives] and that all these gifts of which I have spoken, which are spiritual, never will be done away, [ George Q. Cannon "[Moroni] informs us that it is the design of God that [these gifts] should continue among the children of men as long as the earth shall stand. And why should not this be the case? We have had reasoning upon this effect this afternoon, and this reasoning is consistent--that if one generation needs the spiritual gifts of God which are bestowed by the presence of the Spirit of God, another generation which needs salvation, and which stands in need of the assistance which these gifts bring, should likewise have them bestowed upon them. "It is the greatest folly, it is a fallacy of the worst, and, I might say, of the most damning character to assert that one generation needs these gifts and that another generation can be saved without them. Such a statement is the refuge of those who have no faith, or who do not believe that God is 'the same yesterday, today and forever;' that He does not deal with His children justly under all circumstances and in every generation alike. "Now this is a cardinal principle in the Gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ. I would not give a fig for a religion that did not possess these powers and gifts." (Collected Discourses, Vol.1, George Q. Cannon, June 16, 1889)] even as long as the world shall stand, only according to the unbelief of the children of men.

20 Wherefore, there must be faith; and if there must be faith there must also be hope; and if there must be hope there must also be charity. [ Russell M. Nelson "Have you noticed in the scriptures that hope seldom stands alone? Hope is often linked with faith. Hope and faith are commonly connected to charity. Why? Because hope is essential to faith; faith is essential to hope; faith and hope are essential to charity. They support one another like legs on a three-legged stool. All three relate to our Redeemer. "Faith is rooted in Jesus Christ. Hope centers in his Atonement. Charity is manifest in the 'pure love of Christ.' (Moroni 7:47) These three attributes are intertwined like strands in a cable and may not always be precisely distinguished. Together they become our tether to the celestial kingdom." (Ensign, Feb. 1997, "A More Excellent Hope") ]

21 And except ye have charity ye can in nowise be saved in the kingdom of God; [ Charity = generous actions or donations to aid the poor, ill, or helpless; a charitable act or work; benevolent feeling, esp. toward those in need or in disfavor: leniency in judging others; forbearance: Christian love; What role does charity play in our lives - or why is it so important? M. Russell Ballard "No matter how hard we work, no matter how much we obey, no matter how many good things we do in this life, it would not be enough were it not for Jesus Christ and His loving grace. On our own we cannot earn the kingdom of God-no matter what we do." (Ensign, Jun 1998, "Build Bridges of Understanding") ] neither can ye be saved in the kingdom of God if ye have not faith; [ Faith is the stubborn resolve to see God blessing us in all circumstances. Even in our struggles and disappointments, faith requires us to believe God is ministering to us. ] neither can ye if ye have no hope.

22 And if ye have no hope ye must needs be in despair; [ No hope in what? Jesus Christ, and eternal plan, the atonement... without this we are lost hopeless. ] and despair cometh because of iniquity. [ What do you think that he means by that? The closer you try to get to him the better that you try to study and follow what you learn from the scriptures the more hope you have. The more you move away from doing what you should the greater the despair - that in essence is satans plan to get us all to despair. ]

23 And Christ truly said unto our fathers: If ye have faith ye can do all things which are expedient unto me. [ Interesting how he ended this quote with "which are expedient unti me." what significance does that have with faith? ]

24 And now I speak unto all the ends of the earth—that if the day cometh that the power and gifts of God shall be done away among you, it shall be because of unbelief. [ How does this apply to those that are members as well? Do we believe as fully as we should, does a slight lack of unbelief limit our priesthood power? How much does unbelief hold us back? We are the ones who limit what God can do in our lives; it is because of our unbelief; our lack of faith that we do not receive all of the spiritual power that is available to us. ]

25 And wo be unto the children of men if this be the case; for there shall be none that doeth good among you, no not one. For if there be one among you that doeth good, he shall work by the power and gifts of God.

26 And wo unto them who shall do these things away and die, for they die in their sins, and they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God; and I speak it according to the words of Christ; and I lie not.

27 And I exhort you to remember these things; [ The Hebrew word behind “remember” is the word for “obey.” When you really remember something, you obey it. How many mothers have said, “Remember what I said?” Mothers were not asking, “Can you repeat back to me what I said.” They were asking, “Why did you not do it?” The same meaning accompanies the Hebrew understanding of the word “hear.” “Hear, O Israel!” does not just mean to listen and let it go in one ear and out the other. There is an element of obeying when you really “hear” and “remember.” ] for the time speedily cometh that ye shall know that I lie not, for ye shall see me at the bar of God; [ Pulling from the final testimony of Nephi. (2 Nephi 33:11..words, at the last day, and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar... ] 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? [ Again pulling from the final testimony of Nephi. (2 Nephi 33:13 "...I speak unto you as the voice of one crying from the dust: Farewell until that great day shall come." Now that you have read them make sure that you choose wisely, because when we meet before the bar of God I (Moroni) will stand as a witness that these words were declared unto you (You read them). ]

28 I declare these things unto the fulfilling of the prophecies. And behold, they shall proceed forth out of the mouth of the everlasting God; [ Again pulling from the final testimony of Nephi. (2 Nephi 33:14 And you that will not partake of...the words which shall proceed forth out of the mouth of the Lamb of God, behold I bid you an everlasting farewell...) ] and his word shall hiss forth [ Where else do we see the word hiss used in the scriptures? i.e., summon, Isa 5:26, Isa 7:18, Zech. 10:8, 2 Ne 29:2 "The metaphor is taken from the practice of those that keep bees, who draw them out of their hives into the fields, and lead them back again, surismasi, by a hiss or a whistle."-Cyril ] from generation to generation. [ (Isa 52:11) ]

29  And God shall show unto you, that that which I have written is true. [ And now Moroni pulls from the final testimony of Mormon. ( Moroni 7:35 "God will show unto you...that [these things] are true...") ]

30 And again I would exhort you that ye would come unto Christ [ And now Moroni pulls from the final testimony of Amaleki (Omni 1:26 "I would that ye should come unto Christ..."). And then from Moroni (Moroni 7:19 "If ye will lay hold upon every good thing...") ], and lay hold upon every good gift, [ What are the good gifts? (vs 8-18) ] and touch not the evil gift, [ What are the evil gifts? sorcery, black magic...Interesting he refers to them as gifts as well. James E. Talmage "'Touch not the evil gift, nor the unclean thing.' What is meant by that? Satan from the first has been a great imitator; he is an experienced strategist. Never has the Lord set his hand to do a specific thing for the good of his people upon the earth, of outstanding feature, but that Satan has attempted to imitate it in some degree. "The Lord manifested himself to Moses, and talked to the man face to face...Then came Satan, the audacious, the father of lies, and represented himself as being the son of God in the distinctive sense. Moses was able to discern and perceive. 'And it came to pass that Moses looked upon Satan and said: Who art thou? For behold, I am a son of God, in the similitude of his Only Begotten; and where is thy glory, that I should worship thee? For behold, I could not look upon God, except his glory should come upon me, and I were strengthened before him. But I can look upon thee in the natural man. Is it not so surely?' (Moses 1:13-14) "Oh, that we all had such power of discernment. That is a gift of the Spirit, to which we are entitled and we will have it as we live for it. With that gift we shall be free, to a great extent, from the deception that otherwise might lead us astray. "As the Lord gives revelations, so does Satan, each in his way. As the Lord has revelators upon the earth, so has Satan, and he is operating upon those men by his power, and they are receiving revelations, manifestations, that are just as truly of the devil as was his manifestation to Moses, to which I have referred." (Conference Report, Apr. 1931, p. 27) ] nor the unclean thing.

31 And awake, and arise from the dust, [ And now Moroni pulls from the final testimony of Lehi (2 Nephi 11:14 "Awake and arise from the dust, and hear the words of..."). Fallen asleep in the dust, not remembering her duty. ] O Jerusalem; yea, and put on thy beautiful garments, [ And now Moroni pulls from the testimony of Isaiah (2 Nephi 8:24 "Awake, awake and put on thy strength, O Zion;and put on thy beautiful garments..."). Put on her best attire, symbolic of holiness to the Lord. if you look at that, in Isaiah language, like put it up, write it on a chalkboard you see the threefold mission of the church, what they used to call that. They’ve added now to take care of the poor. Can’t remember the exact words, but to “put on thy beautiful garments, redeem the dead,” that means to go to the temple. ] O daughter of Zion; and strengthen thy stakes [ And now Moroni pulls from the testimony of Isaiah (Isaiah 52:2 "Enlarge the place of thy tent...and strengthen they stakes". Put them deeper into the ground to protect yourself from the elements. ] and enlarge thy borders forever, that thou mayest no more be confounded, that the covenants of the Eternal Father which he hath made unto thee, O house of Israel, may be fulfilled. [ (Isa 52:1-2). ]

32 Yea, come unto Christ, [ Is this not the reason for all of the scriptures in the Book of Mormon - to invite all to come to Christ? What does this mean to come unto Christ? What do we need to do to really come unto Christ? Have we not just been taught above 1) understand that our Father in heaven loves us and has shown that from his mercies to the children of men 2) that the Lord has provided a plan for us - that the plan is outlined in the scriptures - especially tha Book of Mormon 3) we need to - we must seek after the gifts of God 4) lay hold on all that is good - emulate him who was the source of all good- even the savior - until we receive his image in our countenances and we are found to be just like him. ] and be perfected in him, [ We cannot do that by ourselves. What does it mean to be perfected in Christ? The word “perfected” means “finished.” The word for “perfected” in Hebrew means “to be at peace, finally settled, everything is calm.” The Hebrew greeting, “Shalom,” comes from that same root. In Greek, the words “to be perfected” mean “to come across a finish line.” The concept does not mean that everything is over or that a person is totally finished. It means a person has finished a race or finished a course–one has come to an endpoint. After going through the ordinances of the gospel and following Moroni’s steps, one is perfected in a sense—one is finished, but not yet a perfect being. The course is completed. Paul used this when he said that he had finished the course set before him (2 Timothy 4:7). Elder Bednar has addressed this matter: We will not attain a state of perfection in this life but we can and should press forward with faith in Christ along the straight and narrow path and make steady progress toward our eternal destiny. The Lord’s pattern for spiritual development is line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. Small, steady, incremental, spiritual improvements are the steps the Lord would have us take. Preparing to walk guiltless before God is one of the primary purposes of mortality and the pursuit of the lifetime. It does not result from sporadic spurts of intense, spiritual activity. How does he perfect us? Thru the atonement. ] and deny [ Interesting choice of words - DENY. In other-words we must hold ourselves back from doing what is more natural - the natural man is an enemy to God, or the man who does whatever he feels like doing. It is those who deny doing what is easy and choose to do what the Lord would have them do. ] yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, [ This is the justification. ] that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

33 And again, if ye by the grace of God [ Elder Russell M. Ballard of the Twelve Apostles explained that good works must be accompanied by the grace of Christ: “It is only through the infinite Atonement of Jesus Christ that people can overcome the consequences of bad choices. . . . No matter how hard we work, no matter how much we obey, no matter how many good things we do in this life, it would not be enough were it not for Jesus Christ and His loving grace. On our own we cannot earn the kingdom of God—no matter what we do. Unfortunately, there are some within the Church who have become so preoccupied with performing good works that they forget that those works—as good as they may be—are hollow unless they are accompanied by a complete dependence on Christ” (“Building Bridges of Understanding,” Ensign, June 1998, 65).] are perfect in Christ, [ How do we become perfect in Christ? Becoming perfect results from our journey through physical life, death, and resurrection, when all things are restored “to their proper and perfect frame” (Alma 40:23). It includes the process of spiritual birth, which brings “a mighty change” to our hearts and dispositions (Mosiah 5:2). It reflects our lifelong refinement through Christlike service and obedience to the Savior’s commandments and our covenants. And it recognizes the perfecting relationship between the living and the dead (see D&C 128:18). The word perfection, however, is sometimes misunderstood to mean never making a mistake. Ultimately, it is the Savior’s “great and last sacrifice” that brings about “mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance” (Alma 34:14, 15). Indeed, our “faith unto repentance” is essential for us to come unto Christ, be perfected in Him, and enjoy the blessings of “the great and eternal plan of redemption” (Alma 34:16). Fully accepting our Savior’s Atonement can increase our faith and give us courage to let go of constraining expectations that we are somehow required to be or to make things perfect. Black-and-white thinking says everything is either absolutely perfect or hopelessly flawed. But we can gratefully accept, as God’s sons and daughters, that we are His greatest handiwork (see Psalm 8:3–6; Hebrews 2:7), even though we are still a work in progress. (Becoming Perfect in Christ By Elder Gerrit W. Gong) Ensign Jul 2014 ] and deny [ Linguistically, it helps to identify all that it might actually mean to “deny” something or someone. The English word “deny” comes from the Latin de-nego, or denare, literally meaning “to not say yes.” ] not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father [ The covenant is of the Father, not Christ. It is God's plan. ] unto the remission of your sins, [ "and then" What do we learn about the atonement from this phrase?There was a covenant made between the Father and the son; which was that if the son was willing to give his life the Father covenanted that in so doing that our sins could be remitted, pardoned, absolved, the cancellation of a debt, charge, or penalty. Remember, it is not Christ who actually forgives our sins, but it is “by” Christ that our sins are forgiven. ] that ye become holy, without spot. [ We enter the Gospel by the water. We become justified by doing all that we can by the Spirit. Then, when we are sanctified, our garments are washed in the blood of the Lamb so that we might stand before God, having been true and faithful in all things, now desiring to receive all that the Father hath. By the blood of the Lamb—Christ pleads our case before the Father—the Father says, “I claim you as a son or a daughter of God.” And we are then admitted into His presence. ]

34 And now I bid unto all, farewell. I soon go to rest [ And now Moroni pulls from the testimony of Enos found in Enos 1:27 "And now I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer..." ] in the paradise of God, until my spirit and body shall again reunite, and I am brought forth triumphant through the air, to meet you before [ And finally Moroni pulls from the testimony of Jacob found in Jacob 6:13 "Finally, I bid you farewell, until I shall meet you before the pleasing bar of God, which bar striketh, the wicked with awful dread and fear. Amen. " ] the pleasing bar [ For some, for others not so much. Which will it be for you? Righteous, accountability and judgment before God is going to be a pleasant experience. The word “pleasing” is very powerful in this context and setting. This same phrase is also found in Jacob’s farewell recorded in Jacob 6:13. Moroni knew the cultural norms for saying goodbye—indeed, Jacob’s and Moroni’s farewells are very similar. ] of the great Jehovah, [ Interesting to note that the name “Jehovah” only appears one time in the whole Book of Mormon, except for places where it is in a quotation from Isaiah or some other ancient prophet. Why is that ? Why would Moroni wait to the very end and say, “Until ... I am brought forth triumphant through the air, to meet you before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge of both quick and dead”? One possibility for using the name “Jehovah” very sparingly is that the name of Jehovah was extremely sacred to the ancient Israelites. In attempts to carefully observe the commandment not to take God’s name in vain, they did not speak openly using the name of God, considering his name to be very sacred. This is one reason why there was confusion among the Jews and others about who Jesus was, who Jehovah was, who Elohim was, and who God the Father was. Every year, on the Day of Atonement, the High Priest had the name of Jehovah (YHWH - “Yaweh”) written on his forehead. On this day, as the High Priest performed the atoning sacrifices, he was acting in the place of the Savior, who would perform the real eternal atonement. Under the Law of Moses, so sacred was the name “Jehovah,” it could only be pronounced out loud on the Day of Atonement. Otherwise, when the Israelites spoke of Jehovah, they would use a euphemism of some kind in place of using the name “Jehovah”—using the title “Lord,” among others. ] the Eternal Judge of both quick and dead. Amen. [ In summary what has Moroni exhorted us to do? 1) remember the mercies of God as we ponder these truths in our hearts 2) Ask God if they are not true 3) you deny not the power of God - don't put limits on what he can or cannot do 4) deny not the gifts of God 5) recognize the source of the good gifts - they are from God 6) remember that God is the same yesterday and today 7) don't dismiss my words lightly - remember them because you and I will before our maker and be judged by them, and what you have done with them 8) Come unto Christ - become prepared to meet him, think like him, act like him, live like him, be perfected in him - become sanctified thru and in him until we become one with him. ]