THE BOOK OF MORONI
CHAPTER 7
An invitation to enter into the rest of the Lord—Pray with real
intent—The Spirit of Christ enables men to know good from evil—Satan
persuades men to deny Christ and do evil—The prophets manifest the
coming of Christ—By faith miracles are wrought and angels minister—Men
should hope for eternal life and cleave unto charity. [Between A.D. 400 and 421]
1 A
ND now I, Moroni, write a few of the
words of my father Mormon, which he spake concerning faith,
hope, and charity; for after this manner did he speak unto the people,
as
he taught them in the synagogue which they had built for the place of worship.
[ Must
have been enough of them that they were able to build a synagogue - and assembled together. Let's look at their life first to understand their trials that we might better understand what was being taught and why.
What would their life have been like? There were just a few of them left as opposed to the great congrgations of before, those left had seen much tragedy, most
of their loved ones would have been killed, they lived in constant fear of
the Laminites - if caught or rather discovered they were killed, How
much hope would you have under these circumstances? What about the trials
of today how easy is it for us to loose hope? How can we use this scripture
to understand what we should do and how we should live in todays troubled
world? ]
2 And
now I, Mormon, speak unto you, my beloved brethren; and it is by the
grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, and his holy will,
because of the gift of his calling unto me,
[ Mormon is suggesting that he is a live because God has protected him to do the work that he is doing. How does this testimony reflect the trust that Mormon had in the Lord? ] that I am permitted to speak unto you at this time.
3 Wherefore, I would
speak unto you
that are of the church,
[ The audience are members of the church. So what we have here is a talk that Moroni's Father Mormon gave at a synagogue they had built (see verse 1). This might have been his remarks at the dedication of that synagogue. Ether way Moroni would have been a young boy at the time so here he has a copy of his fathers talk. This talk came at a time were there was a 10 year truce between the the Lamanites, the Gadianton Robbers, and the Nephites. Mormon knew what would follow and so he had used the time we are taught to firm up the battle preparations even though they were seriously out numbered. In addition to the physical preparation here we have Mormon's thoughts as to what they needed to do to be spiritually prepared. A very good reason why Moroni thought that they would be of need in our lives today. ] that are the peaceable followers
of Christ, and
that have obtained a sufficient hope by
which ye can enter into the
rest of
the Lord,
[ Defined as "gaining the fulness
of his Glory" D&C 84:24. How can we be in the rest of the Lord when we are undersuch conditions as they were? If we know that God is in charge, that his hand is in all things. Yes he let's evil have it's day to fulfill their agency. He has to let them become what they will so that there is justice in destroying them at some point so he can reset the world for his coming kingdom. We can also find rest when we know that we are living a good life, that what we are doing is in line with God's command for us such that we know that we will have eternal life with him. ] from this time henceforth until ye
shall rest with him in heaven.
4 And now my brethren,
I judge these things of you because of your peaceable walk with
the children of men.
[ The Sermon at the Temple, like the Sermon on the Mount, contains some of the most sacred words that Jesus had given. At the time of Mormon’s sermon, his people were living north of the narrow neck of land. They were in the land of Jashon, near Bountiful where Jesus had visited the Nephites and given his sermon. Those words of Jesus would likely have been vivid and poignant to the people who were present during Mormon’s address. This context is reminiscent of Samuel the Lamanite using King Benjamin’s words when he stood on the walls of Zarahemla—the place where Benjamin had given those words. These people would not have heard the Savior’s words from the Savior himself. At the time of Mormon’s speech, it was 320 years after that event, but Mormon knew what had happened there, and he drew on the Savior’s sacred sermon as a main source for his teaching. ]
5 For
I remember the word of God which saith
by their works ye shall know
them; [ Changed only one word from 3 Nephi 14:20, “fruits” to “works.” ] for if their works be good, then they are good also.
6 For behold, God hath said
a man being evil cannot do that which is good; [ Answers the rhetorical question of 3 Nephi 14:6, “Do men gather grapes of thorns?” ] for if he offereth a gift, or prayeth unto God,
except he shall do it with real intent it profiteth him nothing.
[ As Huck Finn said "You cannot pray a lie". ]
7 For behold,
it is not counted unto him for righteousness. [ so why does doing something good not count for good if he does not do it
with the right intent? sould not doing good just count for good?
In other words he is not sincere, as he is doing it for the wrong
reason - to get some other kind of gain (showmanship, ...to be seen of
men.) In the end in a way they are really mocking God, as such the
repetition of such will eventually harden the heart of the giver as
well. ]
8 For behold, if a man being evil giveth a gift,
he doeth it grudgingly;
[ So when we give it must come from the heart, we have to be sincere. A gift to be shown of men is of no righteous value in God's eyes, for he knows our intent. ] wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the
gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God.
9 And likewise also is it counted evil unto a man,
if he shall pray and not with real intent of heart; yea, and it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such.
10 Wherefore,
a man being evil cannot do that which is good; [ Why? Because of his intent. He does not do it to glorify God, but to profit himself. ] neither will he give a good gift.
[ This makes more sense here when we remember that he is using what the Savior said to the Nephites when he addressed them at the bountiful temple as the basis of his remarks. Then it makes more sense against the background of 3 Nephi 14:11: “If ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children.”]
11 For behold, a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water; neither can a
good fountain bring forth bitter water; wherefore,
a man being a servant of the devil cannot follow Christ;
[ Interesting but subtile comparison here - servant or slaves
associated with the devil verses followers agents unto themselves those who follow God. John 8:34 ] and if he follow Christ he cannot be a servant of the devil.
12 Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh
of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God,
and fighteth against him continually, [ This started in the pre-mortal world. There Satan wanted all to worship him, he wanted the glory of God, to replace God. That continues today. If he wants all of the glory then there is no room for anyone else in Satan's plan. One should really remember that when they sign up for his plan. It is all about him. Verses of Father in Heaven who wants to give us everything that he has, to live with him. ] and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually.
13 But behold, that which is of
God inviteth and enticeth to do good
continually; [ The exact opposite of Satan's plan. ] wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.
14 Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren,
that ye do not judge that which is evil
to be of God, [ How would we do that? Have you every heard anyone say well I do not believe in God because if there is a God why would he allow for bad things to happen to good people, or allow so much sufferring in the world. Why is Moroni warning us to be careful of calling evil - good? Satan is very cleaver, he will come as close as he can to the line as he can. For example when we are enticed for a cause, to fight for something then we better be careful to understand the full premise of the cause. In 2020 there were a good number of good people who joined the Black Lives Matter movement. The idea that Black lives matter should be assumed by all to be a very good cause, something that everyone should agree on - it is how God created us, therefore it is a good cause. However; if anyone took the time to go to the Black Lives Matter website they would quickly see that the cause was not about the lives of black people or any other group that has racism practiced against them, no it was about social change. Over throwing police forces, civil unrest, division in the people. So there were many that called the cause just and good. However at it's core it had a biased attitude to cause social unrest and do that which is evil. ] or that which is good and of God to be of the devil.
15 For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know
good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with
a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.
16 For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know
good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every
thing which
inviteth [ Persuaded by the light of Christ. ] to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ;
wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God. [ Elder Bednar, "If I had to use one word to describe light, I would use the word “radiance.” There’s a brilliance and a sense of direction that comes from light. If you are in totally pitch dark room and there’s the smallest element of light, then that light chases the darkness. But the darkness cannot overrule the light. So associated with light is a warmth. Associated with darkness is a coolness that I think is very significant. The Light of Christ is what many people would call a conscience, but it’s more than a psychological effect that takes place within people. someone can be riding on a bus, see someone in distress and feel a compassion and a desire to assist and serve this person. Many people would say, “Nah, that’s just natural behavior.” But it’s more. It is the influence of God that pulls us, that influences us to be good and to do good. Every person ever born in history, now, in the future is influenced by the Light of Christ for goodness. As we yield to that influence to do good and become good, then the Light of Christ increases within us. As we disobey, light is decreased and can ultimately be diminished." ]
17 But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and
believe not in Christ,
[ Here in is the key. If it will lead you to not believe in Christ. To believe in yourself only, to believe in the science of man only, the government of man only and not God. Then you are headed down a very bad road. One were because you do not believe you have lost the power of God to deliver you. You have your agency and if you do not believe in him he cannot save you. He will not save all of his children. ]
and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil
work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.
18 And
now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge,
which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge
wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be
judged.
19 Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that
ye should search diligently [ We need to actively look for it in our life. ] in
the light of
Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ.
[ Capstone of the agruement here which started in verse 3. ]
20 And now, my brethren, how is it possible that ye can lay hold upon every good thing?
21 And
now I come to that faith, of which I said I would speak; and I will
tell you the way whereby ye may lay hold on every good thing.
[ Verses 22-25 are how God communicated with men in the time before the Savior came to the earth. ]
22 For behold,
God knowing all things,
being from everlasting to everlasting,
[ He is eternal - so this life is not it. ] behold,
he
sent angels [ Reasons why the Lord sends angels are as follows. ] [1] to minister unto the children of men,
[2] to make manifest concerning the coming of Christ; and in
[3] Christ
there should come every good thing.
[ The atonement, the resurrection. ]
23 And God also declared unto prophets, by his own mouth, that Christ should come.
24 And
behold, there were divers ways that he did manifest things unto the
children of men, which were good; and all things which are good cometh
of Christ;
otherwise men were fallen, and there could no good thing
come unto them. [ Or when they die they are dead, that is it, and that is not a good thing according to God's plan. ]
25 Wherefore, by the ministering of angels,
and by every word which proceeded forth out of the mouth of God, men
began to exercise faith in Christ; [ The first
few generations did not need faith because Adam taught them directly. ] and thus by faith, they
did lay hold upon every good thing; and thus it was until the coming
of Christ.
[ Verse 26-32 How Christ taught men why he was on the earth, ]
26 And after that he came men also were saved by
faith in his name; [ Why is it that faith is so essential? Without faith in Christ he cannot save you. If you do not belive in him and his power then it cannot save you. People are saved by faith, and it is by faith that we can become the sons and daughters of God. The rights of Mercy and Grace belong
to the son and he may exercise them in an intercessory fashion before the Father in favor of those whom he chooses. ] and by faith, they become the sons of God. And as surely as Christ liveth he spake these words unto our fathers,
saying: Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which
is good, [ Compare to 3 Nephi 18:20 “which
is right” so what ever we ask that is both right and good What are some things that are good and right, some things that we can and ot to seek after? Have health of body and vigor of mind, become a gospel scholar, attain scolastic acheivments, aquire proper empolyment, be preserved in war or other perilous circumstances, serve God and our fellowmen thru church calls, find a proper husband or wife, receive and rear children in righteousness, enjoy spiritual embraces and the gifts of revealed religion , work miracles, gain salvation. ] in
faith believing [ Developing
enough power, influence with God. 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.
] that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done [ Plain
and simple – it will happen, we can achieve the desired end. ] unto you.
27 Wherefore, my beloved brethren,
have miracles ceased because Christ hath ascended into heaven, [ The people were apparently arguing that the Savior was living up in heaven and had distanced himself from them. ] and hath sat down on the right hand of God,
to claim of the Father his rights of mercy which he hath upon the children of men?
[ The rights of mercy purchased both through the creation, him living a perfect life and then sufferring in Gethesame and on the cross. ]
28
For he hath answered the ends of the law,
[ That law that was defined in the premortal world. The one that we
agreed to be bound to; we trusted in the Fathers plan; that the Savior
could come to the earth; live perfectly and complete the requirements
of the Law. ] and
he claimeth all those who have faith in him;
[ Verse 27 the Savior claims the "rigthts of mercy" from the Father. ] and
they who have faith in him will cleave unto every good thing;
[ The requirement for all who want to have acces to the rights of mercy
that the Savior has been given responsibility over - must come first by
faith in him - that he does have the right to claim mercy and the power
to do so; and second that they will also be good - do good things - or
be obedient. ] wherefore he advocateth the cause of the children of men;
[
The Savior is our advocate with the father, he is the one to whom the
Father has passed off all judgement, as a result he can settle the case
by himself. ] and he
[ The Savior ] dwelleth eternally in the heavens.
[ Because he is a God. ]
29 And because he hath done this, [ verse 27-28 ] my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men.
[ Type of men that are visited by angels. ]
30 For behold, they [ Angels. ] are
subject unto him, [ Jesus
Christ. ] to minister according to the word of his command, showing
themselves [ Who do they visit? ] unto
them of [1] strong
faith [ See Moroni 7:37 ] and a [2] firm
mind in every form of godliness.
[ 8 reasons why angels visit men. ]
31 And the office of their ministry is to
[1] call
men unto repentance, and to
[2] fulfill
and to do the work of the covenants of the Father, which he hath made
unto the children of men,
[
Among them are the radification of priesthood ordinances under the
direction of the Holy Spirit of Promise. see D&C 132:7 ] [3] to
prepare the way among the children of men, by
[4] declaring
the word of Christ [ See 2 Nephi 32:3 by the power
of the Holy Ghost. ] unto the chosen vessels
of the Lord, that they may
[5] bear
testimony of him.
[ And see Moroni 7:22 [6] to minister unto the children
of men, [7] to make manifest concerning the coming of Christ; and [8]
in Christ there should come every good thing. ]
32 And
by so doing, the Lord God prepareth the way that the residue of men may
have faith in Christ, that the Holy Ghost may have place in their
hearts, according to the power thereof; and
after this manner [ The use of angels to fulfill their respective assignments among men. ] bringeth to pass the Father,
the covenants which he hath made unto the children of men. [ Since we are no longer in his presence and he cannot personally come and be with us in our mortal state he uses angels to bring his work forward, and make sure that the covenants that he has made with Abraham , Isaac and Jacob as well as us individually which we often forget. That God will do all that he can to help those who have and honor their covenants with him. ]
33 And Christ hath said:
If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me.
[ What do you think he means to do everything that is expedient in me?
Faith is much more than passive belief. We express our faith through
action—by the way we live. Apostles have counseled us on what it means
to have faith in Jesus Christ: “To gain unshakable faith in Jesus
Christ is to flood your life with brilliant light. You are no longer
alone to struggle with challenges you know you cannot resolve or
control yourself, for He said, ‘If ye will have faith in me ye shall
have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me’ (Moroni 7:33;
italics added). “If you are despondent, racked by transgression, are
ill, alone, or desperately in need of comfort and support, I solemnly
testify that the Lord will help you when you carefully obey the
spiritual law upon which that help is predicated. He is your Father.
You are His child. He loves you. He will never let you down. I know He
will bless you” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1991, 118; or Ensign, Nov.
1991, 86).]
34 And
he hath said: Repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and be
baptized in my name, and have faith in me, that ye may be saved.
35 And
now, my beloved brethren, if this be the case that these things are
true which I have spoken unto you, and God will show unto you, with
power and great glory at the last day, that they are true, and if they
are true has the day of miracles ceased?
36 Or
have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he
withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as
time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man
upon the face thereof to be saved?
37 Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and
it
is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain.
38 For
no man can be saved, according to the words of Christ, save they shall
have faith in his name; wherefore, if these things have ceased, then
has faith ceased also; and awful is the state of man, for they are as
though there had been no redemption made.
39 But
behold, my beloved brethren, I judge better things of you, for I judge
that ye have faith in Christ because of your meekness; for if ye have
not faith in him then ye are not fit to be numbered among the people of
his church.
40 And again, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto you concerning hope.
How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save ye shall have hope?
41
And what is it that ye shall hope for? [ We see from Mormon, as we saw briefly with Alma, that if the power of the Holy Ghost is active, one hopes to be resurrected and to stand again in the presence of God (7:41). That is the last place the wicked want to be. Cleaving to the good and developing faith leads to hope in Christ, and those elements lead to charity. The essence is that we will become like him vs 48. So here Mormon give some instruction of what we need to do to become better; so that we will be like him spiritually. ] Behold I say
unto you that ye shall have hope through the
atonement [ Russell M. Nelson said: “In
the English language, the components are at-one-meant, suggesting that
a person is at one with another. Other languages employ words that connote
either expiation or reconciliation. Expiation means ‘to atone for.’ Reconciliation
comes from Latin roots re, meaning ‘again’; con, meaning ‘with’; and sella,
meaning ‘seat.’ Reconciliation, therefore, literally means ‘to sit again with.’…In
Hebrew, the basic word for atonement is kaphar, a verb that means ‘to cover’
or ‘to forgive.’ Closely related is the Aramaic and Arabic word kafat, meaning
‘a close embrace’—no doubt related to the Egyptian ritual embrace….While the
words atone or atonement, in any of their forms, appear only once in the King
James translation of the New Testament, they appear 35 times in the Book of
Mormon. As another testament of Jesus Christ, it sheds precious light on His
Atonement.” (Ensign, Nov. 1996, pp.34-5 as taken from Latter-day Commentary
on the Book of Mormon compiled by K. Douglas Bassett, p. 85)) ] of Christ and
the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this
because of your faith in him according to the promise .
42 Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope.
43 And again, behold
I say unto you
that he cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be meek,
and lowly of heart.
[ What
does being meek and lowly of heart have to do with obtaining faith and
hope? Moroni 7 :44; 8:26 ]
44 If so, his faith and
hope is vain, for none is acceptable before
God, save the meek and
lowly in heart; [ Why? see
Moroni 8:26 ] and
if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses [ repents ] by
the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have
charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must
needs have charity.
[ Notice: what happens when you exchange the word charity with the word atonement in verses 45-47? ]
45 And
charity suffereth
long,
[ see vs 47 - which is the pure love of christ - do you think
there was any more sufferring than that which went on in Gethsemane or
on the cross? How long did the savior have to endure? ] and
is kind, and
envieth not, and
is
not puffed up,
seeketh not her own,
[ or in other words is applied to everyone, without regard for status or position. ] is not easily provoked,
[ it is consistent; it is the same for all men; applied the same - no respecter or the person to whom it is administered. ] thinketh
no evil,
[ Is done in purity with no reward on its own. ] and
rejoiceth not in iniquity but
rejoiceth in the truth,
beareth all things,
[ Overcomes everything that it needs to in order to change and perfect mankind. ] believeth
all things,
hopeth all things,
endureth all things. [ There is no scope to it;s definition, it is eternal in coverage. ]
46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren,
if
ye have not charity, ye are nothing,
[ Without the pure love of God for us we would be nothing; without the
atonement in our lives we would have no chance for eternal life. ] for charity never faileth.
[ the pure Love of Christ will always be there it is eternal. ] Wherefore,
cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all,
[ How are charity and the atonement alike? ] for all things must fail—
47 But
charity is the pure love of
Christ,
[ What is the love of Christ?
In essence it is the fact that he loved us so much that he took upon
our sins in Gethsemane; he suffered and bleed for us on the cross. Why
to bring to pass our imortality and eternal life with him. Moses 1:39] and
it [ the pure love of Christ ] endureth forever;
[ it is eternal ] and
whoso
is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto
the Father with all the energy of heart,
that ye may be filled with this
love,
[ Which love is the pure Love of Christ. For if we have this geniune love we will be or become like him. ] which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of
his son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God;
that
when he shall appear we shall be like
him,
[ How will
we be like him? What does it mean to have his image in our countanceses? We
will have his character, his love his compassion, his attitude about
life, friends, strangers - all of his children. ] for we shall see him
as he is; that we may have this hope;
that we may be purified even
as he is pure.
[ How does faith, hope and
charity help to purify us? ] Amen.