Chapter 7
An invitation is given
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.
About A.D. 401–21.
Moroni shares teachings of Mormon on faith, hope, and
charity to the Nephite people in the synagogue.
Mormon begins by telling the congregation he is permitted to
speak to them “because of the gift of [God’s] unto me” (Moroni 7:2).
“Mormon, who abridged the record, laments when he sees his
kinfolk descend into wickedness, because he ‘saw that the day of grace was past
with them’ (Mormon 2:15). He seems to imply that there is a window of
opportunity wherein one can obtain grace. He tells one audience that he is able
to speak to them ‘by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ’
(Moroni 7:2), and tells his son, Moroni, that he prays that Jesus, ‘through his
infinite goodness and grace, will keep you’ (Moroni 8:3).”[1]
He is speaking to church members who “are the peaceable
followers of Christ.” These are those who have a sufficient hope they will “enter
into the rest of the Lord” (Moroni 7:3).
“Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope
for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope
cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them
sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God” (Ether
12:4).
Mormon judges these things because of their “peaceable walk
with the children of men” (Moroni 7:4). “He that saith he abideth in him ought
himself also so to walk, even as he walked” (1 John 2:6).
“Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness
of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me” (D&C 19:23).
“Mormon … for example, speaks to the ‘peaceable followers of
Christ’ who have entered into the rest of the Lord, whom he recognizes because
of their ‘peaceable walk’ with men (Moroni 7:3-4). Maybe peace has seemed like
something that just happens if we are lucky; or it may seem like a luxury that
we can sometimes live without. But learning to establish real inner peace is
indispensable to spiritual progress.”[2]
He reminds them it is by their works they will know them. If
their works are good, they are also good. “Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall
know them” (3 Nephi 14:20).
An evil man cannot do good. If he makes an offering, it will
do him no good.
“Behold, mine house is a house of order, saith the Lord God,
and not a house of confusion.
“Will I accept of an offering, saith the Lord, that is not
made in my name?” (D&C 132:8-9).
If he does not offer a prayer with real intent, it will do
him no good. “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his
prayer shall be abomination” (Proverbs 28:9).
“And now behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, do not
suppose that this is all; for after ye have done all these things, if ye turn
away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and impart
of your substance, if ye have, to those who stand in need—I say unto you, if ye
do not any of these things, behold, your prayer is vain, and availeth you
nothing, and ye are as hypocrites who do deny the faith” (Alma 34:28).
“Mormon wove several crucial words and phrases from the
Sermon on the Mount into his impassioned speech to his people, which is
preserved in Moroni 7. The following echoes are unmistakable: “By their works ye shall know them” (Moroni 7:5)
has changed only one word from 3 Nephi 14:20, “fruits” to “works.” “A man being
evil cannot do that which is good” (Moroni 7:6) declaratively and
deliberately answers the rhetorical question of 3 Nephi 14:16, “Do men gather grapes of thorns?” (inverting the good/evil to evil/good).”[3]
(emphasis in original)
“For behold, it is not counted unto him for righteousness”
(Moroni 7:7).
[1] The
Grace of Christ, John Gee, Maxwell Institute website.
[2] Zion
and the Spirit of At-One-Ment, Catherine Thomas, Maxwell Institute website.
[3] Worthy
of Another Look: Reusages of the Words of Christ, John W. Welch, Journal of the Book of Mormon and Other
Restoration Scripture 22/1 (2013): 68.
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