Moroni makes it clear his words fulfill prophecies. They
will proceed from God and “hiss forth from generation to generation” (Moroni
10:28). He very well could have emphasized the promise the Lord made Nephi. “And
also, that I may remember the promises which I have made unto thee, Nephi, and
also unto thy father, that I would remember your seed; and that the words of
your seed should proceed forth out of my mouth unto your seed; and my words
shall hiss forth unto the ends of the earth, for a standard unto my people, which
are of the house of Israel” (2 Nephi 29:2).
“Whereas the Lord will ‘hiss’ to gather his people, the Book
of Mormon describes that the records, the word of God, would ‘hiss forth.’
Unique to the Book of Mormon, this construction refers specifically to the coming
forth of the scriptures … The image of
crying from the dust is also unique to the Book of Mormon, and its initial use,
like the image of hissing forth, comes from the Lord.”[1]
If you desire the truth, God will show you his words are
true. “And [Joseph Smith] has translated the book, even that part which I have
commanded him, and as your Lord and your God liveth it is true” (D&C 17:6).
Moroni exhorts us once again to come to Christ. “For the
fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the God of
Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved” (1 Nephi
6:4).
“O then despise not, and wonder not, but hearken unto the
words of the Lord, and ask the Father in the name of Jesus for what things
soever ye shall stand in need. Doubt not, but be believing, and begin as in
times of old, and come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own
salvation with fear and trembling before him” (Mormon 9:27).
“And if it so be that they repent and come unto the Father
in the name of Jesus, they shall be received into the kingdom of God” (Ether
5:5).
We are to seek every good gift. “Neglect not the gift that
is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands
of the presbytery [GR elders]” (1 Timothy 4:14).
He warns not to touch an evil gift or unclean thing. “And
when they shall say unto you: Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and
unto wizards that peep and mutter—should not a people seek unto their God for the
living to hear from the dead” (2 Nephi 18:19).
“Mortify therefore
your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate
affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Colossians
3:5).
“The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of
temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
“But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of
uncleanness, and despise government [GR constituted authority]. Presumptuous
are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities” (2 Peter
2:9-10).
“Wherefore, if ye have sought to do wickedly in the days of
your probation, then ye are found unclean before the judgment-seat of God; and
no unclean thing can dwell with God; wherefore, ye must be cast off forever” (1
Nephi 10:21)
“The Saints
are commanded to be perfect … We are never justified in lowering the lofty
standard held out to the followers of the Christ. Nor are our actions or
attitudes approved of God if we suggest that the Savior did not mean what he
said when he called us to the transcendent level of perfection. Our task is not
to water down the ideal, nor to dilute the directive. Rather, we must view our
challenge with perspective, must see things as they really are and as they
really can be.”[2]
[1] The
Word of God, Leslie A. Taylor, Journal
of Book of Mormon Studies 12/1 (2003): 62.
[2] Doctrinal Commentary on the
Book of Mormon, Volume 4, Joseph
Fielding McConkie, Robert L. Millet, and Brent L. Top, as quoted in Review
of Joseph Fielding McConkie, Robert L. Millet, and Brent L. Top, Doctrinal
Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 4, Third Nephi through Moroni,
Darrell L. Matthews, Maxwell
Institute.
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