Moroni 1-3

Moroni tells us he is writing “a few more things, contrary to that which I had supposed; for I had supposed not to have written any more” (Moroni 1:4). As he finished his father’s record, he wrote, “how long the Lord will suffer that I may live I know not” (Mormon 8:5).

The Book of Moroni, not being an historical account, discusses various gospel topics.

The Book of Moroni

Chapter 1

 Moroni writes for the benefit of the Lamanites—The Nephites who will not deny Christ are put to death. About A.D. 401–21.

 “After his first two attempts to conclude the record, Moroni returned to building this ‘house of Israel,’ perhaps in part because he was dissatisfied with his efforts in writing a grand summary for his story and its accompanying narrator commentary. He may have added multiple endings simply because he lived longer than he expected. But because he changed his entire narrative approach in the final ending, it is probable that he continued to write at least in part because he was not entirely satisfied with his first two endings. After his first formulaic ending, he added many more pages of narration and narrator commentary. Maybe this final ending provides the resolution that has evaded him in his previous endings.”[1]

 The wars continue. Nephi described them.

 “And it came to pass that I beheld, and saw the people of the seed of my brethren that they had overcome my seed; and they went forth in multitudes upon the face of the land.

“And I saw them gathered together in multitudes; and I saw wars and rumors of wars among them; and in wars and rumors of wars I saw many generations pass away” (1 Nephi 12:20-21).

 It appears there were still Nephite Christians. Moroni tells us the Lamanites killed any Nephite who refused to deny Christ. Alma₂ told Helaman₁, “But whosoever remaineth, and is not destroyed in that great and dreadful day, shall be numbered among the Lamanites, and shall become like unto them, all, save it be a few who shall be called the disciples of the Lord; and them shall the Lamanites pursue even until they shall become extinct. And now, because of iniquity, this prophecy shall be fulfilled” (Alma 45:14).

 “Seventy years later, Moroni₂, the last custodian of the Nephite record, reported that his extinct people's enemies were engaged in fighting that was ‘exceedingly fierce among themselves’ (Moroni 1:2). ‘The Lamanites [and, he implies, independent robber groups] are at war one with another; and the whole face of this land is one continual round of murder and bloodshed; and no one knoweth the end of the war’ (Mormon 8:8–9). So the Nephite retreat and defeat constituted only one episode within a more general pattern of widespread social and political degeneration quite unlike the less sharp conflicts of earlier times.”[2]

Moroni makes it clear he will not deny Christ. This is why he wanders wherever he can for his own safety.

Even though the Lamanites destroyed the Nephite civilization, Moroni writes in the hope his words “may be of worth unto my brethren, the Lamanites, in some future day, according to the will of the Lord” (Moroni 1:4).

Chapter 2

 Jesus gave the twelve Nephite disciples power to confer the gift of the Holy Ghost. About A.D. 401–21.

One of the first things that happened when Christ began his ministry among the Nephites, was to select twelve Nephite apostles. “And now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words he looked upon the twelve whom he had chosen, and said unto them: Remember the words which I have spoken. For behold, ye are they whom I have chosen to minister unto this people. Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment” (3 Nephi 13:25). 

He laid His hands on their head and told them, Ye shall call on the Father in my name, in mighty prayer; and after ye have done this ye shall have power that to him upon whom ye shall lay your hands, ye shall give the Holy Ghost; and in my name shall ye give it, for thus do mine apostles” (Moroni 2:2).

“[T]he text recorded by Moroni is faithfully dependent upon the earlier account. In both instances, the twelve are called the ‘disciples … whom he had chosen’; the manner of ordination by the laying on of hands is specified; the operative words bestowing ‘power’ to ‘give the Holy Ghost’ are the same; and the certification that the ‘multitude heard it not’ is consciously repeated. These words add further evidence of the high degree to which the Nephites venerated the words that Jesus spoke while he was with them. Presumably these leaders used these words of Jesus as they, in turn, conveyed to their successors the same priesthood power and authority that Jesus had given them.”[3]

Moroni concludes by informing us Christ spoke thee words during His first appearance. He was speaking only to the twelve. The multitude did not hear these words.

 Chapter 3

Elders ordain priests and teachers by the laying on of hands. About A.D. 401–21.

In chapter 3, Moroni gives us direction dealing with priests and teachers in the church.

Alma₂ followed this process. “And now it came to pass that after Alma had made an end of speaking unto the people of the church, which was established in the city of Zarahemla, he ordained priests and elders, by laying on his hands according to the order of God, to preside and watch over the church” (Alma 6:1).

“After they had prayed unto the Father in the name of Christ, they laid their hands upon them” (Moroni 3:2).

“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ [GR having left behind the beginning of the doctrine], let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

“Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment” (Hebrews 6:1-2).

“From the same comes the administering of ordinances and blessings upon the church, by the laying on of the hands” (D&C 107:67).

After they have layed their hands upon the person’s head, they pray, “In the name of Jesus Christ I ordain you to be a priest (or if he be a teacher, I ordain you to be a teacher) to preach repentance and remission of sins through Jesus Christ, by the endurance of faith on his name to the end. Amen” (Moroni 3:3).

“And after this manner did they ordain priests and teachers, according to the gifts and callings of God unto men; and they ordained them by the power of the Holy Ghost, which was in them” (Moroni 3:4).

“Notably, the procedures utilized here again follow the instructions given by the resurrected Lord. First, the elders ‘prayed unto the Father in the name of Christ,’ just as Jesus had originally told the disciples to do: ‘Ye shall call on the Father in my name, in mighty prayer’ (Moroni 2:2). Second, they began the ordination by stating that it was performed ‘in the name of Jesus Christ,’ just as he had instructed: ‘in my name shall ye give it’ (Moroni 2:2). Third, they laid their hands upon those whom they ordained, just as the Savior had done as he had ordained the twelve disciples. And fourth, the Nephite elders ordained priests and teachers ‘by the power of the Holy Ghost, which was in them,’ the power that was bestowed upon them by Jesus himself. Thus, again, we can see the extent to which the Nephites followed the instructions and example of the Lord and did as he had instructed them.” [4]

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[1] Moroni: The Final Voice, Mark D. Thomas, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 12/1 (2003): 94.[2] Last-Ditch Warfare in Ancient Mesoamerica Recalls the Book of Mormon, John L. Sorenson, Maxwell Institute website.[3] From Presence to Practice: Jesus, the Sacrament Prayers, the Priesthood, and Church Discipline in 3 Nephi 18 and Moroni 2–6, John W. Welch, Maxwell Institute website.[4] Ibid.