Moroni 7 - 8

I am personally grateful that Moroni was allowed sufficient time to include in his record, before he hid up the plates, a "talk" so to speak of his father Mormon, which he did -

"...speak unto the people, as he taught them in the synagogue which they had built for the place of worship." (Book of Mormon Moroni 7:1)

It is one of my favorites in all of scripture. With limited time, as I blog today, I would like to briefly touch on a few doctrinal points he made. To really feel the impact of his words, the reader really must read the entire 7th Chapter of Moroni. He begins with -

"...I would speak unto you that are of the church, 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, from this time henceforth until ye shall rest with him in heaven." (Book of Mormon Moroni 7:3)

Mormon suggests in one of the first passages that with sufficient hope we can obtain peace and rest in this life in this life as in the life to come. He then proceeds to teach the people that -

"...all things which are good cometh of God...inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God." (Book of Mormon Moroni 7:12 - 13)

And in opposition -

"...and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually." (Book of Mormon Moroni 7:12)

And then he teaches this doctrine wherein all people have no excuse -

"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 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.
17 But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, 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." (Book of Mormon Moroni 7:15 - 17)

Mormon uses the terms "Spirit of Christ" interchangebly with the "Light of Christ" where in he pleads -

"...I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently 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." (Book of Mormon Moroni 7:19)

And then he asks -

"...how is it possible that ye can lay hold upon every good thing?" (Book of Mormon Moroni 7:20)

He then answers his question -

"...I will tell you the way whereby ye may lay hold on every good thing." (Book of Mormon Moroni 7:21)

He then proceeds to teach three eternal principles. The first being -

"And now I come to that faith..." (Book of Mormon Moroni 7:21)

"...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..." (Book of Mormon Moroni 7:32)

"For no man can be saved, according to the words of Christ, save they shall have faith in his name..." (Book of Mormon Moroni 7:38)

The second principle being -

"...I would speak unto you concerning hope..." (Book of Mormon Moroni 7:40)

"...How is it that you can attain unto faith, save ye shall have hope?
41 And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement 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." (Book of Mormon Moroni 7:40 - 42)

"...behold I say unto you that he cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart...for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart..." (Book of Mormon Moroni 7:43 - 44)

And the third being charity, for -

"...if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses 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." (Book of Mormon Moroni 7:44)

"...charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever..." (Book of Mormon Moroni 7:47)

Mormon closes with -

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, 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, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure." (Book of Mormon Moroni 7:48)