Ether 4 - Moroni 10

What is the difference between hope and wish?

"Wish" is to desire or want something but reflects no effort. "Hope" is the same as wish with added expectation, trust, and confidence that it will be obtained. It seems to reflect much effort or doing something about it. Moroni taught -

"..faith is things which are hoped for and not seen..." (Book of Mormon Ether 12:6)

And this -

"...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." (Book of Mormon Ether 12:4)

We see that Ether -

"...did cry from the morning, even until the going down of the sun, exhorting the people to believe in God unto repentance...[and] did prophesy great and marvelous things unto the people, which they did not believe, because they saw them not." (Book of Mormon Ether 12:3 - 5)

The Lord has established a is a specific order to things -

"...dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith." (Book of Mormon Ether 12:6)

And in the eternal perspective of things it is -

"...by faith all things are fulfilled—" (Book of Mormon Ether 12:3)

Moroni suggests that the Lord did not automatically come to the people in the Americas -

"...For it was by faith that Christ showed himself unto our fathers, after he had risen from the dead; and he showed not himself unto them until after they had faith in him; wherefore, it must needs be that some had faith in him, for he showed himself not unto the world." (Book of Mormon Ether 12:7)

This was after the trial of their faith. Moroni continues -

"...Behold it was by faith that they of old were called after the holy order of God." (Book of Mormon Ether 12:10)

"...by faith was the law of Moses given." (Book of Mormon Ether 12:11)

"...it was the faith of Alma and Amulek that caused the prison to tumble to the earth." (Book of Mormon Ether 12:13)

"...it was the faith of Nephi and Lehi that wrought the change upon the Lamanites, that they were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost." (Book of Mormon Ether 12:14)

"...it was the faith of Ammon and his brethren which wrought so great a miracle among the Lamanites." (Book of Mormon Ether 12:15)

"...it was by faith that the three disciples obtained a promise that they should not taste of death; and they obtained not the promise until after their faith." (Book of Mormon Ether 12:17)

Even because of faith -

"...the brother of Jared said unto the mountain Zerin, Remove—and it was removed." (Book of Mormon Ether 12:30)

"...even all they who wrought miracles wrought them by faith, even those who were before Christ and also those who were after." (Book of Mormon Ether 12:16)

For -

"...there were many whose faith was so exceedingly strong, even before Christ came, who could not be kept from within the veil, but truly saw with their eyes the things which they had beheld with an eye of faith, and they were glad.
20 And behold, we have seen in this record that one of these was the brother of Jared; for so great was his faith in God, that when God put forth his finger he could not hide it from the sight of the brother of Jared, because of his word which he had spoken unto him, which word he had obtained by faith.
21 And after the brother of Jared had beheld the finger of the Lord, because of the promise which the brother of Jared had obtained by faith, the Lord could not withhold anything from his sight; wherefore he showed him all things, for he could no longer be kept without the veil." (Book of Mormon Ether 12:19 - 21)

As Moroni tried to explain faith, he was concerned that -

"...the Gentiles will mock at these things, because of our weakness in writing..." (Book of Mormon Ether 12:23 - 26)

To which the Lord reponds -

"...Fools mock, but they shall mourn; and my grace is sufficient for the meek, that they shall take no advantage of your weakness..." (Book of Mormon Ether 12:26)

And -

"...if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." (Book of Mormon Ether 12:27)

"And I, Moroni, having heard these words, was comforted, and said: O Lord, thy righteous will be done, for I know that thou workest unto the children of men according to their faith..." (Book of Mormon Ether 12:29)

And as Moroni is about to closeout his writings and seal up the records, he writes -

"...Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things....that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost." (Book of Mormon Moroni 10:3 - 4)

I testify to whomever may read this blog, that this statement is true. With a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, the truth has been manifested to my soul by the power of the Holy Ghost. The Book of Mormon it true, Jesus is the Christ, Joseph Smith is the Prophet of the Restoration, and the true Church has been restored today is my testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.