Moroni's Letter
I
get the sense that when we read and talk about Moroni’s severe letter in Alma
60 in the Church, we think only of the fact that Pahoran was being unjustifiably
scolded. Elder Maxwell wrote, “Moroni
used harsh language, accusing the governor of the land, Pahoran, of sitting on
his throne in a state of ‘thoughtless stupor.’ (Alma 60:7)… Though censured, Pahoran was not angry…. Just as in this episode, sometimes scolding
occurs that is later shown to be unjustified” (All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience [1979], 119). Surely Pahoran did show his greatness by not
being offended by Moroni’s letter, and he was a great example for us. But we should not think that Moroni’s letter
was unjustified or out of line.
It was not only justified, but he was following the inspiration of the Lord in what he wrote. The first point that is easy to miss is that Moroni was not writing only to Pahoran. He directed his letter to Pahoran and “all those who have been chosen by this people to govern and to manage the affairs of this war” (Alma 60:1). All throughout the letter it is clear that Moroni is writing to more than one person. He spoke of “thrones” and “heads” and “traitors” and “governors”—all showing that he was writing to multiple people. He called them “my beloved brethren” and addressed them as “ye yourselves”, and so even though Pahoran was the only one mentioned by name, the letter was meant for all who were responsible for leading the war effort. Pahoran himself may not have deserved the reprimand, clearly others to whom the letter was addressed merited every syllable of scolding. Pahoran wrote of those who “sought to take away the judgment-seat” and “withheld our provisions” and even “joined an alliance” with the king of the Lamanites (Alma 61:4,8). These Nephite leaders were clearly traitors and deserving of the rebuke of Moroni; as the Lord told Moroni, “If those whom ye have appointed your governors do not repent of their sins and iniquities, ye shall go up to battle against them” (Alma 60:33). Moroni did not simply make a guess at what was happening back home and write a nasty letter assuming he was right; he received revelation that there were severe problems with those who were supposed to be providing support, and he followed the Lord’s inspiration to rid the government of these traitors. Apparently the Lord did not reveal to him whether or not Pahoran specifically was a traitor, but Moroni was not wrong in his accusations against the group as a whole. The other point that puts the letter in context is that Moroni has just witnessed the unnecessary deaths of thousands of innocent Nephites. Because the government had not sent sufficient men to fortify the city of Nephihah, the Lamanites attacked and “did begin to slay them with an exceedingly great slaughter” (Alma 59:7). It was because of this event with men, women, and children being killed that Moroni became “angry with the government” (Alma 59:13). In his complaints he wrote that the Lamanites “are murdering our people with the sword, yea, our women and our children” (Alma 60:17). He again mentioned the children later on as he urged them to “bestir yourselves in the defence of your country and your little ones” (Alma 60:29). Moroni was not writing to complain about his own sufferings; he was utterly devastated at the women and children who were being slaughtered because the government was not providing sufficient support. His letter was not only justified but an invaluable call to action for Pahoran to take the courage to again seize control of the government and rid the Nephite nation of its traitors.
It was not only justified, but he was following the inspiration of the Lord in what he wrote. The first point that is easy to miss is that Moroni was not writing only to Pahoran. He directed his letter to Pahoran and “all those who have been chosen by this people to govern and to manage the affairs of this war” (Alma 60:1). All throughout the letter it is clear that Moroni is writing to more than one person. He spoke of “thrones” and “heads” and “traitors” and “governors”—all showing that he was writing to multiple people. He called them “my beloved brethren” and addressed them as “ye yourselves”, and so even though Pahoran was the only one mentioned by name, the letter was meant for all who were responsible for leading the war effort. Pahoran himself may not have deserved the reprimand, clearly others to whom the letter was addressed merited every syllable of scolding. Pahoran wrote of those who “sought to take away the judgment-seat” and “withheld our provisions” and even “joined an alliance” with the king of the Lamanites (Alma 61:4,8). These Nephite leaders were clearly traitors and deserving of the rebuke of Moroni; as the Lord told Moroni, “If those whom ye have appointed your governors do not repent of their sins and iniquities, ye shall go up to battle against them” (Alma 60:33). Moroni did not simply make a guess at what was happening back home and write a nasty letter assuming he was right; he received revelation that there were severe problems with those who were supposed to be providing support, and he followed the Lord’s inspiration to rid the government of these traitors. Apparently the Lord did not reveal to him whether or not Pahoran specifically was a traitor, but Moroni was not wrong in his accusations against the group as a whole. The other point that puts the letter in context is that Moroni has just witnessed the unnecessary deaths of thousands of innocent Nephites. Because the government had not sent sufficient men to fortify the city of Nephihah, the Lamanites attacked and “did begin to slay them with an exceedingly great slaughter” (Alma 59:7). It was because of this event with men, women, and children being killed that Moroni became “angry with the government” (Alma 59:13). In his complaints he wrote that the Lamanites “are murdering our people with the sword, yea, our women and our children” (Alma 60:17). He again mentioned the children later on as he urged them to “bestir yourselves in the defence of your country and your little ones” (Alma 60:29). Moroni was not writing to complain about his own sufferings; he was utterly devastated at the women and children who were being slaughtered because the government was not providing sufficient support. His letter was not only justified but an invaluable call to action for Pahoran to take the courage to again seize control of the government and rid the Nephite nation of its traitors.
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