Vengeance is the Lord's

As Moroni warned us against judging rashly, he said this, “Behold what the scripture says—man shall not smite, neither shall he judge; for judgment is mine, saith the Lord, and vengeance is mine also, and I will repay” (Mormon 8:20).  He was apparently quoting some verse of scripture, but he didn’t say from where.  In Paul’s epistle to the Romans we have the same language, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord” (Romans 12:19).  Here again Paul claimed to be quoting something already written, telling us that it was likely something from an Old Testament prophet.  Paul used the same language again another time when writing to the Hebrews, saying, “For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people” (Hebrews 10:30).  Once more he quoted the Lord as having originated the phrase.  If this phrase is in the Old Testament as we have it, then the most likely candidate is probably Deuteronomy 32:35 in the song of Moses: “To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence.”  The next verse also says “the Lord shall judge his people” which seems to match Moroni’s statement “judgment is mine, saith the Lord.”  The verse may also have come from the original Isaiah (for example, Isaiah 34 speaks of both vengeance and judgment) since Moroni referred to Isaiah just three verses later, seemingly out of nowhere.  Either way, these two prophets were clearly turning to their own ancient scriptures to teach us the Lord’s will as it relates to retaliation and vengeance. 

               Moroni’s purpose in speaking about judgment and vengeance was to implore us who would have his words not to turn to violence and hatred.  But I believe that Moroni must have found comfort himself in those words and been helped against the temptations he surely faced to turn to violence and hatred.  He was alone for decades and surrounded only by Lamanites who wanted his death.  Though many of his people had been killed because of their wickedness, others had certainly been killed unjustly that could have brought bitterness and hateful feelings to Moroni. For example, his father had been killed by them, and all those who would “not deny the Christ” were likewise hunted by the Lamanites (Moroni 1:2).  Seeing all of this, and knowing that the brutal Lamanites and robbers would kill him too if they got the chance, he must have fought against feelings of anger and the natural man’s desire for vengeance and revenge.  But he turned to the word of the Lord for strength, and he found comfort in the scriptures and the promise of the Lord: “Vengeance is mine also, and I will repay.”  We do not have to seek vengeance against injustice and cruelty because the Lord will take care of justice in His own time.  No matter the wickedness and violence around us, we can stay pure ourselves and trust in Moroni’s promises: “The eternal purposes of the Lord shall roll on, until all his promises shall be fulfilled” (Mormon 8:22).