Moroni's Final Words

There are several places in the writings of Moroni where it appears that he wasn’t sure if he was going to be able to write any more. He was alone and likely constantly on guard, worried that his enemies would take his life. Because of this we have several places with a tone of finality in the record, and from these we can learn what was most important for him. He started writing in Mormon 8, and he only wrote 13 verses before it appears that he buried the record up again. Here is how he finished this section: “And whoso receiveth this record, and shall not condemn it because of the imperfections which are in it, the same shall know of greater things than these. Behold, I am Moroni; and were it possible, I would make all things known unto you. Behold, I make an end of speaking concerning this people. I am the son of Mormon, and my father was a descendant of Nephi.” The next verse begins, “And I am the same who hideth up this record unto the Lord,” suggesting that he had buried them and then later came back and started writing again (Mormon 8:12-14). From this we see that he was focused intently on us and that he wanted to bring the word of God to those who would one day read his record. His concern was for the people who “receiveth the record” and his desire was to help them know of “greater things” and even wished that “all things” could come to them. 

                There is another tone of finality at the end of Mormon 9 and it seems likely to me that Moroni also wasn’t sure he would write further after that. His final words in this chapter were again focused on future generations receiving his record and coming unto Christ: “And these things are written that we may rid our garments of the blood of our brethren, who have dwindled in unbelief. And behold, these things which we have desired concerning our brethren, yea, even their restoration to the knowledge of Christ…. May God the Father remember the covenant which he hath made with the house of Israel; and may he bless them forever, through faith on the name of Jesus Christ. Amen” (Mormon 9:35-37). He was not focused on himself but rather on the salvation of his brethren and the house of Israel. He hoped earnestly that what he was writing would join with the rest of the Book of Mormon prophets to help bring salvation to those who had dwindled in unbelief. His final “Amen” to me suggests that he was not sure he would be writing more than that.

                There are two places before the end of the book of Ether where Moroni similarly wrote with a tone of finality and used the word “Amen,” and I believe he again was at least prepared to have it be the last thing that he wrote in case he died before he could write more. In both of these places he again focused on us and our salvation. Speaking of the last days, he said, “And if it so be that they repent and come unto the Father in the name of Jesus, they shall be received into the kingdom of God. And now, if I have no authority for these things, judge ye; for ye shall know that I have authority when ye shall see me, and we shall stand before God at the last day. Amen” (Ether 5:5-6). His hope was that we would repent and come unto the Father and boldly testified that we would all one day see him before the judgment seat of God. Later after telling about his weaknesses and his encounter with the Savior, he wrote again that we would see him at the judgment: “And now I, Moroni, bid farewell unto the Gentiles, yea, and also unto my brethren whom I love, until we shall meet before the judgment-seat of Christ.” His earnest hope was for his readers to come unto the Savior: “And now, I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever. Amen” (Ether 12:41). Again with this “Amen” and “farewell” he seemed to have been prepared for this to be his final message.

                Moroni also thought that the end of the book of Ether would be his final words, for he started the subsequent book of Moroni saying, “Now I, Moroni, after having made an end of abridging the account of the people of Jared, I had supposed not to have written more, but I have not as yet perished” (Moroni 1:1). He again focused on salvation at the end of Ether, giving us the final words of that Jaredite prophet: “Whether the Lord will that I be translated, or that I suffer the will of the Lord in the flesh, it mattereth not, if it so be that I am saved in the kingdom of God. Amen” (Ether 15:34). Neither Moroni nor Ether were overly concerned about the difficulties of the flesh; they focused rather on salvation in the kingdom of God for themselves and others.

                Moroni’s actual final words in the Book of Mormon followed on these same themes, focusing on us who would receive his words and our salvation: “Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness… that ye become holy, without spot. And now I bid unto all, farewell. I soon go to rest in the paradise of God, until my spirit and body shall again reunite, and I am brought forth triumphant through the air, to meet you before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge of both quick and dead. Amen” (Moroni 10:33-34). Moroni’s earnest desire was for all of us to come unto the Savior and be saved, and we owe a great deal to him for his diligent efforts in mortality to preserve the record and give us the powerful messages in the last part of the Book of Mormon despite his own terrible difficulties. His invitation for all of us is to come unto Christ and prepare for that day when we shall meet both the Savior and Moroni at the judgment day.