This should be important, since he’s risking having to do a plate burial again and it could jeopardize the whole Book of Mormon!
Chapter 1
1 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; and I make not myself known to the Lamanites lest they should destroy me.
Since he still had time to breath he decided to see if he could decide something else to share.
2 For behold, their wars are exceedingly fierce among themselves; and because of their hatred they put to death every Nephite that will not deny the Christ.
They are fierce and put to death every Nephite that will not deny the Christ.
3 And I, Moroni, will not deny the Christ; wherefore, I wander whithersoever I can for the safety of mine own life.
That would be Moroni, but he has evaded them. He goes where he can to try to protect his life.
4 Wherefore, I write a few more things, contrary to that which I had supposed; for I had supposed not to have written any more; but I write a few more things, that perhaps they may be of worth unto my brethren, the Lamanites, in some future day, according to the will of the Lord.
He is full of the love of God and wants to help the Lamanites in the future who seek his death and for him to deny Christ or else.
Chapter 2
1 The words of Christ, which he spake unto his disciples, the twelve whom he had chosen, as he laid his hands upon them—
What Christ had said when administering the priesthood-
2 And he called them by name, saying: Ye shall call on the Father in my name, in mighty prayer; and after ye have done this ye shall have power that to him upon whom ye shall lay your hands, ye shall give the Holy Ghost; and in my name shall ye give it, for thus do mine apostles.
Pray to the Father in mighty prayer/think hard. Then you can confer the Holy Ghost like His apostles can.
3 Now Christ spake these words unto them at the time of his first appearing; and the multitude heard it not, but the disciples heard it; and on as many as they laid their hands, fell the Holy Ghost.
They didn’t hear this when Christ came, but the apostles gave them the Holy Ghost from where things were at.
Chapter 3
1 The manner which the disciples, who were called the elders of the church, ordained priests and teachers—
This is how priests and teachers were ordained.
2 After they had prayed unto the Father in the name of Christ, they laid their hands upon them, and said:
Pray to the Father in Jesus’ name and say:
3 In the name of Jesus Christ I ordain you to be a priest (or if he be a teacher, I ordain you to be a teacher) to preach repentance and remission of sins through Jesus Christ, by the endurance of faith on his name to the end. Amen.
This is what you teach or preach: repentance and remission of sin, through endurance of faith.
4 And after this manner did they ordain priests and teachers, according to the gifts and callings of God unto men; and they ordained them by the power of the Holy Ghost, which was in them.
Gifts were given by God. It was done by the power of the Holy Ghost which they had.
Chapter 4
1 The manner of their elders and priests administering the flesh and blood of Christ unto the church; and they administered it according to the commandments of Christ; wherefore we know the manner to be true; and the elder or priest did minister it—
Under Christ’s commandment, the elder or priest administering the sacrament-
2 And they did kneel down with the church, and pray to the Father in the name of Christ, saying:
Kneeling down denotes worship. They all worshipped together. They prayed according to the formula – Christ brings them to the Father.
3 O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it; that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him, and keep his commandments which he hath given them, that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.
Those willing to have it help them remember the Son’s body that was on the cross and atoned, by witnessing that they would act like they were if they can and remember Him if they can and keep His commandments if they can may always have His Spirit to guide them.
Chapter 5
1 The manner of administering the wine—Behold, they took the cup, and said:
Then with the wine (we use water usually now) they said:
2 O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee, in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this wine to the souls of all those who drink of it, that they may do it in remembrance of the blood of thy Son, which was shed for them; that they may witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they do always remember him, that they may have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.
So this time they do it remembering the Son’s blood shed for them in Gethsemane and the cross so that they may witness that they always remember Him which also grants them the Spirit to be with them.
Chapter 6
1 And now I speak concerning baptism. Behold, elders, priests, and teachers were baptized; and they were not baptized save they brought forth fruit meet that they were worthy of it.
Those showing themselves worthy were baptized (including elders, priests and teachers, probably women too).
2 Neither did they receive any unto baptism save they came forth with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and witnessed unto the church that they truly repented of all their sins.
They also had to have a broken heart and a contrite spirit and have repented.
3 And none were received unto baptism save they took upon them the name of Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end.
You had to take upon you the name of Christ and want to struggle to the end to be baptized.
4 And after they had been received unto baptism, and were wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost, they were numbered among the people of the church of Christ; and their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith.
After baptism and the Holy Ghost they were counted in the Church. That allowed them to be remembered and nourished by God’s words, kept in the right way, watchful to prayer, and relying on Jesus, the author and finisher of their faith.
5 And the church did meet together oft, to fast and to pray, and to speak one with another concerning the welfare of their souls.
They met often to fast, pray and lift each other spiritually.
6 And they did meet together oft to partake of bread and wine, in remembrance of the Lord Jesus.
They met oft to take the Sacrament as described in the book of Moroni and commented on here.
7 And they were strict to observe that there should be no iniquity among them; and whoso was found to commit iniquity, and three witnesses of the church did condemn them before the elders, and if they repented not, and confessed not, their names were blotted out, and they were not numbered among the people of Christ.
They were really against iniquity and had a system of if it could be demonstrated they had to repent or were not numbered in the church.
8 But as oft as they repented and sought forgiveness, with real intent, they were forgiven.
They could repent as many times as they wanted though.
9 And their meetings were conducted by the church after the manner of the workings of the Spirit, and by the power of the Holy Ghost; for as the power of the Holy Ghost led them whether to preach, or to exhort, or to pray, or to supplicate, or to sing, even so it was done.
They had meetings by the Spirit, to preach, exhort, pray, supplicate or to sing.
Chapter 7
1 And now I, Moroni, write a few of the words of my father Mormon, which he spake concerning faith, hope, and charity; for after this manner did he speak unto the people, as he taught them in the synagogue which they had built for the place of worship.
Moroni writes what Mormon said about faith, hope and charity in synagogues.
2 And now I, Mormon, speak unto you, my beloved brethren; and it is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, and his holy will, because of the gift of his calling unto me, that I am permitted to speak unto you at this time.
Mormon is speaking by grace of God and Jesus and his holy will through his calling which was a gift, and now he can speak.
3 Wherefore, 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.
He speaks to church members who have hope of salvation from now until entering heaven.
4 And now my brethren, I judge these things of you because of your peaceable walk with the children of men.
Because of your “peaceable walk with the children of men.”
5 For I remember the word of God which saith by their works ye shall know them; for if their works be good, then they are good also.
Judge by works; good works means they are good.
6 For behold, God hath said a man being evil cannot do that which is good; for if he offereth a gift, or prayeth unto God, except he shall do it with real intent it profiteth him nothing.
An evil man can’t do good because he has to have real intent in what he does.
7 For behold, it is not counted unto him for righteousness.
It does not count for righteousness.
8 For behold, if a man being evil giveth a gift, he doeth it grudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God.
He gives the gift grudgingly.
9 And likewise also is it counted evil unto a man, if he shall pray and not with real intent of heart; yea, and it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such.
He prays without real intent.
10 Wherefore, a man being evil cannot do that which is good; neither will he give a good gift.
An evil man can’t do good or give a good gift.
11 For behold, a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water; neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter water; wherefore, a man being a servant of the devil cannot follow Christ; and if he follow Christ he cannot be a servant of the devil.
A fountain gives its kind of water. You either serve the devil or Christ.
12 Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; 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.
So somehow the devil was created which was an enemy to God. God is omniscient, but by being omnipotent He is able to go that. Good comes from God. Evil comes from the devil, who fights against God continually and invites and entices to sin and do that which is evil always.
13 But behold, that which is 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.
But God does those things about good continually.
14 Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil.
So don’t judge which is which wrong.
15 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.
You can know like day and 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.
If it invites to do good and believe in Christ it is sent by the power and gift of Christ.
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.
If it persuades to do evil and not believe in Christ it is of the devil.
18 And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged.
Since you have the light to judge, don’t judge wrongly.
19 Wherefore, 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.
Search diligently in the light of Christ. It’s not just some automatic thing.
20 And now, my brethren, how is it possible that ye can lay hold upon every good thing?
How can you get everything good?
21 And now I come to that faith, of which I said I would speak; and I will tell you the way whereby ye may lay hold on every good thing.
I will talk about faith and this.
22 For behold, God knowing all things, being from everlasting to everlasting, behold, he sent angels to minister unto the children of men, to make manifest concerning the coming of Christ; and in Christ there should come every good thing.
God knows all things and angels taught that in Christ comes every good thing.
23 And God also declared unto prophets, by his own mouth, that Christ should come.
His prophets said Christ should come. Prophets relate to time and culture and location.
24 And behold, there were divers ways that he did manifest things unto the children of men, which were good; and all things which are good cometh of Christ; otherwise men were fallen, and there could no good thing come unto them.
There were other ways God showed the coming of Christ. Otherwise men could have nothing good.
25 Wherefore, by the ministering of angels, and by every word which proceeded forth out of the mouth of God, men began to exercise faith in Christ; and thus by faith, they did lay hold upon every good thing; and thus it was until the coming of Christ.
By that faith men caught hold of every good thing before Jesus.
26 And after that he came men also were saved by faith in his name; and by faith, they become the sons of God. And as surely as Christ liveth he spake these words unto our fathers, saying: Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is good, in faith believing that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you.
Also afterwards.
27 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased because Christ hath ascended into heaven, and hath sat down on the right hand of God, to claim of the Father his rights of mercy which he hath upon the children of men?
Have miracles ceased?
28 For he hath answered the ends of the law, and he claimeth all those who have faith in him; and they who have faith in him will cleave unto every good thing; wherefore he advocateth the cause of the children of men; and he dwelleth eternally in the heavens.
He’s there to do miracles.
29 And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men.
No, neither angels doing miracles.
30 For behold, they are subject unto him, to minister according to the word of his command, showing themselves unto them of strong faith and a firm mind in every form of godliness.
The angels follow God.
31 And the office of their ministry is to call men unto repentance, and to fulfil and to do the work of the covenants of the Father, which he hath made unto the children of men, to prepare the way among the children of men, by declaring the word of Christ unto the chosen vessels of the Lord, that they may bear testimony of him.
The angels declare repentance.
32 And by so doing, 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; and after this manner bringeth to pass the Father, the covenants which he hath made unto the children of men.
In this way God allows for men to have faith in Christ.
33 And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me.
Christ said if you have faith in Him you can do whatever you need to do in Him.
34 And he hath said: Repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, and have faith in me, that ye may be saved.
Repent and come to Him, be baptized and have faith in Him, to be saved.
35 And now, my beloved brethren, if this be the case that these things are true which I have spoken unto you, and God will show unto you, with power and great glory at the last day, that they are true, and if they are true has the day of miracles ceased?
Then have miracles ceased?
36 Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved?
Or angels or the Holy Ghost, as long as the earth stands or a man on it can be saved?
37 Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain.
Miracles and angels come by faith. Wo to those who don’t have it.
38 For no man can be saved, according to the words of Christ, save they shall have faith in his name; wherefore, if these things have ceased, then has faith ceased also; and awful is the state of man, for they are as though there had been no redemption made.
No man can be saved without faith, so it is awful without it.
39 But behold, my beloved brethren, I judge better things of you, for I judge that ye have faith in Christ because of your meekness; for if ye have not faith in him then ye are not fit to be numbered among the people of his church.
But I judge you have faith in your meekness or you are not fit to be numbered in His church.
40 And again, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto you concerning hope. How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save ye shall have hope?
If you have faith you 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.
You have hope that through the atonement He promised you life eternal.
42 Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope.
Faith and hope go together!
43 And again, behold I say unto you that he cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart.
To have faith and hope, you also need to be meek and lowly of heart. This is important. And the meek shall inherit the earth.
44 If so, his faith and hope is vain, for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart; and 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.
It is necessary and he who confesses through the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ must have charity; without charity you are nothing.
45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Characteristics of charity to have it.
46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—
Without charity you are nothing, for charity never fails. Cleave unto charity for every thing else will fail.
47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
Charity is pure love of Christ, endures forever and it is good to be found with it at the last day.
48 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. Amen.
Pray for it – and you may be purified even as He is pure.
Chapter 8
1 An epistle of my father Mormon, written to me, Moroni; and it was written unto me soon after my calling to the ministry. And on this wise did he write unto me, saying:
This is what Moroni’s father sent him, Moroni.
2 My beloved son, Moroni, I rejoice exceedingly that your Lord Jesus Christ hath been mindful of you, and hath called you to his ministry, and to his holy work.
It’s great the Lord has cared about you and called you to help Him preach to the future.
3 I am mindful of you always in my prayers, continually praying unto God the Father in the name of his Holy Child, Jesus, that he, through his infinite goodness and grace, will keep you through the endurance of faith on his name to the end.
He prays God will keep him through endurance of faith on His name to the end.
4 And now, my son, I speak unto you concerning that which grieveth me exceedingly; for it grieveth me that there should disputations rise among you.
Some disputations grieve him.
5 For, if I have learned the truth, there have been disputations among you concerning the baptism of your little children.
Disputations about infant baptism.
6 And now, my son, I desire that ye should labor diligently, that this gross error should be removed from among you; for, for this intent I have written this epistle.
He wants to fix the problem through his epistle; it’s a gross error.
7 For immediately after I had learned these things of you I inquired of the Lord concerning the matter. And the word of the Lord came to me by the power of the Holy Ghost, saying:
As a prophet, He prayed about the manner for the Church.
8 Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance; the whole need no physician, but they that are sick; wherefore, little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin; wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me, that it hath no power over them; and the law of circumcision is done away in me.
Little children do not commit sin and the law of circumcision is done away.
9 And after this manner did the Holy Ghost manifest the word of God unto me; wherefore, my beloved son, I know that it is solemn mockery before God, that ye should baptize little children.
The Holy Ghost told him; it is a solemn mockery before God to baptize little children.
10 Behold I say unto you that this thing shall ye teach—repentance and baptism unto those who are accountable and capable of committing sin; yea, teach parents that they must repent and be baptized, and humble themselves as their little children, and they shall all be saved with their little children.
Teach accountable later and teach parents to repent, be baptized, humble themselves as their children and then they will be saved with them.
11 And their little children need no repentance, neither baptism. Behold, baptism is unto repentance to the fulfilling the commandments unto the remission of sins.
Little children don’t need baptism either because they have not sinned yet.
12 But little children are alive in Christ, even from the foundation of the world; if not so, God is a partial God, and also a changeable God, and a respecter to persons; for how many little children have died without baptism!
Little children have always been alive in Christ. And think of how unfair it is that so many little children have died without a chance to be baptized!
13 Wherefore, if little children could not be saved without baptism, these must have gone to an endless hell.
An endless hell would not be fair.
14 Behold I say unto you, that he that supposeth that little children need baptism is in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; for he hath neither faith, hope, nor charity; wherefore, should he be cut off while in the thought, he must go down to hell.
He who believes it must go down to hell! They are in the gall of bitterness, bonds of iniquity, and have no faith, hope nor charity.
15 For awful is the wickedness to suppose that God saveth one child because of baptism, and the other must perish because he hath no baptism.
Why would one child be saved and one not.
16 Wo be unto them that shall pervert the ways of the Lord after this manner, for they shall perish except they repent. Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear.
Wo to these believers; they will perish or repent; Moroni is saying it from God fearlessly. Perfect love casts out all fear.
17 And I am filled with charity, which is everlasting love; wherefore, all children are alike unto me; wherefore, I love little children with a perfect love; and they are all alike and partakers of salvation.
With charity, all children partake of salvation.
18 For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity.
God is the same through all eternity and not partial.
19 Little children cannot repent; wherefore, it is awful wickedness to deny the pure mercies of God unto them, for they are all alive in him because of his mercy.
Little children can’t repent.
20 And he that saith that little children need baptism denieth the mercies of Christ, and setteth at naught the atonement of him and the power of his redemption.
It is denying Christ’s mercy.
21 Wo unto such, for they are in danger of death, hell, and an endless torment. I speak it boldly; God hath commanded me. Listen unto them and give heed, or they stand against you at the judgment-seat of Christ.
Listen or suffer death, hell and endless torment.
22 For behold that all little children are alive in Christ, and also all they that are without the law. For the power of redemption cometh on all them that have no law; wherefore, he that is not condemned, or he that is under no condemnation, cannot repent; and unto such baptism availeth nothing—
Those that have no law given are also innocent!
23 But it is mockery before God, denying the mercies of Christ, and the power of his Holy Spirit, and putting trust in dead works.
We must put trust in living works and the mercy of Christ and power of the Holy Ghost. Or it is mockery.
24 Behold, my son, this thing ought not to be; for repentance is unto them that are under condemnation and under the curse of a broken law.
Repentance is for those under condemnation and the curse of a broken law.
25 And the first fruits of repentance is baptism; and baptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins;
Repentance leads to baptism. Baptism comes by faith to fulfill the commandments. Fulfilling the commandments brings remission of sins.
26 And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God.
Remission of sins brings meekness and lowliness of heart, which gives visitation of the Holy Ghost,giving charity, enduring through prayer diligence, until the end comes and all saints dwell with God.
27 Behold, my son, I will write unto you again if I go not out soon against the Lamanites. Behold, the pride of this nation, or the people of the Nephites, hath proven their destruction except they should repent.
Pride leads to destruction without repentance.
28 Pray for them, my son, that repentance may come unto them. But behold, I fear lest the Spirit hath ceased striving with them; and in this part of the land they are also seeking to put down all power and authority which cometh from God; and they are denying the Holy Ghost.
Pray for them that by repenting they get the Holy Ghost instead.
29 And after rejecting so great a knowledge, my son, they must perish soon, unto the fulfilling of the prophecies which were spoken by the prophets, as well as the words of our Savior himself.
They must perish soon. Even the savior said so.
30 Farewell, my son, until I shall write unto you, or shall meet you again. Amen.
Farewell Moroni until I write you or we meet again.
Chapter 9
One last epistle from Mormon to Moroni to probably close up the Book of Mormon
1 My beloved son, I write unto you again that ye may know that I am yet alive; but I write somewhat of that which is grievous.
He is alive. He has something grievous to say.
2 For behold, I have had a sore battle with the Lamanites, in which we did not conquer; and Archeantus has fallen by the sword, and also Luram and Emron; yea, and we have lost a great number of our choice men.
In a sore battle with the Lamanites, the Nephites lost some great men.
3 And now behold, my son, I fear lest the Lamanites shall destroy this people; for they do not repent, and Satan stirreth them up continually to anger one with another.
They don’t repent and Satan stirs them to anger one to another; he fears they will be destroyed.
4 Behold, I am laboring with them continually; and when I speak the word of God with sharpness they tremble and anger against me; and when I use no sharpness they harden their hearts against it; wherefore, I fear lest the Spirit of the Lord hath ceased striving with them.
When he speaks with sharpness they tremble and anger and when he doesn’t they harden their hearts; he fears the Spirit has left them. See Words of Mormon 1:17.
5 For so exceedingly do they anger that it seemeth me that they have no fear of death; and they have lost their love, one towards another; and they thirst after blood and revenge continually.
They have no fear of death or love and thirst after blood and revenge all day.
6 And now, my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God.
But if we labor to help them then we are not at fault!
7 And now I write somewhat concerning the sufferings of this people. For according to the knowledge which I have received from Amoron, behold, the Lamanites have many prisoners, which they took from the tower of Sherrizah; and there were men, women, and children.
Now he writes about his people’s suffering: The Lamanites basically have many Nephite prisoners.
8 And the husbands and fathers of those women and children they have slain; and they feed the women upon the flesh of their husbands, and the children upon the flesh of their fathers; and no water, save a little, do they give unto them.
They kill them and feed them to each other.
9 And notwithstanding this great abomination of the Lamanites, it doth not exceed that of our people in Moriantum. For behold, many of the daughters of the Lamanites have they taken prisoners; and after depriving them of that which was most dear and precious above all things, which is chastity and virtue—
But worse is the Lamanite rapists.
10 And after they had done this thing, they did murder them in a most cruel manner, torturing their bodies even unto death; and after they have done this, they devour their flesh like unto wild beasts, because of the hardness of their hearts; and they do it for a token of bravery.
And kill them in a cruel manner as a token of bravery hard-heartedly.
11 O my beloved son, how can a people like this, that are without civilization—
How can an uncivilized nation as this-
12 (And only a few years have passed away, and they were a civil and a delightsome people)
Who a few years ago were civil and delightsome!-
13 But O my son, how can a people like this, whose delight is in so much abomination—
How can a people like that
14 How can we expect that God will stay his hand in judgment against us?
except to escape God’s judgment?
15 Behold, my heart cries: Wo unto this people. Come out in judgment, O God, and hide their sins, and wickedness, and abominations from before thy face!
His heart cries for God to judge them and hide their sins from His face!
16 And again, my son, there are many widows and their daughters who remain in Sherrizah; and that part of the provisions which the Lamanites did not carry away, behold, the army of Zenephi has carried away, and left them to wander whithersoever they can for food; and many old women do faint by the way and die.
There are many widows and daughters and old women who are suffering.
17 And the army which is with me is weak; and the armies of the Lamanites are betwixt Sherrizah and me; and as many as have fled to the army of Aaron have fallen victims to their awful brutality.
The army is weak.
18 O the depravity of my people! They are without order and without mercy. Behold, I am but a man, and I have but the strength of a man, and I cannot any longer enforce my commands.
They are depraved, without order and mercy.
19 And they have become strong in their perversion; and they are alike brutal, sparing none, neither old nor young; and they delight in everything save that which is good; and the suffering of our women and our children upon all the face of this land doth exceed everything; yea, tongue cannot tell, neither can it be written.
About as bad as can be described.
20 And now, my son, I dwell no longer upon this horrible scene. Behold, thou knowest the wickedness of this people; thou knowest that they are without principle, and past feeling; and their wickedness doth exceed that of the Lamanites.
Now he wants to get off this scene.
21 Behold, my son, I cannot recommend them unto God lest he should smite me.
He cannot recommend them to God or he fears He will smite him.
22 But behold, my son, I recommend thee unto God, and I trust in Christ that thou wilt be saved; and I pray unto God that he will spare thy life, to witness the return of his people unto him, or their utter destruction; for I know that they must perish except they repent and return unto him.
He recommends Moroni to God.
23 And if they perish it will be like unto the Jaredites, because of the wilfulness of their hearts, seeking for blood and revenge.
If they perish it will be for the same reason as the Jaredites. Willfulness (doing only what one wants) of their hearts seeking for blood and revenge.
24 And if it so be that they perish, we know that many of our brethren have deserted over unto the Lamanites, and many more will also desert over unto them; wherefore, write somewhat a few things, if thou art spared and I shall perish and not see thee; but I trust that I may see thee soon; for I have sacred records that I would deliver up unto thee.
Some of their brothers deserted to the Lamanites.
25 My son, be faithful in Christ; and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever.
Don’t let it bring you down. Remember what Christ did.
26 And may the grace of God the Father, whose throne is high in the heavens, and our Lord Jesus Christ, who sitteth on the right hand of his power, until all things shall become subject unto him, be, and abide with you forever. Amen.
May the grace of God be with you forever.
Chapter 10
1 Now I, Moroni, write somewhat as seemeth me good; and I write unto my brethren, the Lamanites; and I would that they should know that more than four hundred and twenty years have passed away since the sign was given of the coming of Christ.
Moroni writes what he wants, writing to the Lamanites.
2 And I seal up these records, after I have spoken a few words by way of exhortation unto you.
This is the end of the book.
3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
Remember and think about how merciful the Lord has been to mankind. For instance, we’re alive, we have free will, and we will have about 10 billion people this century. We have positive experiences that make life worth living.
4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you 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.
You can pray to know this book is true!
5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
And anything else too!
6 And whatsoever thing is good is just and true; wherefore, nothing that is good denieth the Christ, but acknowledgeth that he is.
Good things are just and true; they all acknowledge Christ.
7 And ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever.
You can therefore know that Christ exists, therefore admit that He is.
8 And again, I exhort you, my brethren, that ye deny not the gifts of God, for they are many; and they come from the same God. And there are different ways that these gifts are administered; but it is the same God who worketh all in all; and they are given by the manifestations of the Spirit of God unto men, to profit them.
Deny not the gifts of God given by the Spirit of God.
9 For behold, to one is given by the Spirit of God, that he may teach the word of wisdom;
To some are given to teach the word of wisdom (the health code of the church in D&C 89).
10 And to another, that he may teach the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
I don’t know what the word of knowledge is; perhaps it involves having a lot of knowledge or a lot of specific knowledge.
11 And to another, exceedingly great faith; and to another, the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
Great faith or the gift of healing (which we know from the New Testament requires great faith)
12 And again, to another, that he may work mighty miracles;
To work mighty miracles.
13 And again, to another, that he may prophesy concerning all things;
Prophesy; to have the spirit of prophecy, the Book of Mormon says to fast and have much prayer.
14 And again, to another, the beholding of angels and ministering spirits;
To see angels and spirits.
15 And again, to another, all kinds of tongues;
To speak languages
16 And again, to another, the interpretation of languages and of divers kinds of tongues.
To understand languages.
17 And all these gifts come by the Spirit of Christ; and they come unto every man severally, according as he will.
There are many gifts and someone can have many.
18 And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that every good gift cometh of Christ.
You should remember that every good gift comes from Christ.
19 And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that he is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that all these gifts of which I have spoken, which are spiritual, never will be done away, even as long as the world shall stand, only according to the unbelief of the children of men.
God is always the same and will always have gifts as long as people believe.
20 Wherefore, there must be faith; and if there must be faith there must also be hope; and if there must be hope there must also be charity.
There must be faith, by which there must be hope, by which there must be charity.
21 And except ye have charity ye can in nowise be saved in the kingdom of God; neither can ye be saved in the kingdom of God if ye have not faith; neither can ye if ye have no hope.
You have to have all 3 to be saved in the kingdom of God.
22 And if ye have no hope ye must needs be in despair; and despair cometh because of iniquity.
No hope leads to despair because of iniquity.
23 And Christ truly said unto our fathers: If ye have faith ye can do all things which are expedient unto me.
Not only can we know the truth of all things, but by faith we can do everything expedient unto Christ.
24 And now I speak unto all the ends of the earth—that if the day cometh that the power and gifts of God shall be done away among you, it shall be because of unbelief.
He tells the whole earth, if the power and gifts of God disappear, it is because of lack of faith/unbelief.
25 And wo be unto the children of men if this be the case; for there shall be none that doeth good among you, no not one. For if there be one among you that doeth good, he shall work by the power and gifts of God.
You can only do good by the power and gifts of God!
26 And wo unto them who shall do these things away and die, for they die in their sins, and they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God; and I speak it according to the words of Christ; and I lie not.
Those who do away with these things and die die in their sins and cannot be saved. Christ’s words said so and Moroni doesn’t lie.
27 And I exhort you to remember these things; for the time speedily cometh that ye shall know that I lie not, for ye shall see me at the bar of God; and the Lord God will say unto you: Did I not declare my words unto you, which were written by this man, like as one crying from the dead, yea, even as one speaking out of the dust?
At the bar of God, God will ask if Moroni had warned you.
28 I declare these things unto the fulfilling of the prophecies. And behold, they shall proceed forth out of the mouth of the everlasting God; and his word shall hiss forth from generation to generation.
Prophecy is fulfilled in these things.
29 And God shall show unto you, that that which I have written is true.
Plus God will show you Himself that these things are true.
30 And again I would exhort you that ye would come unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift, and touch not the evil gift, nor the unclean thing.
So come to Christ and take every good gift you can. Touch not the evil gift or unclean thing.
31 And awake, and arise from the dust, O Jerusalem; yea, and put on thy beautiful garments, O daughter of Zion; and strengthen thy stakes and enlarge thy borders forever, that thou mayest no more be confounded, that the covenants of the Eternal Father which he hath made unto thee, O house of Israel, may be fulfilled.
Poetic. Be with God that His covenants will be with you.
32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.
Love God completely (if you love me, keep my commandments) and His grace is sufficient for you.
33 And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.
If you are perfected by God’s grace and admit His power, you are sanctified by the blood of Christ and God keeps His covenenant that you become holy, without spot.
34 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.
Farewell. I will meet you again at judgment day… Jehovah judges both quick and dead eternally. Amen.
The End