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This is a continuation of our discussion of Moroni’s exhortations in the last chapter of the Book of Mormon.

18 And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that every good gift cometh of Christ.

There is a melancholy ring to these verses as Moroni addresses his “beloved brethren.” When we were reading Moroni 7 I pointed out that throughout the Book of Mormon, “beloved brethren” is always referring to faithful priesthood holders.{1}

By the time of this writing, Moroni has already told us that he is alone, so the only “beloved brethren” he could be writing to is us, who live about 1,600 years after he died. He was not writing to his contemporary Nephites who were in the throws of rebellion and apostasy. Rather he is warning us that we must not follow the path they followed. I wonder if he knew how complex our society would be with our bird-like transportation and instantaneous communication, and our sophisticated scientific assertions that all things were a product of chance and the only standards of excellence are what the individual thinks is in his own best interest—or the “best interest” his superiors can impose upon him.

Ouch! Just that thumbnail description of our time makes it sound really scary. Almost everything about our world challenges the assumptions of reality that were part of Moroni’s world. It is so very appropriate that he writes to us:

18 And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that every good gift cometh of 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.

That is the point: even in the tumultuous complexity of our world there is a constant that we can rely on to know the truth. Those spiritual gifts — all administered by the power of the Holy Ghost — are the criterion by which one can judge the reality of God and the legitimacy of his religion.

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.

But being privy to that reality has a price: Wherefore, there must be faith — The covenants must be in place. If there must be faith there must also be hope — If the covenants, then there must also be the inner assurance that the covenants will be fulfilled; otherwise we can live as though they were already fulfilled. If there must be hope there must also be charity — Charity is the product of our knowing and trusting the Savior’s love for us. If we know his love, then we will love him in return. If we love him then we must love those whom he loves. Otherwise we are not fulfilling our part of the covenants and our hope might be only a self-righteous delusion. When we become convinced that God hates everyone that we hate, then that is sufficient evidence that we are, at best, worshiping a false notion of the real God; or, at worst, worshiping an evil god.

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.

Mormon taught his friends,

1 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 (Moroni 7:41).

Having that kind of hope presupposes that one is living in fulfillment of his covenants, and therefore, living as though that promises are a reality. Therefore, Moroni can warn,

22 And if ye have no hope ye must needs be in despair; and despair cometh because of iniquity. {2}

Then, to counterbalance that despair, Moroni offers the ultimate hope.

23 And Christ truly said unto our fathers: If ye have faith ye can do all things which are expedient unto me.

As I understand it, the gifts of the spirit are administered according to our needs or the needs of those whom we bless. Therefore it is true that If ye have faith [that is, if the covenants are in place and you act accordingly] ye can do all things which are expedient unto me. Inasmuch as we follow the directions of the Spirit, we can do anything we are directed to do. That promise is repeated many times in the scriptures.

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.

Belief was not mentioned in Mormon’s triumvirate of faith, hope, and charity; but it an important part of it.

There is a difference between faith/pistis, and belief. Belief is closer to our contemporary meanings of faith and trust. Trust is holding the hand of a friend while walking blindfolded into an unknown place. If faith/pistis is the covenant, and hope is living as thought the covenant were already fulfilled. Belief is walking in the direction of that fulfillment. It is acting on one’s determination to overcome the obstacles that make absolute hope seem impossible. It is trusting that it is wise to live in anticipation of the fulfillment of the covenants. If that belief is done away, then neither faith nor hope is valid, and the appearance of charity may be only a hook to ensnare others with their own good intentions and gullibility.

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.

When Moroni writes “for there shall be none that doeth good,” he does not mean there will be no nice people, he means that only charlatans will presume to perform the ordinances necessary to salvation. Moroni’s definition of “none that doeth good” is the same as the Savior’s when he spoke to the Prophet Joseph.

19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.” (Joseph Smith-History:1-27)

The problem in Joseph’s time was not that the people were unworthy. Rather, it was:

12 For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it— (D&C 123:12)

Many generations before the Prophet’s time false teachers and leaders changed the gospel and its ordinances to satisfy their own needs. That practice did not stop then, but continues until our time. Moroni had something to say about them as well.

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.
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?

That warning is severe, and his message is unbending. But so is his other message. Contrast that warning with his final promise:

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 (Moroni 10:34).

There is one gift left that Moroni has not yet discussed. The Lord taught the Prophet Joseph,

7 And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God (D&C 14:7).

After giving us the appropriate warnings, Moroni will now teach us the way to receive that ultimate gift. He will do that by reviewing the ancient Nephite temple drama, then explaining what the Nephites had to do, after they left the temple to become holy, without spot. We will discuss that next time.
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FOOTNOTES

{1} Well, almost always. There is one exception where Alma was scolding the men of the city of Ammonihah:
30 And now, my beloved brethren, for ye are my brethren, and ye ought to be beloved, and ye ought to bring forth works which are meet for repentance, seeing that your hearts have been grossly hardened against the word of God, and seeing that ye are a lost and a fallen people (Alma 9:30).

{2}The Prophet Joseph taught that very clearly:
5 (May 17th, 1843.) The more sure word of prophecy means a man’s knowing that he is sealed up unto eternal life, by revelation and the spirit of prophecy, through the power of the Holy Priesthood.
6 It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance (D&C 131:5-8).

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The Subtextual Code of the Nephite temple drama.

The Book o f Mormon is written in two separate languages, and they are both English. One is the surface text that any literate person can read, and the other is in code. The code is the ancient Israelite/Nephite temple drama, and only those who know the ancient drama can read the code. To everyone else, the encoded text is simply not there. (Some of you know that already, but it still needs to be explained. Because Moroni’s final chapter is heavily encoded, our knowing about the code is an important key to understanding what Moroni wishes to tell us.)

The surface text, the one that even children can read, is amazing. It carries a promise that the Holy Ghost will testify to one’s soul that the message is truth. Millions of people can attest that, for themselves, personally, that promise has been fulfilled.

The subtext simply expands that testimony to those whom Nibley called “the initiated.” An example of the subtext is Lehi’s admonition to his sons in 2 Nephi 1:10.

10 But behold, when the time cometh that they shall dwindle in unbelief, after they have received so great blessings from the hand of the Lord—having a knowledge of the creation of the earth, and all men, knowing the great and marvelous works of the Lord from the creation of the world; having power given them to do all things by faith; having all the commandments from the beginning, and having been brought by his infinite goodness into this precious land of promise—behold, I say, if the day shall come that they will reject the Holy One of Israel, the true Messiah, their Redeemer and their God, behold, the judgments of him that is just shall rest upon them (2 Nephi 1:10).

The most obvious encoded part is between the dashes.

The Psalms were the text of the ancient Israelite temple drama. With the destruction of Jerusalem, the Jews had lost their Temple, and their king, and the prophets who held the Melchizedek Priesthood (like Lehi). After their return from exile in Babylon, the Jewish leaders no longer celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles temple drama and they rearranged the Psalms so people could not read them from beginning to end to discover the story they once told. In Who Shall Ascend into the Hill of the Lord, Stephen and I put many of those psalms back in their original order to reconstruct much of the ancient Israelite temple drama. It was not difficult to do. The outline of the story, as had been shown by Mowinckel, Johnson, and others, was the “cosmic myth” or “hero cycle.” So all we had to do is aline the parts of the Psalms with the parts of that ancient story. We discovered that they fit perfectly. All that is explained in the Introduction of Who Shall Ascend into the Hill of the Lord.

The reconstructed Israelite temple drama is in “Part 1” of our book. “Part 2” shows that the sermons in the Book of Mormon are based on the Nephite temple experience. That is also true of the sermons that are addressed only to us, such as the concluding chapters of 2 Nephi and this final chapter of Moroni.

A wonderful thing about the translation of the Book of Mormon is that it is written in King James English. Consequently the Israelite temple-code words in the Bible map perfectly to the Nephite temple-code words in the Book of Mormon.

In the scriptures there are two kinds of code words: The first are those which were intended to be code and could only be understood by the initiated. Isaiah 61 is a splendid example of that. {1}

The second kind of code words are those that were not intended to be code but were clearly understood when they were first written. Pistis, translated “faith,” is a good example. In New Testament times it was understood to mean covenant or contract. However, by the end of the first century Christians had lost the terms of the covenants, so faith came to mean something like “to believe without evidence.” A careful study of “faith” in the Book of Mormon shows that it retains the original meaning of pistis. The result is that, for us, “faith” became a New Testament and Nephite temple-code word even though the authors who used it never intended it to be code.

Another example is “mystery.” The Greek is mysterion, which means “silence imposed by initiation into religious rites.” (Strong 3466) {2}

New Testament authors used it to mean either the early Christian temple rites (as in Mark 4:11, Romans 16:25, Ephesians 3:9, 1 Timothy 3:9.) or to mean premortal covenant ceremonies (as in Ephesians 1). Mystery has both meanings in the Book of Mormon. A relevant example is Alma’s statement about the burden of knowing the mysteries.

9 And now Alma began to expound these things unto him, saying: It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him (Alma 12:9).

In the New Testament, “faithful” is another. The word is pistos and means those who keep their covenants. So when Peter or Paul address the “faithful in Christ Jesus,” they are writing to Christians who are keeping their covenants.

Our knowing that information about the audience is an important key to understanding what is being said.

Such words are not so much code as they are keys for us to understand who was being addressed. “My beloved brethren” is a similar kind of phrase in Book of Mormon. It is always a reference to faithful priesthood holders (as in 2 Nephi 31-33, Alma 5 & 7, and Moroni 7).

Another example in the Book of Mormon is the phrase “these things.” In the great majority of instances of its use by Book of Mormon authors, “these things” means “these sacred things.” Sometimes (as in 1 and 2 Nephi, and Jacob 7:5) it is a reference to the things the prophet saw in a vision, but usually (as in Mosiah 4:10) it is used to simply call attention to the things the audience understands to be sacred. For us, the phrase is another kind of identification code to help us know the context of what is being said by knowing the audience to whom it is addressed.

Moroni used words very carefully when he wrote his final chapter of the Book of Mormon, and it is apparent that his words were translated into English with equal care. Moroni writes,

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.

2 And I seal up these records, after I have spoken a few words by way of exhortation unto you.

That explanation, that he intends to write “by way of exhortation,” should not be taken lightly. Every individual section of this chapter includes something like “I would exhort you.” Then, true to his words, he admonishes his readers to be true to their covenants. There are eight of these exhortations. They are a kind of last will and testament given as the most important things Moroni could teach us. They are in sequence, each building upon the previous one until they reach a crescendo in the last verse. The first begins:

3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them,

In the next verse, his exhortation is “when ye shall receive these things.” One “receives” these things differently from the way one reads them. There is an important actual difference between reading and receiving. We can find the phrase “these [sacred] things” sprinkled throughout the Book of Mormon. But even so, as he suggests here, not everyone will read them. His words remind us of John the Beloved’s frequent admonition in his writings, “He who has ears let him hear.” Moroni’s statement is:

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.

Moroni’s reference to “the creation of Adam” is a quiet reminder of “these [sacred] things” that permeate his father’s writings.

The next verses, 4 and 5, are often called “the promise of the Book of Mormon.” They are the key to having a testimony of the Prophet Joseph, the authenticity of the Book of Mormon, and the restoration of the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is likely that these are the most frequently quoted passage of LDS scripture. (They are quoted every day by thousands of missionaries all over the world.) My suggesting that there is another, but subtextual meaning to those verses is intended to enhance rather than to diminish the importance of their magnificent promise.

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.

5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

6 And whatsoever thing is good is just and true; wherefore, nothing that is good denieth the Christ, but acknowledgeth that he is.

That is Moroni’s testimony: that “these [most sacred] things” have a single focus and that is to enhance our understanding, appreciation, and love for the Savior. The promise is that “by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things,” and the admonition is:

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.

Moroni’s next exhortation is “ I exhort you, my brethren, that ye deny not the gifts of God.” I’ll try to discuss those gifts next week.
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FOOTNOTES

{1}You can find a discussion of Isaiah 61 in the this website, under “scriptures” then “Old Testament.”

{2} There are several versions of Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. They have Greek and Hebrew dictionaries keyed to the words in the concordance. I have a first edition that actually tells what the ancient Greek meanings were. A reprint of that edition is still available. I also have a new version called The Strongest Strongs which tells how its authors expect Protestants to understand the words. Their definition of mysterion reads, “Mystery, secret, often refers to a misunderstood part of the OT that, with Christ’s coming, is now unveiled: mystery.” I don’t read Greek, but I would be amazed if Plato actually understood the word to have anything to do with the misunderstood parts of the Hebrew Old Testament. My point: if you are going to buy a copy of Strong, be sure it has the kind of definitions that will be useful to you.

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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.

This passage is an appropriate followup to Mormon’s discussion of charity in Moroni 7. His statement that charity “is everlasting love” is also a perfect definition. It not only moves charity through this life’s experiences and into the eternities beyond; it also makes charity the defining characteristics of the righteous in the premortal world. Last week I wrote that charity was the almost-tangible light that defines who we are (or, the lack of it defines who we are not). Here Mormon’s simple definition tells us that has always been so, and will always be. Our eternal Self is the light/love that defines us.

Mormon 8 is one of my favorite chapters because it celebrates the perfect innocence of little children and answers with absolute clarity the question of whether little children need baptism. It begins by Mormon quoting a revelation he received from the Lord.

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:
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.
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.

It is my belief that when babies are born they are not cut loose from the people they loved. Rather, I believe they come into this world with a knowledge of the premortal spirit world they just left, and that they are accompanied by a person or persons who loved them there. That belief is substantiated by experiences with my own children, their experiences with my grandchildren, and experiences my friends have related to me about their babies. I suspect that many or most of you who are parents believe that also because of what you felt and learned from your little ones.

In Section 93 the Lord explained that the innocence of little children is a blessing of the Atonement.

38 Every spirit of man was innocent in the beginning; and God having redeemed man from the fall, men became again, in their infant state, innocent before God (D&C 93:38).

I read that to say that we were innocent twice. Once when we were born spirit children of our Heavenly Parents, and the second time when we were born here in our “infant state.” That presupposes that we became un-innocent after we were born as spirits so that we had to repent and accept the blessings of the Atonement in order to become innocent again in preparation to our coming into this world.

The scriptures repeatedly testify that God’s laws do not change. In this world there are established covenants one must make, and ordinances one must perform in order to be qualified to accept the full blessings of the Atonement. That is also true in the next world. Consistency and continuity insist that also must have been true in the world from which we came.

That explains why and how the Savior’s Atonement could enable us to come here free from sin, without bringing any baggage with us from our premortal past.

I also believe that the “war in heaven” was not just about voting with the Savior on the issue of free agency. Everything I understand about the need for covenants, and their validating ordinances convinces me that the pattern is eternal. That the laws of justice demand continuity in all things and that it is the consistency of the covenants and ordinances that enable that continuity. If that is true in this world and the next, then it follows that it must have been true in the premortal spirit world. We must have made the covenants and received the ordinances that enabled us to receive the blessings of the Atonement in preparation for our coming here as innocent babies.

I believe we came here bringing only three things with us.

One is our agency. That is a given, without it we would not exist (D&C 93:30).

One is our personality. We have been working on that for eons, and it will not change now. Again, those of you who are parents can attest with me that the personality of a baby persists even through the experiences of childhood, teenage years, and beyond. Even if one lives in an environment that causes one to suppress his personality, it will assert itself again when that pressure is relaxed, and it remains the same throughout his lifetime and into the eternities.

The third is our integrity. It is our integrity that is challenged in this life. We all made the necessary covenants and accepted the ordinances that validated our premortal repentance so we could be innocent when we came here. However, then, as now, there is a long spectrum of reasons why one would obey and keep the commandments. On one end of that continuum is the love of God and his children that causes us to want to bless and receive blessings so we may all be saved. On the other end of that continuum is the awareness that advantage comes from obedience – from performing the right performances – so some obeyed in order to get those advantages. When they come here they work out the logical conclusions of those reasons (if there is not sufficient opportunity in this life, then there will be in the next). If one obeyed because he loved, he will still love. However, if one obeyed because he sought advantage then he will still seek advantage. But there is a difference. In our premortal spirit world it was apparent that advantage came through obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. In this world we forget that, so we may seek to use other people in order to achieve the temporary advantages this world offers to us. Thereby we define ourselves more clearly than we ever could if we could remember the world from which we came. {1}

Agreeing to come here without the benefit of memory, requited a tremendous trust in the Savior. The promise was surely given then, as it is repeated in Mormon’s letter,

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!

Because of the Savior’s Atonement we bring into this life no memory of our prior experiences. This is absolutely necessary. If we remembered now what our decisions were based on then, we would continue to act on the information we had then. If that were so, we would not be independent here to act for ourselves according to our basic nature. But because we forget, we are free.

The other blessing that comes from our forgetting is that this is an entirely fresh start, So if we obeyed for the wrong reasons there, there is nothing here that traps us in those earlier decisions. Here we can change and, again by virtue of the Atonement, we can become exactly what we choose to be and we will have sufficient opportunity to do that before judgement day.

The third advantage of coming here without memory of our past is that the healing blessings of the Atonement remain with us during our formative years. Little children cannot sin. Therefore, Mormon wrote,

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.
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.
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.
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.

To the Prophet Joseph, the Lord gave very careful instructions about parents’ responsibilities to teach their children and when the children should be baptized. He said,

25 And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents.
26 For this shall be a law unto the inhabitants of Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized.
27 And their children shall be baptized for the remission of their sins when eight years old, and receive the laying on of the hands.
28 And they shall also teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord (D&C 68:25-28).

Before we reach the age of accountability, the sights, sounds and events of this world crowd out the previous world from our memories. Those memories are replaced by the instructions and experiences we receive from our parents. So when we become capable of making our own decisions, those decisions are largely based on what we have been taught by our parents. Mormon is clear about that.

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.
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.

While it is true that little children cannot sin, it is equally true that adults can both sin themselves and impose the consequences of their sins upon the children. As my friend Scott Daniel says, “There must be a special place in the darkest corners of hell for people who corrupt the innocence of children.”

One of the most informative chapters in the scriptures that deal with our premortal existence is Section 93 of the Doctrine and Covenants. Much of what I have written today has been about verse 38, that says children are innocent because of the Atonement. But when we put that verse back in context, then it becomes an introduction and justification for the chiding the Lord was about to give to the leaders of the church. It says:

38 Every spirit of man was innocent in the beginning; and God having redeemed man from the fall, men became again, in their infant state, innocent before God.
39 And that wicked one cometh and taketh away light and truth, through disobedience, from the children of men, and because of the tradition of their fathers.
40 But I have commanded you to bring up your children in light and truth.

Frederick G. Williams, you have continued under this condemnation; You have not taught your children light and truth….

Sidney Rigdon, … hath not kept the commandments concerning his children

Joseph Smith, Jun., … I will call you friends, for you are my friends, Your family must needs repent and forsake some things,

Newel K. Whitney … set in order his family, and see that they are more diligent and concerned at home (D&C 93:38-50).

It appears that the whole purpose of the explanation about our premortal life that is found in the beginning of Section 93 was to set the stage for explaining to those brethren why is was imperative that they “bring up your children in light and truth.” As such, it is another witness of the truthfulness and importance of Mormon’s letter to his son.
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FOOTNOTE

{1} Two scriptures that show that some people retain their evil intent after they come to this world are Moses 5:18-26 and Jude 1-6.

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Please remember, as with everything I write, this is my personal opinion.

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.
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—
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
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 (Moroni 7:45-48).

This is the last of my seven-part discussion of Mormon’s sermon in Moroni 7. During the sermon Mormon moved from premises to conclusions, then used those conclusions as new premises on which to build new conclusions. So the rationale for this final conclusion that charity as our only portal into the presence of God is established by those earlier premises. Similarly, my discussion of charity will make a lot more sense if you have read the previous six short essays.

Mormon completed his discussion of hope with this warning:

43 And again, behold I say unto you that he cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart.
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.

These references to the Savior’s Beatitudes are very telling. As I pointed out last time, meekness is keeping the covenants we made at the Council in Heaven. Lowly of heart (“poor in spirit”) is keeping the covenants we make while in this world. What Mormon says is that if we do not keep those covenants our “faith and hope is vain.” Vanity, like pride, is an illusion, actually a self-delusion, a puff of smoke, a fiction without substance — a nothingness.

Book of Mormon theology is simpler than ours in one regard. We teach of three degrees of glory and one hell. The Book of Mormon prophets did not make those distinctions. In their view there were only two options. Either we were going to be with God or we were going to be somewhere else. I suspect if Alma had written a commentary on D&C 76, he would probably have said there will be one degree of glory and three degrees of something much less than that. Consistent with that simpler version of the hereafter, Mormon teaches that we must have charity or we become nothing. Since only charity can bring us into the presence of God, anything less than that, in Mormon’s view, is only a “nothingness.”

Nephi explained that in terms of the realities of this world.

30 … the Lord God hath given a commandment that all men should have charity, which charity is love. And except they should have charity they were nothing. Wherefore, if they should have charity they would not suffer the laborer in Zion to perish (2 Nephi 26:30).

My good friend, Chauncey Riddle explained further:

The crown of morality is charity, the pure love of Christ. Those who love Christ reflect his love to others who are less fortunate than they. Whereas people of the world concern themselves with those who have more wealth, talent, prestige, or athletic ability, true servants of Christ care about those who have less. When the covenant servants of the Lord do not care for the poor, the Lord punishes and chastises them as when he allowed the members of the Church to be driven out of Jackson County, Missouri, in 1833. One of the glories of Zion is that therein love has triumphed over natural differences. All who are Zion become equal in earthly things and then become one in the Savior because of their love for him. {1}

The equality of the people of Zion is a product of their living the Law of Consecration. When charity is what we ARE, living the Law of Consecration is what we DO. {2} They are two sides of the same coin. Mormon described how that worked in Alma’s church.

26 And when the priests left their labor to impart the word of God unto the people, the people also left their labors to hear the word of God. And when the priest had imparted unto them the word of God they all returned again diligently unto their labors; and the priest, not esteeming himself above his hearers, for the preacher was no better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the learner; and thus they were all equal, and they did all labor, every man according to his strength.
27 And they did impart of their substance, every man according to that which he had, to the poor, and the needy, and the sick, and the afflicted; and they did not wear costly apparel, yet they were neat and comely.
28 And thus they did establish the affairs of the church; and thus they began to have continual peace again, notwithstanding all their persecutions (Alma 2:26-28).

Honest esteem for others is another expression of charity.

“Zion” describes individual persons who exude love, who esteem others, who have peace within themselves and radiate that peace to those around them. “Zion” also describes a community of such people. {3}

All of these — being Zion, living the Law of Consecration, having an honest esteem of others — are the outward expressions of charity.

I wish to address the question, What is charity on the inside? And why is it the final, and therefore the definitive quality that enables one to belong to an eternal Celestial society? Like Nephi, I will call it “love.” I will not discuss love as an emotion, but rather as the not-quite-intangible manifestation of the inmost part of our eternal being. To recognize charity/love as the “definitive quality” that leads to eternal life presupposes, as Mormon does, that it is a gift of the Spirit and is only taught by the Holy Ghost to those who have accepted, and are fulfilling, their premortal and earthly covenants.

I have written elsewhere that truth, light, and love are different names we have to describe the same thing and that their product is peace and joy. The rationale behind their sameness is quite simple:

Truth is information. It is knowledge of reality in sacred time— past, present, and future. Truth shines, but as raw information it does not shine. When truth becomes knowledge, the entity who knows shines with “light and truth.” The Savior shines with an enormous light (shechinah) that fills the immensity of space. {4} The revelations say:

11 And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings.
12 Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space—
13 The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things (D&C 88:11-13).

10 The worlds were made by him; men were made by him; all things were made by him, and through him, and OF him (D&C 93:10). {5}

Of course, all things were not made of the Savior’s person, but of that light that surrounds and defines him, and fills “the immensity of space.”

There is nothing at all farfetched about the idea that all things are made of the light that radiates from the Savior’s person. That revelation is essentially substantiated by modern science. In theoretical physics, matter is energy. Whether we use Einstein’s famous formula that showed mass-energy equivalence, or the string theory that holds that all matter is made of little wiggles of energy. Energy is light and scientists have shown that matter can actually be “created” from light. {6}

The Savior acquired that light in the only way one can: by assimilating truth. He testifies,

26 The Spirit of truth is of God. I am the Spirit of truth, and John bore record of me, saying: He received a fulness of truth, yea, even of all truth (D&C 93:26).

If the Savior’s light fills “the immensity of space” so does his truth. So does his love. His love is also in all things and sustains all things. His truth/light/love “giveth life to all things”

The Savior’s truth, light, and love either occupy the same space at the same time, or they are equivalents. The latter is true. The words are simply different ways we have of describing the same thing. As we begin to understand this eternal triumvirate of truth/light/love, we begin to know something of the eternal majesty of Christ and his Father. However, it is also true that as we learn about that triumvirate, we learn more about our own eternal Self, and the path we must follow to become like them. {7}

In our primal state, as intelligences, we are “the light of truth.”

29 Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be (D&C 93:29).

An intelligence is an entity that assimilates truth and shines. The more truth it assimilates into it’s Self, the greater its light. That process most assuridly continues throughout our existence unless we choose to curtail it. As humans, that truth/light/love expands or contracts depending on how we use our agency. President McKay described it as the “radiation” that is the defining part of one’s Self.

Every man and every person who lives in this world wields an influence, whether for good or for evil. It is not what he says alone; it is not alone what he does. It is what he is. Every man, every person radiates what he or she really is. Every person is a recipient of radiation. The Saviour was conscious of that. Whenever He came into the presence of an individual, He sensed that radiation — whether it was the woman of Samaria with her past life: whether it was the woman who was to be stoned, or the men who were to stone her; whether it was the statesman, Nicodemus, or one of the lepers. He was conscious of the radiation from the individual. And to a degree so are you. and so am I. It is what we are and what we radiate that affects the people around us. {8}

When we meet a friend, and perceive the light that is in him, we love him. The lights merge and the love is reciprocated. For both persons, the products of truth/light/love are joy and peace, which are the essence of a full life. There can be no fullness of joy if we are alone. In the Celestial Kingdom people are sealed together in an eternal bond, and therefore, in the Celestial Kingdom their joy is complete. The Prophet Joseph explained,

1 When the Savior shall appear we shall see him as he is. We shall see that he is a man like ourselves.
2 And that same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there, only it will be coupled with eternal glory, which glory we do not now enjoy (D&C 130:1-2).

Little wonder he also said,

Friendship is the grand fundamental principle of Mormonism, to revolution civilize the world—pour forth love. {9}

It is impossible to distinguish between the quality of the light we radiate from the quality of the love we radiate.

A beautiful description of the attraction such people have for each other was written by Apostle Parley P. Pratt as part of his explanation about the cleansing power of the Holy Ghost.

In the presence of such persons, the light of their countenances, as the genial rays of a sunbeam. Their very atmosphere diffuses a thrill, a warm glow of pure gladness and sympathy, to the heart and nerves of others who have kindred feelings, or sympathy of spirit.{10}

We are most comfortable among people who are like ourselves. The Lord put that fact in an eternal perspective when he said,

40 For intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence; wisdom receiveth wisdom; truth embraceth truth; virtue loveth virtue; light cleaveth unto light; mercy hath compassion on mercy and claimeth her own; justice continueth its course and claimeth its own; judgment goeth before the face of him who sitteth upon the throne and governeth and executeth all things (D&C 88:40).

We all radiate something, but not everyone radiates truth/light/love. Some people ooze contempt and darkness. {11} The Savior explained:

34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of li ght; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.
35 Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.
36 If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light (Luke 11:34-36).

Another equivalence of the Savior’s light is his law. In a description of the expansive power and extent of his light, he included this observation:

13 The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God (D&C 88:13).

A little further on in that revelation he explained that the law of our own beings is the criteria that will determine our resurrected glory. The quality of our spirit — the truth/light/love/joy/peace that defines each person and radiates from us — also defines our eternal nature, and will ultimately determine the quality of our resurrected body. I understand this next scripture to say that just as earthly matter can be created from light, so pure truth/light/love becomes the stuff our resurrected body will be made of. Therefore, the quality of one’s truth/light/love is the defining characteristic of one’s eternal resurrected Self.

28 They who are of a celestial spirit shall receive the same body which was a natural body; even ye shall receive your bodies, and your glory shall be that glory by which your bodies are quickened.
29 Ye who are quickened by a portion of the celestial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness.
30 And they who are quickened by a portion of the terrestrial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness.
31 And also they who are quickened by a portion of the telestial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness.
32 And they who remain shall also be quickened; nevertheless, they shall return again to their own place, to enjoy that which they are willing to receive, because they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received (D&C 88:27-29).

What I am suggesting is that charity is not simply an emotion, or an attitude of empathy, but it is a state of being, and that humans exude its warmth in a form of light/love that is perceptible, if not actually visible and tangible in the same way that light may be tangible. It is, in fact, the essence of one’s mortal and eternal being.

Mormon began his sermon by identifying his audience as peacemakers. He commended them with these words:

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.
4 And now my brethren, I judge these things of you because of your peaceable walk with the children of men (Moroni 7:3-4).

A peacemaker is one who loves others and therefore knows his place in the cosmos; he is comfortable with who he is, and spreads that comfort to those around him so they may feel at peace also. Mormon taught that the personal and extended power of that peace is magnified as charity is perfected. He explained,

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 (Moroni 7:45).

Paul also understood charity to be “the greatest of all” human attributes.

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity (1 Corinthians 13:4-13).

Like Paul who wrote “the greatest of these is charity,” Mormon also taught that charity was the ultimate reach of personal human perfection, so also of personal priesthood power. Remember, this was a priesthood meeting, so priesthood responsibility is the unspoken thread that ties all of the ideas together. Mormon said,

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—
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 (Moroni 7:46-47).

When his son Moroni closed the Book of Mormon, it was with that same admonition, except he used different words: “come unto Christ, and be perfected in him …. and love God with all your might, mind and strength …. that ye become holy, without spot (Moroni 10:32-33).”

When one’s person is “holy, without spot,” he is “quickened by a portion of the celestial glory.” Only such persons can receive a celestial body.

I believe love is also the ultimate sealing power. The priesthood ordinances are absolutely necessary to preserve order, justice, and continuity, and to validate the covenants, but without charity those ordinances and covenants have little meaning. Without charity we are sealed to neither family nor friends. In that aloneness we become, in terms of Mormon’s understanding, simply a “nothing.”

Mormon words, “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,” introduces us to the conclusion of his sermon. That conclusion, like his beginning, is the same as the Savior’s Beatitude:

9 And blessed are all the peacemakers, for they shall be called [that is, given a new covenant/royal name] the children of God (3 Nephi 12:9).

Mormon brings his sermon to a crescendo with that same new covenant king-name, but rather than citing it as a name, he makes it a reality.

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 (Moroni 7:48).

Section 76 explains what that means:

92 And thus we saw the glory of the celestial, which excels in all things—where God, even the Father, reigns upon his throne forever and ever;
93 Before whose throne all things bow in humble reverence, and give him glory forever and ever.
94 They who dwell in his presence are the church of the Firstborn; and they see as they are seen, and know as they are known, having received of his fulness and of his grace;
95 And he makes them equal in power, and in might, and in dominion.
96 And the glory of the celestial is one, even as the glory of the sun is one (D&C 76:92-96).

Charity (the truth/light/love/joy/peace we radiate) is the supreme self-power that can prepare a person to live in such an environment.
——————

FOOTNOTES

{1} Chauncey C. Riddle,“A BYU for Zion,” BYU Studies, vol. 16 (1975-1976), Number 4 – Summer 1976, 491. Chauncey’s other writings can be found on his website: “Chauncey Riddle, The Life’s work of a Latter-day Philosopher,” address: chaunceyriddle.com

{2} See our discussion of the Law of Consecration in Who Shall Ascend into the Hill of the Lord, first edition, 252-53; paperback edition, 180.

{3}Mormon shows the importance of peace at the very beginning of this sermon and as the Savior did in the Beatitudes. The Savior said,

8 And blessed are all the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 And blessed are all the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God (3 Nephi 12:8-9).

Elsewhere he adds,

Therefore, verily, thus saith the Lord, let Zion rejoice, for this is Zion—THE PURE IN HEART; therefore, let Zion rejoice, while all the wicked shall mourn (D&C 97:21).

In this sequence, as in Moroni 7:2-4, peacemakers are those who have been redeemed and therefore are the personification of both charity and peace.

{4} Who Shall Ascend into the Hill of the Lord, first edition, 1034-41; paperback edition, 716-21. Some parts of this essay are lifted from those pages.

{5} In Joseph Smith’s poem A Vision, he wrote:

And I heard a great voice bearing record from heav’n,
He’s the Saviour and only begotten of God;
By him, of him, and through him, the worlds were all made,
Even all that careen in the heavens so broad.

Whose inhabitants, too, from the first to the last,
Are sav’d by the very same Saviour of ours;
And, of course, are begotten God’s daughters and sons
By the very same truths and the very same powers.

The poem was published in the Times and Seasons, February 1, 1843.

{6} For an interesting read, Google: “making matter from light” and read articles about how scientists can “create” matter from light.

{7} We explained more fully the eternal grandeur of the triumvirate of truth/light/love in Who Shall Ascend into the Hill of the Lord, 1034-37; paperback edition, 716-18. Some evidence that truth, light, love. and life are the same things are in D&C 88:4-7,11-13; D&C 93:8-10, 24-28; D&C 84:45; JST John 1:1-21.

D&C 88:4-7,11-13
4 This Comforter is the promise which I give unto you of eternal life, even the glory of the celestial kingdom;
5 Which glory is that of the church of the Firstborn, even of God, the holiest of all, through Jesus Christ his Son—
6 He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth;
7 Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. …
11 And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings;
12 Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space—
13 The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God.

D&C 93:8-10, 24-28.
8 Therefore, in the beginning the Word was, for he was the Word, even the messenger of salvation—
9 The light and the Redeemer of the world; the Spirit of truth, who came into the world, because the world was made by him, and in him was the life of men and the light of men.
10 The worlds were made by him; men were made by him; all things were made by him, and through him, and of him. …

24 And truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come;
25 And whatsoever is more or less than this is the spirit of that wicked one who was a liar from the beginning.
26 The Spirit of truth is of God. I am the Spirit of truth, and John bore record of me, saying: He received a fulness of truth, yea, even of all truth;
27 And no man receiveth a fulness unless he keepeth his commandments.
28 He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things.

{8}President David O. McKay, “Radiation of the Individual,” The Instructor, October, 1964, p. 373-374.

{9} Joseph Smith, The Words of Joseph Smith: The Contemporary Accounts of the Nauvoo Discourses of the Prophet Joseph, compiled and edited by Andrew F. Ehat and Lyndon W. Cook (Provo: BYU Religious Studies Center, 1980), 234.

{10} Parley P. Pratt, Key to the Science of Theology/A Voice of Warning (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1965), 101 – 102.)

In its context, that statement reads:

The gift of the Holy Spirit adapts itself to all these organs or attributes. It quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands and purifies all the natural passions and affections; and adapts them, by the gift of wisdom, to their lawful use. It inspires, develops, cultivates and matures all the fine-toned sympathies, joys, tastes, kindred feelings and affections of our nature. It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness and charity. It develops beauty of person, form and features. It tends to health, vigor, animation and social feeling. It develops and invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual man. It strengthens, invigorates, and gives tone to the nerves. In short, it is, as it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life to the whole being.

In the presence of such persons, the light of their countenances, as the genial rays of a sunbeam. Their very atmosphere diffuses a thrill, a warm glow of pure gladness and sympathy, to the heart and nerves of others who have kindred feelings, or sympathy of spirit. No matter if the parties are strangers, entirely unknown to each other in person or character; no matter if they have never spoken to each other, each will be apt to remark in his own mind, and perhaps exclaim, when referring to the interview—”O what an atmosphere encircles that stranger! How my heart thrilled with pure and holy feelings in his presence! What confidence and sympathy he inspired! his countenance and spirit gave me more assurance, than a thousand written recommendations, or introductory letters.” Such is the gift of the Holy Spirit, and such are its operations, when received through the lawful channel—the divine, eternal Priesthood.

{11} In theory, charity means loving everyone. In practice the definition of love has to be qualified to make the theory workable. We cannot learn to love everyone until after we learn to love just the one. The guy who said, “I love mankind, its people I can’t stand,” got it all wrong. But I think J. Golden Kimball got it right when he said, “The Lord said we should love everyone, and I do, but I love some a damnsight more than I love others.” His point is, I think, that there is a difference between loving someone and liking them. So how do you love someone you don’t even like. On its fringes, love also includes empathy, kindness, and even service. We can feel that kind of love toward people we may not feel comfortable being around, the kind of people we would not take into our confidence and certainly would not want to be our bosom friends. We can share a much richer love with people we actually like, and more especially with people we trust. That richer love includes devotion, loyalty, affection, and intimacy. With very special people that includes physical intimacy, however, with other friends it would include emotional, spiritual, and even academic intimacy.

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When I showed this to a friend he mused, “By reading faith as pistis/covenant, you have taken out all of the nice uncertainties and turned Mormon’s sermon into a Supreme Court case.” My response was, “We are talking about how to prepare for the final judgement, nice uncertainties just don’t cut it.” Please understand that what I have written is only my opinion. I am fully aware that these verses can be read very differently, but I believe it may be instructive to know they can also be read this way.

Moroni 7:19-27
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.
20 And now, my brethren, how is it possible that ye can lay hold upon every good thing?
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.
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.
23 And God also declared unto prophets, by his own mouth, that Christ should come.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
33 And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me.
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.
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?
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?
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.
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.
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.

————-

In modern-day English, “faith” is a word of a thousand facets.

Its range of meanings goes in a continuum from trust based on a legally binding contract, to trusting in a friend; to wishing really hard but without any evidence to justify the wish. Faith in God can mean a prophet’s following revealed instructions; or people trying to convince God to do things the way they want them done. Prayer in faith can mean listening to the Spirit and praying for what one is instructed to pray for (listen and repeat); to worshiping a super hero “vending machine” where we pick out what we want and then pay our nickle by grunt wishing-hard to convince God to give it to us. That kind of faith lets us, not God, take on the role of the supreme instigator. I apologize if that sounds cynical, but sometimes that’s the way it is.

The fact is that within limits, faith in all forms can be effectual. So can prayer. When I was a student I would pray earnestly for help on tests. And after I had studied all I could, when the test was over I knew I had received the help I needed. But I think that falls more closely into the category of “trusting a friend,” rather than putting a nickle into a ‘vending machine.’

Sometimes a synonym for faith is belief. So then faith is about whatever one believes in. But since the variety of things one can believe in approaches the infinite, so does the meanings of faith. In other words, “faith” can have such a broad spectrum of meanings, that it virtually has no meaning at all.

However, that is not so in the scriptures. In the New Testament “faith” is translated from the Greek word pistis. The nearest modern English equivalent is covenant or contract. The Book of Mormon uses faith the same way. In the scriptures faith does not mean wishing hard, it means acting with integrity to accept and fulfill the terms of the covenant.

In his sermon, Mormon used faith to represent that same covenant relationship. {1} Here, I have equated “faith” in the New Testament with “faith” in the Book of Mormon, even though we can be quite sure that the Greek word pistis was not the word Mormon used. Indeed, we cannot know what Nephite word Mormon used, but we can observe that in his sermon, and elsewhere in the Book of Mormon, the word translated as “faith” has the same covenant meaning as pistis in the New Testament. Sufficient evidence is found within the text of his sermon to know that Mormon was referring to sacred covenants when he used whatever Nephite word was equivalent to pistis and translated as “faith.” For that reason I am using the Greek pistis to stress the point, even though I know it is not technically correct.

Simply stated, there are five parts of faith/pistis just as there are five parts of any contract.

1. Define the object of the contract — I get house and you get the money.
2. Agree on the terms — How and when I pay you the money so I get house.
3. There must be binding “evidence” — A signature that validates the agreement and guarantees the fulfillment of the covenant. Between friends the evidence may be just a handshake or even a smile, but it has to be something that is real. In a gospel context, the ordinances are the evidences that we accept the covenants.
4. The next is what Paul and Mormon called “hope”(Hebrews 11:1) — Living as though the covenant were already fulfilled. That is, I get to live in the house and care for it as though it were mine as long as I keep up the payments .
5. Finally, the fulfillment of the terms when the house is paid for — You have all your money and I get the deed to the house.

Pistis always implies such a covenant and covenantal process—whether formal and explicit like an agreement with the bank, or informal and implicit like an agreement between friends.

“Faith in Christ” as Mormon uses it here has two intertwined meanings for us. They are accepting the terms of the Father’s covenant, and living according to those terms.

The Savior is the personification of his Father’s covenant. On his part, his Atonement authenticates its terms making our salvation possible. On our part, the ordinances and covenants we make in righteousness evince that we accept those terms. His Holy Spirit cleanses us and teaches us how to live in order to enable those terms to be operative in our lives. His name justifies our laying claim to blessings when we pray. And his resurrection and redemption brings us back to his and Heavenly Father’s presence. All of that ties us together and with them in a very beautiful hesed relationship of mutual love and eternal togetherness.

As I observed last time, Mormon’s sermon can be divided into three parts. Verse 19 is the transition between the second and third sections. It seems to be a remembrance of the event in the Nephite temple drama where a person (the king in ancient Israel) approached the veil while the congregation sang the 21st psalm. {2}

The great veil of Solomon’s temple represented the shechinah, the veil of light that separates man from God. {3} Since the Nephite temples were patterned after Solomon’s, that would also be true of the veil in Nephite temples. {4} Mormon says:

19 Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ [shechinah] that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold [grasp] upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ [Psalm 2].{5}

20 And now, my brethren, how is it possible that ye can lay hold upon every good thing?
21 And now I come to that faith [the exercise of the covenants – pistis], of which I said I would speak; and I will tell you the way whereby ye may lay hold on every good thing.

What I understand Mormon is saying is that the only real way one “may lay hold upon every good thing” is by faith/pistis — that is, by fulfilling our part of the covenants.

Mormon introduces his discussion by showing how God has kept, and continues to keep his part of the covenants. God did that by teaching people about the Savior and the Atonement.

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.
23 And God also declared unto prophets, by his own mouth, that Christ should come.
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.

Not only by God’s own testimony did he teach people about the covenants and the Savior’s atoning sacrifice, but he also employed angels to teach and testify.

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 [implemented the terms of the covenants]; and thus by faith [pistis], they did lay hold upon every good thing; and thus it was until the coming of Christ.

26 And after that he came men also were saved by faith in his name [In this and other places in the scriptures “name” means the same as “covenant” {6}]; and by faith [pistis – by virtue of the covenants], they become the sons of God.

We should remember that this is the whole point of Mormon’s sermon. He is teaching his “beloved brethren” the path they must take to get from where they are now to becoming “the sons of God.” In order to bring them to that end, Mormon teaches about faith (the terms of the covenants), hope (living as though the covenants were already fulfilled), and charity (the ultimate affirmation and substantiation of the covenants). Throughout his sermon he is building up to a crescendo which will be the last verse in this chapter.

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 (Moroni 7:48).

So far, Mormon has introduced his discussion of faith by showing that God and the prophets have taught people the covenants from the beginning. He now concludes that introduction with the assurance that God will answer the prayers of those who keep their part of the covenant.

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.

I understand the last part of that verse to be read this way:

26 … And as surely as Christ liveth he spake these words unto our fathers, saying: Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name [our using the Savior’s covenant name validates the prayer], which is good [prayer by revelation. The terms and object are given to us by the holy Ghost], in faith [according to the terms of the covenant] believing that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you. [When all of those things are in place, then the answer to the prayer is a forgone conclusion.]

There are also many kinds of meaningful prayers. Some, like a hymn, are expressions of joy and love. Others may be a request or even a pleading. I believe God hears every prayer and answers them according to his wisdom and according to sincerity and the need of the one who is asking. However, as I understand it, for a prayer to be binding on God, it must be an exercise in pistis. That is, the prayer must be a covenant, following all the forms of the covenant. It must be done in righteousness (zedek), in the name of the Savior. The terms of the prayer must be either accepted or dictated by the Holy Ghost. Otherwise there would be no covenant. Mormon will reiterate that in verse 33 where he says, “And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me.”

In the first part of his discussion of faith Mormon has taught that the covenants are binding. Now his object is to show his brethren that not only has God the power to keep his part of the covenants, but that he has the power to help the righteous keep theirs as well.

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?
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.

Mormon’s words, “and hath sat down on the right hand of God” is a reference to the Savior’s post-resurrection coronation as king of everything. It is easy for us to read lightly over that because we live in a republic and do not understand kingship the way people did in ancient times.

Mormon is describing the Father’s conferring upon the Savior all of the rights of his royal birthright. It is a one-sentence description of a coronation ceremony. Mormon places his observation in the context of the Savior’s increased power after his resurrection. Paul does the same, but from him we get a greater sense of the power, grandeur, and majesty of the event.

19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his [God’s] power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his [God’s] mighty power,
20 Which he [God] wrought in Christ, when he [God] raised him [Christ] from the dead, and set him [Christ] at his [God’s] own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his [Christ’s] feet, and gave him [Christ] to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his [Christ’s] body, the fulness of him [Christ] that filleth all in all (Ephesians 1:19-23).

Unlike Paul, whose emphasis is on power of dominion, Mormon focuses on the Savior’s power to bless, “to claim of the Father his rights of mercy which he hath upon the children of men.” In a revelation to the Prophet Joseph, the Savior stressed that same thing.

3 Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him—
4 Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified;
5 Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life (D&C 45:3-5).

Again, Mormon focuses our attention on the legal aspects of the Savior’s Atonement.

28 For he hath answered the ends of the law,

He may be talking about the Law of Moses, but probably not, because that law is only a simpler form of a much greater eternal law which Mormon calls “the covenant of the Father.” In D&C 132:1-14 it is called the “new and everlasting covenant.” A proper covenant is a legal contract and its terms must be met or the contract is void. The Savior’s Atonement answered the terms of the “covenant of the Father.” The legal implications of that covenant stretch to the ends of eternity in both directions. Alma gave his son one of the best explanations of that legality.

22 But there is a law given, and a punishment affixed, and a repentance granted; which repentance, mercy claimeth; otherwise, justice claimeth the creature and executeth the law, and the law inflicteth the punishment; if not so, the works of justice would be destroyed, and God would cease to be God.
23 But God ceaseth not to be God, and mercy claimeth the penitent, and mercy cometh because of the atonement; and the atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of God; and thus they are restored into his presence, to be judged according to their works, according to the law and justice.
24 For behold, justice exerciseth all his demands, and also mercy claimeth all which is her own; and thus, none but the truly penitent are saved.
25 What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice? I say unto you, Nay; not one whit. If so, God would cease to be God.
26 And thus God bringeth about his great and eternal purposes, which were prepared from the foundation of the world. And thus cometh about the salvation and the redemption of men, and also their destruction and misery.
27 Therefore, O my son, whosoever will come may come and partake of the waters of life freely; and whosoever will not come the same is not compelled to come; but in the last day it shall be restored unto him according to his deeds (Alma 42:22-27).

In another place Alma explained,

13 Therefore, it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice, and then shall there be, or it is expedient there should be, a stop to the shedding of blood; then shall the law of Moses be fulfilled; yea, it shall be all fulfilled, every jot and tittle, and none shall have passed away (Alma 34:13).

In Mormon’s sermon, he is speaking to his priesthood brethren who understand all of that, so he can simply say it without filling in the details.

28 … 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.

The logical structure of that statement is beautiful:

and he claimeth [acknowledges as his own]
all those who have faith in him [who have made covenants with validating ordinances];
and they who have faith in him [who keep their covenants]
will cleave unto every good thing;
wherefore [for those reasons he is justified in being their advocate]
he advocateth the cause of the children of men;
and he dwelleth eternally in the heavens. [as King of Kings, “Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion,” ad infinitum.

Mormon’s sermon is structured like a long legal argument, with premises and conclusions built upon other premises and conclusions. His question in verse 17 was “ have miracles ceased because Christ hath ascended into heaven.” His argument is that they have not because, having accomplished the Atonement, Christ’s power to save us is infinite. Now using that as his new premise, he answers his original question.

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.
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.
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, {7} 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.
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.

That is probably the most definitive statement in the scriptures about the responsibility of angels, their purposes, and perhaps most relevant to us, about who the angels might visit.

The angel’s responsibilities are “to call men unto repentance, and to fulfil and to do the work of the covenants of the Father.” But the angels do not call everyone to repentance. That is not their job. They teach only those “of strong faith [pistis – those who keep the terms of the covenant] and a firm mind.” Angels do not appear to kooks who are a little bit crazy, or to people who do not have a legitimate right to see them. That is, at least in part, because the testimony of the people to whom they do appear must be rational and believable so that “the residue of men may have faith in Christ, that the Holy Ghost may have place in their hearts.”

In the scriptures, there are many examples of angels visiting strong-willed people. One of the most interesting is this explanation by the Prophet Joseph about a passage in the Book of Revelation.

11 Q. What are we to understand by sealing the one hundred and forty-four thousand, out of all the tribes of Israel—twelve thousand out of every tribe?
A. We are to understand that those who are sealed are high priests, ordained unto the holy order of God, to administer the everlasting gospel; for they are they who are ordained out of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, by the angels to whom is given power over the nat ions of the earth, to bring as many as will come to the church of the Firstborn (D&C 77:11).

It is in this context—the promise that people will be taught the covenants of the Father either by angels or by those to whom angels have given authority—that Mormon remembers this promise:

33 And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me.
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.

Now Mormon has laid down all the premises— one must repent, do the ordinances, and keep the covenants, then one may be saved. He once again makes his remarks personal by addressing “my beloved brethren,” before moving on to the final principles of hope and charity. He assures them that the Holy Ghost will help them in their determined quest to keep their covenants.

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?
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?
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.
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.
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.

By using “meekness” the way it is used in the psalms and in the Beatitudes, Mormon again calls their attention to the fact that the covenants are not just for and about life in this world. But they are eternal in their scope. Psalm 25 explicitly defines the meek as those who keep the covenants they made at the Council in Heaven, and promises that not just they, but also their children will inherit the celestial earth. {8}

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FOOTNOTES

{1} I have discussed pistis many times. You can find them by using the search engine on this website. However, the best is in chapter, “Meaning of ‘Faith’ – pistis,” in Who Shall Ascend into the Hill of the Lord, pages 1007-25 in the first edition; pages 697-710 in the paperback edition, which is the one on this website.

{2} For a discussion of Psalm 21 see the chapters, “The King at the Veil of Solomon’s Temple” and “The Veil Ceremony in Psalm 21” in Who Shall Ascend into the Hill of the Lord, pages 543-57 in the first edition; pages 390-400 in the paperback edition, which is the one on this website.

{3}See “ Moroni 7:16-21 – Standing in the Light of Christ – LeGrand Baker” in this website.

{4} 2 Nephi 5:16
16 And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct it after the manner of the temple of Solomon save it were not built of so many precious things; for they were not to be found upon the land, wherefore, it could not be built like unto Solomon’s temple. But the manner of the construction was like unto the temple of Solomon; and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine.

{5} For a discussion of the royal new name in Psalm 21 see the chapter, “Psalm 2, The Ancient Israelite Royal King-name” in Who Shall Ascend into the Hill of the Lord, pages 499-517 in the first edition; pages 360-73 in the paperback edition.

{6} There is always a new name given as evidence or validation of a new covenant. The Savior has many such names. That being so, the word “name” is often used as code for “covenant.” In those places “covenant” can be replaced by “name” without changing the meaning of the statement.

For a discussion of the royal new name in the king’s coronation ceremony see the chapters in Who Shall Ascend into the Hill of the Lord,“called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord that he might be glorified” and “Psalm 2, The Ancient Israelite Royal King-name” pages 495-517 in the first edition; pages 358-73 in the paperback edition.

{7} Moroni 10:32-33

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 [God’s] grace sufficient for you, that by his [God’s] 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.

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.

In Ephesians 1, Paul gives us a detailed description of a ceremony where he tells us a great deal about our relationship with our Heavenly Father and about the covenants we made with him. You can find my updated analysis of that chapter in the paperback edition of Who Shall Ascend into the Hill of the Lord, 546-554, and also in the scriptures section of this website.

{8} D&C 88 paraphrases the Beatitudes verses 3 and 4 where he says the celestial world will be inherited by the poor and the meek.

17 And the redemption of the soul is through him that quickeneth all things, in whose bosom it is decreed that the poor and the meek of the earth shall inherit it.
18 Therefore, it must needs be sanctified from all unrighteousness, that it may be prepared for the celestial glory (D&C 88:17-18).

For a discussion of the meaning of “meek” see the chapters in Who Shall Ascend into the Hill of the Lord,“Meaning of ‘Meek’ in Psalm 25: Keeping One’s Eternal Covenants” and “The Meek in Psalm 25” and “3 Nephi 12:5 – Meek” on pages 931-96 and 945-49 in the first edition; pages 378-390 and 659-61 in the paperback edition.

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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.
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.
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.
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.
20 And now, my brethren, how is it possible that ye can lay hold upon every good thing?
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 (Moroni 7:16-21).

Mormon’s priesthood sermon in Moroni 7 falls automatically into three sections. The first is his greeting. He acknowledges the remarkable qualifications of the men in his congregation. He addresses them as his “beloved brethren. In verse 3 he says why they are a select group, and it is probably not wrong to read into what he says that they are there by invitation.

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 (Moroni 7:3).

Verse 3 seems to say that each of these men had already received the Second Comforter (see D&C 88:1-5). If this is true, then they now sit on a precarious precipice: their options are either eternal salvation or becoming sons of perdition (see D&C 76:32-35). Given the apostate environment in which they lived, the latter may have been all to common among others of their associates.

Verses 4 and 5 are the transition into the second section of his sermon. Mormon says:

4 And now my brethren, I judge these things of you 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 (Moroni 7:4-5).

The second part of Mormon’s sermon draws a sharp distinction between the real and the apostate claims to priesthood authority, and personal and group righteousness (zedek). Mormon’s warning to his friends is also a description of our world, just as it was of the growing apostasy in the New Testament church. Similarly, Timothy’s warning was not only applicable to his times, and to our own times, but it is also an apt description of the world in which Mormon and his friends lived.

1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron (1 Timothy 4:1-).

In previous posts I have already discussed sections one and two of Mmormon’s sermon. Now, before we get to part three, we need to consider verses 16-21 which are the transition between the second part where he warns them of the real dangers of that precipice, and the third part where he teaches them the only way the danger can be avoided.

In verse 16 he describes “the Spirit of Christ” as the universal guide by which all people can know good from evil. “The Spirit of Christ” is usually identified by LDS leaders as one’s conscience. We easily understand that, because our experience teaches us that our conscience does, in fact, help us distinguish right from wrong. However, Mormon tells his friends there is also another source of truth to which they must look. The problem with our conscience is that sometimes it can actually get in the way of our knowing truth. That is because our conscience gets its definitions of right and wrong from the teachings of one’s culture, and therefore, usually cannot define right from wrong in an absolute sense. My favorite example to demonstrate this is a story I have heard Hugh Nibley tell several times.

All students who enroll at BYU must take a Book of Mormon class in their freshman year. Nibley spoke Arabic fluently so he was always assigned to teach that class for the students from the middle east. He observed that when a teacher gets to the place where Nephi cuts off Laban’s head, some Christian students say the story cannot be true because God would never ask Nephi to do that. But when middle eastern students get to that place, they say that the story cannot possibly be true because Nephi would not have had problems with his conscience. He would have just cut the head off .

Another example is this: children who grow up in an LDS society where they are taught to live the word of wisdom know that tobacco and alcohol are real sins because their conscience tells them so. Thus, in our sub-culture we can say with conviction that their conscience teaches them right from wrong. In other sub-cultures the argument against tobacco and alcohol is not that they are sin, but that they are harmful and using them is foolish. Those people’s consciences will tell them using the stuff is stupid, but probably not that it is sinful. In other sub-cultures where everyone just does it, their consciences are silent on the question, and will remain so until the person is taught differently.

Probably the best known examples in the scriptures are the invented rules and regulations the Pharisees attached to the Law of Moses. Jesus admonished them, “Judge not according to your traditions, but judge righteous judgment (JST John 7:24).” They, of course, did not listen and eventually executed him—not for committing any real crime—but for breaking their cultural rules.

Here is another example that I mention because it very relevant in our own time: One of the most emotionally charged cultural wars we are fighting withing the United States just now is the question of whether homosexuality is a real sin, or only a sin because culture has defined it that way. One argument is that it is unnatural and therefore a real sin. Since it is unnatural to about 90% of the population, for them that is a sound argument. However, the other 10% insist that it is perfectly natural to themselves, and for them to try to change who and what they are would be a violation of Self. Therefore, they argue, trying to force them to change or imposing a legal inferiority upon them — those are the real sins. The question of gay marriage has turned the question of cultural sin into a legal question of Constitutional proportions. The Supreme Court can settle the legal question, but the moral question will still remain the property of American sub-cultures.

Mormon’s sermon is addressed to his friends whom he trusts really do know the difference between right and wrong. But he does not ask his friends to rely exclusively on their consciences in order to know the ultimate truths that will assure their salvation. For that, he reminds them, they must rely on “the Light of Christ.” (Since he uses that phrase differently from “the Spirit of Christ” it is reasonable to believe that he did not understand them to mean the same thing.)

His reminder to them in verses 18-21 is the introduction that leads to the third section of Mormon’s sermon. He says:

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.
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.
20 And now, my brethren, how is it possible that ye can lay hold upon every good thing?
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 (Moroni 7:18-21).

If he is using “light” to actually mean “light” (the shechinah), then he is probably reminding them of their experiences within that light. In that context, Mormon is now going to spell out exactly what they must do to become “the sons of God.”

A corollary to his sermon is the letter Peter wrote to the temple-worshiping Saints of his own time. Our looking at the sequence in Peter’s letter is not really a diversion from discussing Mormon’s sermon because it is the same sequence as Mormon’s. It also begins with pistis and ends with charity, but it places them in a fuller context. In his letter, Peter outlined eight steps his readers must follow in order to make their “calling and election sure” (2 Peter 1:1-10).

In the first 4 verses Peter uses faith — the Greek word is pistis and means the covenants {1} — to represent their temple service and describes the purpose of that service in words that are poetically beautiful. Then he lays out the 8 steps:

1 (is something one is given) faith (pistis) — the covenants of the early Christian temple service.
2 (something one is) “virtue” — the word actually means “manliness” — strength, intelligence, integrity.
3 (something one is) knowledge — I read that as truth in D&C 93:24. Knowledge of reality in sacred time.
4 (something one is) temperance — self control.

5 (our attitude toward others) patience — We must be patient with ourselves and God as well as with other people.
6 (an attitude toward others) “godliness” — the word actually means reverence. One can never hurt anyone or anything that one revers.
7 (an attitude toward others) brotherly kindness — the word is philadelphia and means fraternal love. Elsewhere in the New Testament it is translated as “brotherly love.” It is focused love (hesed).
8 (an attitude toward others) charity — this is universal love. One cannot love everyone (charity) unless he can love them individually (philadelphia) (2 Peter 1:5-7).

The first four qualities in Peter’s sequence are the personal characteristics one must have. The second four are the attitudes and actions one must have toward others. Peter concludes this sequence with a warning that is very like Mormon’s:

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall (2 Peter 1:8-10).

The point is, one can know lots of stuff, but that knowledge is “barren and unfruitful” if one does not crown it with brotherly love and charity.

The Savior says essentially the same thing to Nicodemus:

21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God (John 3:21).

He did not say one must know truth, rather “he that doeth truth cometh to the light.” That brings us back to where we were in Mormon’s sermon. He says

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.

If the light Mormon is describing is the shechinah, {2} that adds a whole new dimension to the meaning of his entire sermon.

The shechinah is the first thing a prophet sees and usually the first thing he mentions when reporting that he saw the Savior. Joseph Smith described it this way:

16 … I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.
17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him! (Joseph Smith-History:16-17)

It is the cloud of light through which the Lord put his finger while speaking with the brother of Jared. It is the veil that separates man from God and was represented in Solomon’s Temple by the beautifully embroidered veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. {3} During the Israelite Feast of Tabernacles temple drama, Psalm 21 was sung as the king approached that veil, then as he symbolically both heard and saw God. {4}

Moroni alludes to that same ceremony in his brief recount of the Nephite temple service when he says,

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 (Moroni 10:30).

In Mormon’s transitional statement between the second and third portions of his sermon, he also alludes to many parts of that same ceremony when he instructs his “beloved brethren,”

19 Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ [shechinah] that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold [with the hand] upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ [Psalm 2].
20 And now, my brethren, how is it possible that ye can lay hold upon every good thing?
21 And now I come to that faith [pistis], of which I said I would speak; and I will tell you the way whereby ye may lay hold on every good thing.

What Mormon is saying is that the only real way one “may lay hold upon every good thing” is by the power of the covenants which brings one to charity.
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FOOTNOTES
{1} I will discuss pistis as we continue through Moroni 7. However, in the meantime you can also find it in chapter, “Meaning of ‘Faith’ – pistis,” in Who Shall Ascend into the Hill of the Lord, 697-710, in the paperback edition, which is the one in this website.

{2} See shechinah in the LDS Bible Dictionary. The shechinah is discussed in several places in Who Shall Ascend into the Hill of the Lord. You will find it as the light of Christ, as the veil, and as a cloud of light on pages 98, 102 & n, 140, 249, 263, 270, 373, 392, 468.

{3} For a discussion of the veil see Who Shall Ascend into the Hill of the Lord, chapters “The King at the Veil of Solomon’s Temple,” 390-397.

{4} This is discussed in three chapters of Who Shall Ascend into the Hill of the Lord, “The King at the Veil of Solomon’s Temple”, 390-97; “The Veil Ceremony in Psalm 21,” 397-400; “Act 2, Scene 11: The King Enters the Holy of Holies of Solomon’s Temple,” 400-03.

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