Moroni

I was just reading some words from a great prophet named Moroni.  His writings are found at the end of the Book of Mormon.  He was the last to write in this great book.  His father, Mormon, was the chief compiler of this Book, and he passed it on to his son, who was the last living soul in his family to survive. 

He says in Moroni chapter 1:

1 Now I, Moroni, after having made an end of abridging the account of the people of Jared, I had supposed not to have written more, but I have not as yet perished; and I make not myself known to the Lamanites lest they should destroy me.

 2 For behold, their wars are exceedingly fierce among themselves; and because of their hatred they put to death every Nephite that will not deny the Christ.

 3 And I, Moroni, will not deny the Christ; wherefore, I wander whithersoever I can for the safety of mine own life.

 Moroni buried the golden plates in the ground, on a hill in present day Palmyra, New York.  He finished his writings with this awesome injunction:

Moroni 10:32

 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

Hundreds of years later, he appeared to Joseph Smith, as an angel, and told him of the record deposited in the earth:

 

 Joseph Smith later found the plates, and eventually was able to translate them into English through the power of God.  This was brought forth as the Book of Mormon.  It has now been translated into 82 languages!

 

 A statue of Moroni graces the steeple of many of our temples.  He is blowing a trumpet, which is a symbol of proclaiming the truth to the world.   He represents the angel who John prophesied about:

 

Revelation 14:6

"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people..."

 

 Moroni has a special role to play in the spreading of the gospel.  One day, he will be there at judgment:

Ether 12:38 "And now I, Moroni, bid farewell unto the Gentiles, yea, and also unto my brethren whom I love, until we shall meet before the judgment-seat of Christ, where all men shall know that my garments are not spotted with your blood."

This great prophet has given his life to the cause of Christ.  I am excited to meet him someday.