In Moroni 9, Mormon tells Moroni he is still alive. He shares aboutnhow wicked the Lamanites have become, about the wars, and their evil ways. They dont listen to the prophet and they reject the words of the Lord. Mormon says they can't stop preaching, though.
Mormon tells Moroni that the Lamanites have taken men, women, and children captive. They killed the husbands and make their wives eat them. Many of the daughters of the Lamanites were also taken captive and raped. After they raped them they tortured their bodies and then murdered them. Lastly, they ate the women they raped, brutalized, and murdered as a sign of bravery.
Mormon tells Moroni to write some of what the people must do to repent but understand that both the Nephites and Lamanites have become wicked and have hard hearts.
Moroni 9:25 says, "25 My son, be faithful in Christ; and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever."
Moroni 10 is the last Chapter in the Book of Mormon. In Moroni 10:3-5 it says, "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.
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.
Likening These Verses Unto Me
I have done as Moroni asked of those who read this Book of Mormon. I prayed and asked God if The Book of Mormon is true. I received my answer by the power of The Holy Ghost that this book is indeed TRUE, real, and from God. I will lose relationships over publicly professing this, but I don't care anymore.
Some of my most precious relationships ended over this religion. What I gained, though was a closer relationship with God. He will make things right, and I know it. I am sure that my worst critics in this life will, in the next life, be taught the Gospel on the other side. Maybe, I will be able to someday do their Temple Work for them. They will express their sorrow and come to understand why I had to return to my faith when we meet in the next life.
This final Chapter in Moroni, Chapter 10, is powerful and you can not read this and believe it was written by an uneducated farm boy. I am sorry. You would be wrong. But now what? You have read this book with me for 90 days now? What will you do? Pray and then reach out to the Missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at churchofjesuschrist.org and let this book change your life!
I know this book is true. I know Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God, and I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints IS the Lord's Kingdom restored upon the earth in preparation for the Second Coming. God speed. -Stacey
In Moroni 7, Moroni recounts his father Mormon's teachings. The Lord looks on the heart and intentions matter. Doing a good deep but no meaning it, just giving lip service or actions alone is not rewarded by God. If someone gives service or does good works, but their heart is not good, God will not look on the act with favor, and the giver of the gift will not be accepted by God. Read that again. Read it outloud so the folks in the back can here! Intent matters!
We also need to have Faith in Christ, Hope in The Atonement, and Charity for others. We must actively practice, faith, Hope, and Charity which is the pure love of Christ.
Moroni 7:48, says" 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.
In Moroni 8, Moroni shares what Mormon taught about little Children NOT needing baptism. Christ is adamant, and very serious about this! Little Children have zero need for baptism because they do not sin, are not capable of repentance, are not in danger of hell if they die before being baptized, and that infant baptism is an abomination unto God.
Likening these Chapters Unto Me
I believe that someone's actions are absolutely judged by God by the intent with which they are done. If someone outwardly does something good, but inwardly they resent it, scoff at it, make light of it, and tell others how their actions did not align with their heart, God will NOT accept the actions. God knows people's hearts!
I believe that little Children do not need to be baptized and that it does offend Heavenly Father. Babies and little children are saved by Jesus Christ and if they die before baptism they go straight back to Heavenly Father. God sees baptism of infants as a serious sin!
I am thankful for Heavenly Parents who love me and want me to know The truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am rather alone in this world and won't expound on it, but I am acutely aware of it. At one time, this would have caused me serious distress, but I have so much peace and comfort because God knows my heart and he can not misunderstand me, nor can I deceive Him.
This brings me immense comfort because I know that God will not be mocked, I love him, Christ knows this about me, and in this life, this brings me peace not measured or explained by me at this time.
I am loved by Jesus Christ, Heavenly Father, Heavenly Mother, and The Holy Ghost! I will be okay.
Moroni 1, The Lamanites put to death any Nephite that will not deny Christ. Moroni wanders and avoids the Lamanites to stay alive and he decides to write more for themselves future Lamanites that may read his words.
Moroni 2, Jesus told the Nephites that when they give the Holy Ghost to others, to do so in the Name of the Son.
Moroni 3, by The Power of the Holy Ghost, Christ taught them how to give the Priesthood by the laying on of hands.
Moroni 4, the Elders bless the Bread for Sacrament with the prayer in Moroni 4.
Moroni 5, the Elders bless the wine (water) for the Sacrament with the prayer in Moroni 5.
Moroni 6, people who repent and are baptized are numbered among the children of God. Those who do not, their names are blotted out. Those who repent and come back are always forgiven. The Church is run by the power the Holy Ghost.
In Ether 13, Moroni describes the New Jerusalem that would come to the American Continent. After the Jerusalem that Lehi came to America from was destroyed, a New Jerusalem would come to earth from Heaven and be placed in this Hemisphere. Remnants of the House of Joseph would be placed upon the New Jerusalem. The Old would pass away and the New would come. The first would be last and the last would be first. Then the Old Jerusalem will be restored and all of the Lost Tribes of Israel will be found.
The people refused to listen to Ether and he was cast out of their cities and hid in the rocks during the day and at night would come out to see the city that would be destroyed by the people's unbelief. Secret combinations killed many of the unrighteous unbelievers. Wars, beatings, and captivity abounded among the kings to the people and the sons to the fathers. There were many wars and much blood being shed.
In Ether 14, there was a curse upon the land because of the wickedness of the people and then there was much bloodshed and war. The entire chapter described war and death.
In Ether 15, 2 million of Coriantumr's people were killed in war. He remembered what Ether said about what would happen to the people if they didn't repent. The entire chapter describes graphic war, blood, and murder. In the end, Ether said he didn't care how he returned to God as long as he did.
Likening these Chapters Unto Me
When the Prophets warn I get to listen. Harship and pain is not always, but often a result of disobedience somehow and the consequences of not heeding the Commandments; it's a hard pill to swallow. I want to say on my death bed what Ether did.
In Ether 10, Shez who became King after the death of Heth during the famine rebuilt his broken people and served as a good King.
The King later on that took over was wealth hungry and did over tax the people, caused stress, and was not a good King. His name was Riplakish. He had concubines and many wives and was worldly. He built himself a throne and then he built many great and spacious buildings but taxed poor people and if they couldn't pay, created debtors prisons.
Kings reigned and died and others took their place. Levi and then Corom were good kings. This chapter reviews the genealogy of the Kings.
Ether 11 talks about how the Brother of Shiblon hated the messages of the Prophets and demanded that Prophets who taught the people repentance or destruction be put to death! The warnings of the Prophets started to come to pass with plagues, illnesses, famine and drought, etc.
The people started to repent but Shiblom was slayed. Kings after Shiblom were all wicked. Chapter 11 continues to describe the wars and wicked Kings and warnings of God for the non-repenting.
In Chapter 12, Ether the Prophet is introduced and he was a Prophet that taught the people that by faith, all things are fulfilled.
He taught in Ether 12:4, "4 Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.
In Ether12:7-9 it says, "7 For it was by faith that Christ showed himself unto our fathers, after he had risen from the dead; and he showed not himself unto them until after they had faith in him; wherefore, it must needs be that some had faith in him, for he showed himself not unto the world.
8 But because of the faith of men he has shown himself unto the world, and glorified the name of the Father, and prepared a way that thereby others might be partakers of the heavenly gift, that they might hope for those things which they have not seen.
9 Wherefore, ye may also have hope, and be partakers of the gift, if ye will but have faith.
In Ether 12:12 it says, "12 For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith.
Moroni shares in Chapter 12 how Faith affected all the Prophets.
Ether 12:27-28 says, "27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.
28 Behold, I will show unto the Gentiles their weakness, and I will show unto them that faith, hope and charity bringeth unto me—the fountain of all righteousness.
Likening These Chapters Unto Me
Chapter 12 Especially is one I will spend a few days on after I finish the Book of Mormon on Thursday. I want to spend extra time pondering these words of Moroni.
I was reminded how much I loved Ether 12 on my mission. It helped carry me through a really dark time when my lung collapsed, I was in the hospital alot, and had to go home early before being sent back out 3 months later from Nebraska to Utah where I finished another 6 months before going home for good.
Back then, there were not service missions that let Elders and Sisters finish near home while getting help for sicknesses. I still desire to serve a Service Mission locally in my Area. Someday maybe in the Lord's time this will be realized for me, maybe even with my husband.
"Greater Love" Music Video on Youtube (song written by Kenneth Cope)
In Ether Chapter 7, Orihah is reigning the people as a righteous king. He had 31 kids as King and 23 of them were boys. Kib was his son born in his old age and he took over the kingdom after his father died. Kib had a son named Corihor and he rebelled against his father Kib and took many people with him when he left for a place called Nehor. Corihor took his own father Kib, the king, and took him captive which is exactly what the brother of Jared said would happen. During this time King Kib had a son named Shule. Shule decided to make war weapons of Iron and get an army together to fight his own brother Corihor who took their father captive, and he went and rescued Kib. Because Shule rescued Kib, Kib gave him the Kingdom and had him rule as King in Nehor.
Corihor repented of his wrong doings and Shule gave him power in his Kingdom. Corihor had many sons and daughters. One of them was named Noah. Noah rebelled against Shule and Corihor and brought people with him to rebel against the King and Corihor. Even Cohor his brother went with him. He battled Shule, took his land, and then made him captive in Moron. Noah was gonna kill Shule, but Shule's sons broke in and rescued Shule and killed Noah. They placed Shule back on his own throne in his own Kingdom!
After Noah was killed, his son Cohor took over in his place and there began to be two kingdoms. Shule had a kingdom and Noah's son Cohor had a kingdom. Cohor told his people to battle and go after Shule's Kingdom but Shule had his people win the battle and kill Cohor. Cohor had a son named Nimrod and he gave up his Kingdom to Shule. This made Shule happy and Nimrod did whatever Shule asked of him in his Kingdom. Prophets came to Shule's Kingdom and taught them and cried repentance unto them telling them that if they didn't repent they would be destroyed.
Shule gave permission to the prophets to teach in all of his lands and the people began to repent and be righteous. Shule ruled all his days as a good King and the people were obedient and prospered.
depiction of Daughter of Jared and the Secret Combination Plot to Kill King Omer
Ether Chapter 8, it talks about Secret Combinations that following them will bring the downfall of the Jaredites. There are warnings for us today about Secret Combinations and how to recognize and avoid them. Moroni says to stand firm and protect ourselves and our families to be vigilant, recognize and examine our hearts, don't allow our hearts to be deceived, and always stay righteous.
We are encouraged to learn and recognize that we must choose to live righteously, even when it is hard! There were brothers of Jared that were angry at Him. They said that they would not kill Jared if Jared would give his kingdom to them.
Shule had a son named Omer and Omer had a son named Jared. Jared ended up rebelling against the King Omer. Jared battled his own father and made him a captive servant in his Kingdom. Ezrom and Coriantumr were brothers of this wicked guy Jared. They got upset at what he had done to their father Omer and went to war against him and his army at night. Jared got scared and begged them to give him his life, he would
give back his father and give his father back his Kingdom, if they would spare his life. The brothers agreed.
Jared was sad that he lost his stolen kingdom and the daughter of Jared noticed her wicked dad's sorrow and devised a plan. She would win the heart through dance, of a guy named Akish and this Akish guy would want to marry the daugher of Jared. He would ask what she wanted as a wedding gift and she would tell him she wants her own grandfather King Omer's head on a platter! Gross. What a wicked woman, but she also had learned and knew about Secret Combinations and it gave her the idea. They were all evil and swore on Satanic Oaths passed down from Cain. These oaths passed down by the Devil allowed evil people to have Power, commit wickedness, and whoredoms.
Ether 8:26 says, " Wherefore I, Moroni, am commanded to write these things that evil may be done away, and that the time may come that Satan may have no power over the hearts of the children of men, but that they may be persuaded to do good continually, that they may come unto the fountain of all righteousness, and be saved."
In Ether Chapter 9, Akish and his friends overthrew the Kingdom of King Omer and took it back but God was merciful to King Omer and his people and warned him in a dream to take his family, people and himself and flee which they did. Jared became a King through wickedness and gave his daughter to Akish. Akish was evil and killed Jared by beheading on his throne. This guy Akish was so evil that when he was jealous of his son he made him a prisoner and starved him to death. Akish had another son named Nimrah, and knew what his dad did to his brother and he was angry with him. He took a small group with him and they defected from Akish and went and lived with Omer and his people.
There were wars fought between Akish and his sons for a long time until Omer regained his rightful kingdom. Omer got old and gave the Kingdom to his son Emer. People under King Emer became strong and wealthy having grains, field, silks, and much livestock and animals (they even had cureloms and cumoms with their livestock! ha-ha I must google these creatures). Apparently, those beasts were as useful as the Elephant to the people, so I am assuming they were big.
Emer before he died named his son Coriantum as King and it said that he died having reigned in such righteousness that he saw the Son of Righteousness before he died. Coriantum reigned in goodness and built many mighty cities, but he had no children to leave his throne to in old age. Then when his first wife died at age 101, he remarried a young maid and they had many children. He lived to be 142 years old!
He died leaving the Kingdom to Com and Com had a son Heth. Heth became wicked and wanted to overthrow his own father, Com. Heth did kill King Com (haha King Com; sorry a bit of levity there). Anyways, Heth killed his father King Com. Prophets started to come teach the evil people under King Heth about their need to repent and the people would not listen. King Heth was putting the Prophets in Jail and dropped them in pits to be left to die.
There started to be a great drought and famine in the land. There were poisonous snakes, no rain, and the people were dying. When all of this was happening and they saw they were gonna perish, they began to repent. When the Lord saw their repentance he did bring on the rain which allowed for fruit trees to grow to feed the people and he kept them from dying further.
Likening these Chapters Unto Me
Wow! So much here guys. Okay, It really is simple. We need to heed the Prophets (remember Amos 3:7, "The Lord will do nothing save he revealeth his secrets to his servants, the Prophets) and we need to be guided to avoid Secret Combinations, evil doing, evil reading, evil media, evil print, evil ways, evil thoughts, anything that draws us away from Heavenly Father. This included but is not limited to what we watch, wear, eat, drink, entertain, study, read about, introduce in to our minds, and allow others to influence us with. I have these thoughts.
#1 I am 50 years old and not getting younger. I have decided after this Book of Mormon reading in 90 days and the deep dive I have done in to the Holy Spirit allowing me to be taught additional truths just for my life, that I no longer will allow things to enter in to my heart, mind, relationships, or life that I could not sit and do with Jesus there in person. If I can't feel comfortable discussing this with a Prophet or Apostle sitting in my living room, it won't be allowed into my life. That includes books, movies, Paranormal Stuff, Aliens, Rated R Movies, Word of Wisdom don'ts (including spirit of the law things like anything that I feel won't be good for me or could be addictive (like Sugar, diet colas, caffeine energy drinks, and only allow myself desert sparingly, like when we feed the missionaries). This is not a commandment thing for the world or these readers, but something I am being called to do just for me.
#2 In the same spirit as the above mentioned, I have decided that I will be listening to the Prophet more, read his words more, following his counsel more, read the conference talks to memorization, and that I will do what my friend Francis told me to do all of the time when he was alive, "Stay in the Word, Stace. If you do this, you will never ever be led astray". I have many friends that are way less "rigid" as they see me, in their approach to friends, movies, books, interests, etc. and this might make them uncomfortable to read these things I am committing to, but this is for me. I feel very strongly that this time the past 85 days has transformed my spirit and the fact that I was brought to this decision during a time where my body has been made to be ill and low causing me additional humility makes me realize this is not a coincidence. God's timing is perfect.
#3 God's timing is perfect which leads me to the third thing from these reflections today. There is a song from the Kenneth Cope called, "Greater Love" and it makes me think. I will post the lyrics of the song from the video above, at the end of this post tonight. Would I have been Jesus's disciple like Mary or Martha. Will I be ready when he comes again? I do believe that the Savior will come soon. I know that we have been hearing this since Antiquity. I do believe it's here. Am I too late? Will my Temple Blessings ever get restored? Who knows. What I do know is that Jesus Christ has the Final Say about redemption, not man. I don't get to question the decision making of my Leaders because they are inspired by God. I get to walk in Faith, NEVER again wavering. NEVER AGAIN! That means I WILL lose my relationships with people, I will lose sibling relationships, parent relationships, and maybe even the relationships of those closest to me as they choose not to follow the "Covenant Path". I have to be willing, like at no other time in my life, to be loyal to Christ over people, even family. It's time.
"Greater Love"
By Kenneth Cope
If I had been there at his trial, And watched as they mocked Israel's King, I wonder if I would have tried to turn their hearts to Him, If I had been there when they whipped him, And watched as he fell to his knees, Would I have been willing to offer my own life for Him, For His friends, how he bled His love for them was just as he said Greater love he showed the greatest love, of all
If I had been there at the hillside when they fastened his hands to the cross, I'm sure that my heart would have broken,
For His friends, For His friends, And that's me if I do what he said Would I give? Could I live my life like Jesus? Jesus
Well now, it's been years since his lifetime, But he and his love still remain, And all that I want is to be like him, He was all I hope to be, I would give my life to be, The kind of friend, Jesus was to me, Greater love. https://www.songlyrics.com/kenneth-cope/greater-love-lyrics/
Ether Chapter 3 talks about how The brother of Jared went to the Lord with 16 clear glass-like stones and asked the Lord to touch them so that they could be placed in their 8 vessels that would cross the sea otherwise in darkness. The Lord touched the stones with his finger and Jared's brother became afraid because he didn't know the Lord had a body. The Lord tells him that he sae him because of his faith then appeared to him fully as he announced that he is Jesus Christ.
They spoke, and Christ tells him that because he has a perfect knowledge of Christ now and not just faith belief without sight, that he would now have no veil between himself and the Lord. He also told him that he would not withhold anything from him.
Ether 4 talks about how Christ tells the brother of Jared that the things thst have been revealed to him he must wrote down but that those things will he hidden and will not come forward until the people have Christ return to the Nephites after his resurrection and ascension in to Heaven. Moroni knows there is noone left who believes who he can pass the records down to. Moroni buried them with 2 stones.
Ether 4:18-19 says, "18 Therefore, repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and believe in my gospel, and be baptized in my name; for he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned; and signs shall follow them that believe in my name.
19 And blessed is he that is found faithful unto my name at the last day, for he shall be lifted up to dwell in the kingdom prepared for him from the foundation of the world. And behold it is I that hath spoken it. Amen.
Likening These Words Unto Me
I really love how direct and guiding these verses are in Ether 4.
#1 Repent and come unto Christ
#2 Be Baptized
#3 If I believe in Christ, I am saved
#4 Those who do not believe will be damned
#5 Blessed are the faithful at the last day
#6 The faithful will dwell in a Kingdom Christ prepares for us.
In Ether Chapter 5, Moroni addresses that the record he has buried will come forward in the Latter Days to 3 Witnesses and that The Book of Mormon will Testify for itself of The truth of it.
In Chapter 6 of Ether, the Brother of Jared took the stones and placed 2 stones in each barge.
There was light as they were sealed tight and tossed at sea. The families sand and praised and prayed night and day. The Lord kept the winds strong to keep them going. The boats were sealed tightly so water didn't enter as they sometimes were brought below the surface as they traveled. The Lord kept them safe the entire 344 days that they were on the sea. The families were wanting a King even though The Brother of Jared and Jared and the other brothers refused to be a King. Orihah became King but he walked humbly with the Lord and was a good king.
