Consider the devoted labors and heartfelt concern of Mormon. Under the inspiration of God he scours the records of the people and extracts the wisdom and truth that will recapture the essence of God’s message for future readers. He observes with sorrow the sufferings of both the wicked and the innocent. He notes the transcendent joy of those who experience the mighty change of heart and come unto Christ. He wants his readers to learn the lessons of faith, repentance, obedience, humility, and a willingness to press forward in the strength of the Lord. Mormon writes at a time when the Nephite nation is in the throes of extinction. Although his heart must be filled with anguish over the fate of his own people, he nevertheless bears solemn witness to us—his readers of the latter days—that iniquity leads to misery and destruction and that righteousness leads to happiness: “And thus we see the great call of diligence of men to labor in the vineyards of the Lord; and thus we see the great reason of sorrow, and also of rejoicing—sorrow because of death and destruction among men, and joy because of the light of Christ unto life” (verse 14). Are we ready to accept Mormon’s message and conduct our lives in accordance with the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ?