I Would Write if I Had Room Upon the Plates but I Have Not and Ore I Have None

Bryan Richards

Initially, Moroni’s record was limited by the amount of room left on the plates of Mormon. We are reminded of the words of Amaleki, who ran out of room while working on the small plates of Nephi. He said, these plates are full. And I make an end of my speaking (Omni 1:30). In contrast, to Amaleki, Moroni would return to record more. By the time Moroni begins abridging the record of the Jaredites and adds his own record, he is no longer limited by the amount of room left on the plates. He must have made more plates, like Nephi before him, I did make plates of ore that I might engraven upon them the record of my people (1 Nephi 19:1).

Gordon B. Hinckley

"While wandering as a lonely fugitive, Moroni added to his father’s record. His words ring with pathos: ’I would write … if I had room upon the plates, but I have not; and ore I have none, for I am alone. My father hath been slain in battle, and all my kinsfolk, and I have not friends nor whither to go. … And behold, the Lamanites have hunted my people, the Nephites, down from city to city and from place to place, even until they are no more; and great has been their fall; yea, great and marvelous is the destruction of my people, the Nephites.’ (Mormon 8:5, 7.)
“Who can sense the depth of his pain, the poignant loneliness that constantly overshadowed him as he moved about, a fugitive relentlessly hunted by his enemies? For how long he actually was alone we do not know, but the record would indicate that it was for a considerable period. His conversation was prayer to the Lord. His companion was the Holy Spirit. There were occasions when the Three Nephites ministered to him. But with all of this, there is an element of terrible tragedy in the life of this man who became a lonely wanderer.” (Heroes From the Book of Mormon, p. 197)

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