Moroni 7:19-21

Brant Gardner

Verse 19 is another common transition in Mormon’s writings. He gives a statement that concludes his previous argument and uses it to launch the next topic. In this case, Mormon has taught that we should judge, and that we can judge, that which is good. Now, the question becomes how we “will lay hold upon every good thing.” This is not a question of where to find the good, but rather how to incorporate the good into our lives. The “lay hold” wording becomes a statement of action, a statement of doing. It is not “Where do we learn?”, but “How to do we become, how do we do good?

The answer, for Mormon, lies in the nature of faith. It will not be surprising to learn that Mormon sees “faith”, in his language, as more of an action verb, more so than does the English language. Some other languages (such as Greek of the New Testament) have a verb “to faith.” English does not. That English lacks this verb only means that we (as perhaps primarily English speakers) need to learn how to see faith in action, in spite of a limited vocabulary.

Book of Mormon Minute

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