“Moroni Prays for Grace and Charity”

Monte S. Nyman

Because of the grace of God, men may obtain charity. Grace is a gift from God. Mormon, in his great sermon, admonished his people to pray for charity (Moroni 7:48). At this time Moroni prays for the Lord to give the gift of charity to the Gentiles (Ether 12:36). When Joseph and Hyrum Smith went to Carthage to deliver themselves “up to the pretended requirements of the law… . The same morning, after Hyrum had made ready to go—shall it be said to the slaughter? yes, for so it was—he read the following paragraph, near the close of the twelfth chapter of Ether [v. 36] , in the Book of Mormon, and turned down the leaf upon it” (D&C 135:4–5). Certainly this act exemplifies that Joseph and Hyrum had charity.

The Lord telling Moroni that it doesn’t matter to him whether the Gentiles obtain charity (v. 37) is not saying that it is none of Moroni’s business. He is saying that obtaining charity is an individual or personal choice. Moroni made the right choices and the Lord assures him that he will have his place in the mansions of the Father. He would be made strong through the gift of the grace, because he had humbled himself and turned to the Lord (v. 37). As Mormon said, we shall be like Christ when Christ appears. We will be purified if we have met the conditions of receiving the gift of charity (see Moroni 7:48). Moroni met those conditions. He made his calling and election sure (see 2 Peter 1:10). He had seen Jesus and talked with him face to face (Ether 12:39). It was Moroni’s “privilege to receive the [second] Comforter” (TPJS, 150). We will all see Moroni at the judgment seat of Christ (see Moroni 10:34), and will know that Moroni had magnified his priesthood to the degree that our blood was not upon his garments (Ether 12:38; cp. 2 Nephi 9:44; Jacob 1:19).

Moroni apologizes again for his weakness in writing. While this illustrates his humility, it was unnecessary for he had made the requirements for seeing Jesus clear (Ether 12:40). By commending us to see Jesus, he is saying the effort is worth it. If we want more than his witness, the Prophets and Apostles have likewise directed us to seek Jesus. If we will seek him, we will, through the grace of God, have the free gift of the Atonement and the eternal companionship of the Holy Ghost (v. 41). President Ezra Taft Benson, after quoting this verse, commented: “And God has provided the means—the holy scriptures, particularly the Book of Mormon—that all who seek may know that Jesus is the Christ” May we put forth that effort and attain it.

Book of Mormon Commentary: I Mormon Make a Record

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