More Moroni 10

Continuing on with my reading of Moroni 10, today I want to turn my attention to the promise that Moroni gives to those who read the Book of Mormon. We'll begin with verse 2: “And I seal up these records, after I have spoken a few words by way of exhortation unto you.” The key verb in this section comes from this idea of exhorting, and I find it a great concept; it's not as strong as a commandment, but it's more forceful than a suggestion. It's essentially what we do in raising our children; we exhort them to do certain things, things that we know will bless their lives.

Now we get to the crux of the chapter, verses 3-5. One of the first things that stands out to be here is how Moroni sets up this challenge. The first thing we ought to do upon encountering the text of the Book of Mormon is to remember how merciful God has been to His children throughout human history.

My assertion is that the Book of Mormon is all about God's mercy (I'll blog about 1 Nephi 1:20—the thesis statement of the Book of Mormon—sometime, but note in that verse the emphasis on God's mercy in delivering those who exercise faith), so this is perfectly in keeping with that idea. The only reason we have revealed truth, in the form of scripture, living prophets, or the whisperings of the spirit, is because God loves us enough to give us guidance to help us live happily and return to Him.

Then we get to our role in this process. Once we have read and reflected on the text, we are to pray to know if what we have read is true. I find it important here the manner in which we are to pray: sincerely, with real intent, with faith. When we seek answers to prayers, we need these three elements. In fact, any time we want to accomplish something significant, we need these things.

Finally, the promise itself: if we remember God's mercy and pray well, we will receive a confirmation of what we have asked. I am impressed by the certainty of verse 4: God will manifest the truth. It's easy to hedge on this matter and say we can receive an answer to our prayers, but Moroni is more direct—we will receive a witness of the truth.

And, like all profound and meaningful knowledge, this comes through the power of the Holy Ghost. Anything worth learning in life contains in it an element of divine power. When a complicated scientific or mathematical concept has finally made sense to me, I have felt qualitatively the same feeling as when I have gained a testimony of the gospel; it's not as powerful, but it's the same process of knowing beyond the plane of my own understanding.

That, then, it what I think Moroni means in verse 5: “by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.” I take that very literally—we can, by following what Moroni tells us, know the truth of every gospel principle, every commandment and guideline we receive from God and prophets, and every other kind of truth—including what we would consider secular knowledge.