Book of Mormon Stories

“Lesson 42: Moroni and His Writings,” Primary 4: Book of Mormon, (1997),148

This lesson will help you understand how to choose good over evil so you may be blessed with charity, the pure love of Christ. Mormon's son Moroni was blessed with charity. In addition to finishing the record of the Nephites, Moroni also wrote a brief history of the Jaredites (see Lesson 40 and 41). Moroni also loved Christ so much that he refused to deny him even though doing so could have gotten him killed.

Read Mormon 8:2–6, Moroni 1, 7, and 8, and the thirteenth article of faith.

Moroni wrote that "the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil . . . [it is] the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ" (Moroni 7:15–18). The light of Christ is often called a person’s conscience.

Moroni also describes the qualities of charity in Moroni 7:45. Here is a list of quotes from this verse and their Meanings:

• Suffereth long - Is patient
• Kind - Not cruel or mean, loving
• Envieth not - Is not jealous
• Not puffed up - Humble, not proud
• Seeketh not her own - Is unselfish
• Not easily provoked - Slow to anger, quick to forgive
• Thinketh no evil - Is trusting, looks for the good
• Rejoiceth in truth - Is honest
• Beareth all things - Is obedient
• Believeth all things - Is faithful
• Hopeth all things - Is optimistic, trusting
• Endureth all things - Is patient, persistent

Moroni had the pure love of Christ. The following are examples of Moroni’s charity:

• Suffereth long - Moroni lived alone for over thirty-six years patiently keeping the records. (Mormon 8:5).
• Kind - Moroni prayed for us, and he loved his brethren (Ether 12:36, 38).
• Envieth not - Moroni saw our day and counseled us to not be envious or proud (Mormon 8:35–37).
• Not puffed up - Moroni was humble because of his weakness in writing (Ether 12:23–25).
• Seeketh not her own - Moroni unselfishly worked and prayed for us that we would have a knowledge of Jesus Christ. (Mormon 9:36; Ether 12:41).
• Not easily provoked - Moroni forgave his enemies and worked hard to write things that he hoped would be of worth to them (Moroni 1:4).
• Thinketh no evil - Moroni exhorted us to hold to good and touch not evil (Moroni 10:30).
• Rejoiceth in truth - Moroni was honest (Moroni 10:27).
• Beareth all things - Because Moroni would not deny Jesus Christ, he had to wander alone for his safety (Moroni 1:2–3).
• Believeth all things - Moroni encouraged us to believe in Jesus Christ (Mormon 9:21). So great was Moroni’s faith that he was able to see Christ face to face (Ether 12:39).
• Hopeth all things - Moroni understood the importance of hope (Ether 12:32).
• Endureth all things - Moroni was faithful to the end. (Moroni 10:34).

We can gain the pure love of Christ (charity) through prayer "unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ . . . we shall see him as he is . . . that we may be purified even as he is pure" (Moroni 7:48).

With continual work, faith, and prayer we can, little by little, become more like Christ just as Moroni promised.

Labels: Book of Mormon, Charity, Lesson 42, Moroni