Book of Mormon Sunday II- Moroni 1-7

   I can imagine that the people coming together for church meetings in Mormon's time were in great need of words of encouragement. Surely the enabling power of the atonement sustained these faithful few. Moroni makes this comment about the spirit among the peaceful followers of Christ.

   Moroni 6:9 "And their meetings were conducted by the church after the manner of the workings of the Spirit, and by the power of the Holy Ghost; for as the power of the Holy Ghost led them whether to preach, or to exhort, or to pray, or to supplicate, or to sing, even so it was done."

  Moroni gives us the words to a sermon by his father Mormon who was speaking to a congregation. One topic he speaks about is our ability to choose good over evil. In his day, war was an everyday evil threatening their inner peace. So the following question was for them, and is for us a viable question. How do we lay hold on every good thing? 

   Moroni 7:25 "Wherefore, by the ministering of angels, and by every word which proceeded forth out of the mouth of God, men began to exercise faith in Christ; and thus by faith, they did lay hold upon every good thing; and thus it was until the coming of Christ." 

  So we lay hold on every good thing by relying on the atonement of Jesus Christ.  I assume the scriptures about Christ's coming were available to Mormon's congregation because his next question perhaps addresses the people's waning hope in Christ. Have miracles ceased since Jesus Christ ascended unto heaven?

  Mormon 7:29 "And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men. For behold, they are subject unto him, to minister according to the word of his command, showing themselves unto them of strong faith and a firm mind in every form of godliness."

   The miracles of God speaking to man have not ceased. Every day that I pray, I marvel at the ability that  I, a mere mortal, have to address my concerns unto a Heavenly Being and I marvel that he answers me, according to my needs.

  Moroni 7:40 "And again, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto you concerning hope. How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save ye shall have hope? And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise. Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope."

  If I could use Mormon's teachings as a daily meditation, I would imagine breathing in hope and exhaling faith in Jesus Christ. This breath then would become a living vehicle to acting with charity as a natural result of the life force within me of hope and faith. This sounds a bit esoteric but these ideas must become more than concepts, they must become our foundation in mind and body.

  Moroni 7:46 "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail --But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him."

 As Moroni closes the Book of Mormon he is the only Nephite clinging to his faith in Jesus Christ. His hope is then in those who will read his words and be found with the charity to seek after God and desire Him for himself and for others.