Book of Mormon Sunday II- Moroni 9-10

   I have finished the Book of Mormon again, this time searching for accounts of how the strength of the Lord empowers men and women to do as they are commanded. Mormon, who writes a last letter to his son, Moroni, gives a perfect example. He could be technically in deep despair at the wars and destruction of his people, he is deeply sad, but not in despair because of strength of the Lord.

   Moroni 9: 25..."but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever."

   And why does Christ give us his strength? Because he is a merciful God and wishes us to be one with Him, and with our Heavenly Father.

    Moroni 10:3"ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts."

  When we receive His strength it is important not to deny that power. How might we deny His power? Perhaps one way is to deny that we ourselves are good enough to receive power. If we do not seek after it and lay hold upon it, it is the same as saying, "a prophet may have power from God, but not me". 

   Moroni 10:7 "And ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever."

   Moroni would not exhort us, that is a dynamic word, exhort us, to seek after gifts of the spirit if they were not available to all followers of Christ.

   Moroni 10:18 "And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that every good gift cometh of Christ."

   We can not, in and if ourselves do good. Power for righteous actions always comes through the strength of the Lord.

   Moroni 10:24 "And now I speak unto all the ends of the earth -- that if the day cometh that the power and gifts of God shall be done away among you, it shall be because of unbelief. And wo be unto the children of men if this be the case; for there shall be none that doeth good among you, no not one. For if there be one among you that doeth good, he shall work by the power and gifts of God."

  In the end of the last chapter, Moroni ask us to deny ourselves ungodliness. I always read that as doing away with my sins. But perhaps it includes seeking less than what God offers us. 

    Moroni 10:32 "Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God."

   Wanting Christ and having faith in his Grace should be what motivates me to be what He can make of me.

  In review, here is a list of examples of mortal beings receiving the strength of the Lord in my reading of the Book of Mormon:

   The Atonement of Jesus Christ gives:

Mighty power unto deliverance from physical and spiritual bondage

Physical and Spiritual Power to do God's will

Power to receive insight and revelation about things as they were and as they are, and as they will be.

Guidance to proceed through our trials

Ability to see God's love in our lives

Freedom to Act and Not be acted upon

Power to make us clean and sanctified
Hope in the future, for us, and for our ancestors, and our posterity

Power into our soul to combat anti-Christian philosophy

Remission of sins and power to be free of the guilt

Power to affect the spiritual lives of our ancestors and our posterity

Strength through his name which we take upon us

Strength to exceed the strength we apply to seeking and calling upon him

Power to the Holy Ghost to enter our open hearts and make a mighty change

Grace to enable men and women to come into alignment with Him

Deliverance from burdens, even those given by God himself

Strength to missionaries because of the goodness of God's people

Angels commissions to talk to mortals

Power to heal

Power to lift us, upon his name

Strength against our enemies in battle

Strength to keep covenants

Grace for Grace

Power to walk the "more excellent way" of Christ
Power to change our circumstances
Miracles, peace, and amazing joy
Power to magnify
The Holy Ghost

The power of The Priesthood

Spiritual gifts for the benefit of all

"It is the Atonement of Jesus Christ that provides both a cleansing and redeeming power that helps us to overcome sin and a sanctifying and strengthening power that helps us to become better than we ever could by relying only upon our own strength. The Infinite Atonement is both for the sinner and the saint in each of us." Elder David A. Bednar