Moroni 10

Sign of the coming of Christ

Now I, Moroni, write somewhat as seemeth me good; and I write unto my brethren, the Lamanites; and I would that they should know that more than four hundred and twenty years have passed away since the sign was given of the coming of Christ. Moroni 10:1

Moroni dates his final words from the sign of Christ's birth, the night without darkness in the Americas.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• the same event in 3 Nephi 1:15-21 — The sign of Christ's birth is given: a day, a night, and a day without darkness and a new star.
• alludes to Helaman 14:3-5 — Samuel the Lamanite prophesies the sign.

The Lord

Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that 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. Moroni 10:3

The merciful Lord who has dealt with mankind from Adam onward is, in Book of Mormon usage, the Lord Jehovah whom Moroni names at the end of this chapter.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Moroni 10:34 — Moroni names the Lord as the great Jehovah.

Ask in the name of Christ, with faith in Christ

And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. Moroni 10:4

Moroni's promise works through Christ: we ask the Father in Christ's name and with faith in Christ, and the Holy Ghost reveals the truth of the Book of Mormon.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to 3 Nephi 18:20 — Christ promises that what is asked of the Father in His name, believing, will be given.
• alludes to James 1:5-6 — Ask of God in faith.

Know that He is — the Christ

Christ — the Anointed One

And whatsoever thing is good is just and true; wherefore, nothing that is good denieth the Christ, but acknowledgeth that he is. Moroni 10:6–7

Everything good acknowledges that Christ lives, and the Holy Ghost can give each person a sure witness that He is.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Moroni 7:16 — Whatever persuades to believe in Christ is of God.
• alludes to Moroni 1:3 — Moroni will not deny the Christ.
• alludes to 1 Corinthians 12:3 — No man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost.

Every good gift cometh of Christ

And all these gifts come by the Spirit of Christ; and they come unto every man severally, according as he will. Moroni 10:17–18

All spiritual gifts, from wisdom to tongues, come through the Spirit of Christ; every good gift comes from Him.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to James 1:17 — Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.
• alludes to Moroni 7:24 — All things which are good cometh of Christ.
• a parallel account in D&C 46:11-26 — A latter-day list of the gifts of the Spirit.

The same yesterday, today, and forever

And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that he is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that all these gifts of which I have spoken, which are spiritual, never will be done away, even as long as the world shall stand, only according to the unbelief of the children of men. Moroni 10:19

"He" is Christ from the verse before: He never changes, so His gifts are not taken away except through unbelief.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Hebrews 13:8 — Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
• alludes to 2 Nephi 27:23 — I am the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Christ's promise of power through faith

And Christ truly said unto our fathers: If ye have faith ye can do all things which are expedient unto me. Moroni 10:23

Moroni quotes Christ's promise to the Nephites that faith brings power to do all that He wants done.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• a parallel account in Moroni 7:33 — Mormon quotes the same saying of Christ.

According to the words of Christ

And wo unto them who shall do these things away and die, for they die in their sins, and they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God; and I speak it according to the words of Christ; and I lie not. Moroni 10:26

Moroni's warning rests on Christ's own words about dying in sin.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to John 8:24 — Jesus: if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

The Lord God at the bar of judgment

And I exhort you to remember these things; for the time speedily cometh that ye shall know that I lie not, for ye shall see me at the bar of God; and the Lord God will say unto you: Did I not declare my words unto you, which were written by this man, like as one crying from the dead, yea, even as one speaking out of the dust? Moroni 10:27

At the Judgment the Lord God will ask whether we heeded the words He gave through Moroni. Verse 34 identifies this bar as the bar of the great Jehovah, the premortal and eternal Christ.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Isaiah 29:4 — Thy speech shall be low out of the dust... whisper out of the dust.
• alludes to 2 Nephi 33:11 — Nephi: Christ will show at the last day that these words are His words.
• alludes to Moroni 10:34 — The bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge.

Come unto Christ

And again I would exhort you that ye would come unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift, and touch not the evil gift, nor the unclean thing. Moroni 10:30

Moroni's final invitation is to come to Christ and take hold of every good gift He offers.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Omni 1:26 — Come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and offer your whole souls.
• alludes to Moroni 7:19 — Lay hold upon every good thing.

Perfected in Christ by His grace

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. Moroni 10:32

We cannot perfect ourselves; when we deny ourselves of ungodliness and love God fully, Christ's grace is enough to make us perfect in Him.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Ether 12:27 — My grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me.
• alludes to 2 Nephi 25:23 — It is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.
• alludes to D&C 76:69 — Just men made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.

Sanctified through the shedding of the blood of Christ

And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot. Moroni 10:33

Christ's shed blood, offered within the Father's covenant, cleanses and sanctifies us so we become holy and spotless.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to D&C 76:69 — Wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood.
• alludes to 3 Nephi 27:19-20 — No unclean thing enters His kingdom; those washed in His blood are sanctified.
• alludes to 1 Peter 1:19 — The precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

The great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge

Jehovah — the covenant name, "I AM" / the Eternal One; Judge of quick and dead — Judge of the living and the dead

And now I bid unto all, farewell. I soon go to rest in the paradise of God, until my spirit and body shall again reunite, and I am brought forth triumphant through the air, to meet you before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge of both quick and dead. Amen. Moroni 10:34

The Book of Mormon's last words name Jehovah as the Eternal Judge. Since the Father has committed all judgment to the Son, this is Jesus Christ, the God of the Old Testament, before whom all will stand.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same title in 2 Timothy 4:1 — The Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead.
• the same title in Acts 10:42 — Jesus ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
• alludes to John 5:22 — The Father hath committed all judgment unto the Son.
• alludes to Enos 1:27 — Enos also looks to stand before the pleasing bar of God.
• alludes to Moroni 8:21 — The judgment-seat of Christ.