Moroni 7

Our Lord Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ — Jesus (Jehovah saves), Christ (the Anointed One)

And now I, Mormon, speak unto you, my beloved brethren; and it is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, and his holy will, because of the gift of his calling unto me, that I am permitted to speak unto you at this time. Moroni 7:2

Mormon says he speaks by the grace of the Father and of the Lord Jesus Christ, naming the Father and the Son as distinct.

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

• the same title in Moroni 9:26 — Mormon's closing blessing in the grace of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Peaceable followers of Christ

Wherefore, I would speak unto you that are of the church, that are the peaceable followers of Christ, and that have obtained a sufficient hope by which ye can enter into the rest of the Lord, from this time henceforth until ye shall rest with him in heaven. Moroni 7:3

True disciples are peaceable followers of Christ whose hope lets them enter the Lord's rest now and rest with Him in heaven later.

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 Alma 13:12 — Those sanctified enter into the rest of the Lord their God.
• alludes to Matthew 11:28-29 — Jesus: come unto me and I will give you rest.

Christ's words quoted

For I remember the word of God which saith by their works ye shall know them; for if their works be good, then they are good also. Moroni 7:5

The "word of God" Mormon remembers is the Savior's teaching from His sermon: by their fruits (works) ye shall know them.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to 3 Nephi 14:20 — Christ to the Nephites: by their fruits ye shall know them.
• alludes to Matthew 7:20 — Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.

Follow Christ

For behold, a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water; neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter water; wherefore, a man being a servant of the devil cannot follow Christ; and if he follow Christ he cannot be a servant of the devil. Moroni 7:11

No one can serve the devil and follow Christ at the same time; discipleship is a choice of masters.

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

• alludes to Matthew 6:24 — Jesus: no man can serve two masters.

Spirit of Christ / Light of Christ

For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God. Moroni 7:16–17

Every person is born with the Spirit of Christ, a conscience that helps them tell good from evil. Whatever invites us to do good and believe in Christ comes from Him; whatever leads us to deny Him comes from the devil.

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

• alludes to John 1:9 — The true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
• alludes to D&C 84:46 — The Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world.
• the same title in Moroni 10:17 — All spiritual gifts come by the Spirit of Christ.

Light of Christ; child of Christ

And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged. Moroni 7:18–19

Mormon names the light we judge by: the light of Christ. Those who search by it and hold on to every good thing become children of Christ.

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

• alludes to John 8:12 — Jesus: I am the light of the world.
• alludes to Mosiah 5:7 — Ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters.

The coming of Christ foretold

For behold, God knowing all things, being from everlasting to everlasting, behold, he sent angels to minister unto the children of men, to make manifest concerning the coming of Christ; and in Christ there should come every good thing. Moroni 7:22–23

From the beginning God sent angels and spoke to prophets to announce that Christ would come, because every good thing comes through Him.

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

• alludes to Jacob 7:11 — None of the prophets have written or prophesied save they have spoken concerning this Christ.
• alludes to Mosiah 3:2-5 — An angel makes known to King Benjamin the coming of Christ.
• alludes to Mosiah 13:33 — Moses and all the prophets prophesied of the coming of the Messiah.

Faith in Christ before His coming

And behold, there were divers ways that he did manifest things unto the children of men, which were good; and all things which are good cometh of Christ; otherwise men were fallen, and there could no good thing come unto them. Moroni 7:24–25

Without Christ, fallen people could receive nothing good. Even before He was born, people exercised faith in Christ and so received every good thing.

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

• alludes to Jarom 1:11 — The Nephites were taught to believe in the Messiah who should come as though He already was.
• alludes to Moroni 10:18 — Every good gift cometh of Christ.

Christ's promise on prayer; Christ liveth

And after that he came men also were saved by faith in his name; and by faith, they become the sons of God. And as surely as Christ liveth he spake these words unto our fathers, saying: Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is good, in faith believing that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you. Moroni 7:26

Mormon swears by the living Christ and quotes the promise He gave the Nephites: ask the Father in His name, in faith, for what is good, and it will be done.

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

• quotes 3 Nephi 18:20 — Christ: whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you.
• alludes to John 1:12 — To them that believe on His name He gave power to become the sons of God.

Ascended to the right hand of God

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased because Christ hath ascended into heaven, and hath sat down on the right hand of God, to claim of the Father his rights of mercy which he hath upon the children of men? Moroni 7:27

The risen Christ has ascended and sits at the Father's right hand, where He claims mercy for us because He paid for it.

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

• alludes to Mosiah 15:8-9 — Having ascended into heaven, having the bowels of mercy... standing betwixt them and justice.
• alludes to Mark 16:19 — He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

Advocate

Advocate — one who pleads another's cause

For he hath answered the ends of the law, and he claimeth all those who have faith in him; and they who have faith in him will cleave unto every good thing; wherefore he advocateth the cause of the children of men; and he dwelleth eternally in the heavens. Moroni 7:28

Christ satisfied the demands of the law and now claims everyone who has faith in Him, pleading our cause before the Father like a defender in court.

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

• alludes to 2 Nephi 2:7 — He offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law.
• the same title in D&C 45:3-5 — Christ as advocate with the Father pleading for those who believe.
• the same title in 1 John 2:1 — We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Angels subject to Christ declare His word

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. Moroni 7:30–32

Angels still serve under Christ's command, bringing His word to chosen prophets so they can testify of Him and others can come to faith in Christ.

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

• alludes to Alma 32:23 — God imparteth his word by angels unto men, women, and children.
• alludes to 1 Peter 3:22 — Angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

Christ's promise of power through faith

And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me. Moroni 7:33

Mormon quotes Christ's promise: faith in Him gives power to do whatever He sees as needed.

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

• a parallel account in Moroni 10:23 — Moroni quotes the same saying of Christ.

Doctrine of Christ

And he hath said: Repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, and have faith in me, that ye may be saved. Moroni 7:34

In Christ's own words: repent, come to Him, be baptized in His name, and have faith in Him to be saved. This is His doctrine for the whole world.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• quotes 3 Nephi 27:20 — Christ: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name.
• alludes to 3 Nephi 11:32-34 — Christ declares His doctrine of faith, repentance, and baptism.

Faith in His name; redemption

For no man can be saved, according to the words of Christ, save they shall have faith in his name; wherefore, if these things have ceased, then has faith ceased also; and awful is the state of man, for they are as though there had been no redemption made. Moroni 7:38–39

Salvation requires faith in Christ's name; without faith it is as if He had never redeemed us. The church is His, and belonging to it requires faith in Him.

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

• alludes to Mosiah 3:17 — No other name nor means whereby salvation can come, only in and through the name of Christ.

Atonement and Resurrection of Christ

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. Moroni 7:41

Real hope is specific: hope in Christ's Atonement and the power of His Resurrection to raise us to eternal life.

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

• alludes to Alma 27:28 — The people of Ammon looked forward to the resurrection through the atonement of Christ.
• alludes to Ether 12:4 — Hope for a better world, which hope cometh of faith, making an anchor to the souls of men.

Power of His resurrection

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. Moroni 7:41

Because Christ rose, He has power to raise us too.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alludes to Alma 11:42-44 — The death of Christ shall loose the bands of death, and all shall be raised.
• alludes to Philippians 3:10 — That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection.

Jesus is the Christ

Christ — the Anointed One

If so, his faith and hope is vain, for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity. Moroni 7:44

The Holy Ghost is the power by which a meek person can truly confess that Jesus is the Christ, and such a person must also have charity.

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

• alludes to 1 Corinthians 12:3 — No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
• alludes to 2 Nephi 26:12 — Convincing the Gentiles that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God.

Charity — the pure love of Christ

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. Moroni 7:47

Charity is defined as Christ's pure love: the love He has for us and the love for others that He gives to His followers. It never ends.

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

• alludes to Ether 12:33-34 — Moroni: the love the Lord had for the children of men, laying down His life, is charity.
• alludes to John 15:13 — Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

When He shall appear we shall be like Him

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray 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; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen. Moroni 7:48

The Father gives charity to true followers of His Son Jesus Christ so that when Christ appears we will be like Him, see Him as He is, and be pure as He is pure.

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

• quotes 1 John 3:2-3 — When he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is... purifieth himself, even as he is pure.