Moroni Finishes His Record, Part 2

Ether taught the people "of all things," and made clear all things from the beginning of man (Ether 13:2).  He taught the people that after this land had been baptized it became "a choice land above all other lands" (ibid.).  The Lord requires the inhabitants of this land to serve him, or be swept off and replaced by another people (ibid.).  

What is "this land" from and about which Ether spake and Moroni wrote?  These two prophets were separated by over a thousand years and yet appear to be writing from the same land.  Where is "this land?" 

"And that [this land] was the place of the New Jerusalem, which should come down out of heaven, and the holy sanctuary of the Lord" (Ether 13:3).

"This land" is the place of the New Jerusalem.  This new Jerusalem is to come down out of heaven.  In spite of the meso-American insistence of many scholars and leaders as a setting for the Book of Mormon, where is it that the Lord taught the New Jerusalem is to be built?  Why the disparity? 

Ether had seen in vision the time of Christ and the Jerusalem from which Lehi came, and a future time when a different, new Jerusalem would be built upon "this land" (Ether 13:4-5).  He explained that the Jerusalem of Christ and of Lehi should be built up again, and "become a holy city of the Lord" (ibid.).  The New Jerusalem will be built up "upon this land, unto the remnant of the seed of Joseph" (Ether 13:6).

"For as Joseph brought his father down into the land of Egypt, even so he died there, wherefore, the Lord brought a remnant of the seed of Joseph out of the land of Jerusalem, that he might be merciful unto the seed of Joseph that they should perish not, even as he was merciful unto the father of Joseph that he should perish not.

"Wherefore, the remnant of the house of Joseph shall be built upon this land; and it shall be a land of their inheritance; and they shall build up a holy city unto the Lord, like unto the Jerusalem of old; and they shall no more be confounded, until the end come when the earth shall pass away" (Ether 13:7-8).

The story of Joseph in bringing his father Israel out of Jerusalem into Egypt is a type of that which was to occur in the last days.  In mercy, the Lord brought "a remnant of the seed of Joseph" out of the land of Jerusalem to this land (typified by Egypt).  They have been scattered and trodden under foot, but not utterly destroyed.  It is upon this land that they have been "confounded."  They shall yet inherit this land, which is a land of their inheritance.  When they do, the Gentiles will be trodden under foot (3 Ne. 16:15).  The remnant will begin building the new Jerusalem where they "shall no more be confounded, until the end come when the earth shall pass away."

"And there shall be a new heaven and a new earth; and they shall be like unto the old save the old have passed away, and all things have become new" (Ether 13:9).

After all things have become new, "then cometh the New Jerusalem" (Ether 13:10).  The Lord will bring again Zion, and "blessed are they who dwell therein" (ibid.).  Those who are this city's inhabitants are those whose garments are white through the blood of the Lamb.  Repentant Gentiles will be numbered among the group (3 Ne. 16:13).  Then cometh the Jerusalem of old, whose inhabitants are also clean (Ether 13:11).

"And when these things come, bringeth to pass the scripture which saith, there are they who were first, who shall be last; and there are they who were last, who shall be first" (Ether 13:12).

Why is Moroni forbidden to write more at this point (Ether 13:13)?  The fact that the Lord instructed Moroni to not go any further than he already had invites inquiry.  For, he was "about to write more," but was forbidden.  

This indicates that the pattern of successive events laid out by Moroni in Ether 13:1-12 is very much worth our attention.  It means that the teachings of this prophet Ether were indeed "great and marvelous" (ibid.).  How is it then, that the people "esteemed him as naught, and cast him out"?   

Moroni Finishes His Record

"And now I, Moroni, proceed to finish my record concerning the destruction of the people of whom I have been writing" (Ether 13:1).

Moroni has just bid farewell to his latter-day Gentile readers (Ether 12:38).  When Moroni finishes his record "concerning the destruction of the people of whom" he'd been writing, he brings a number of other things to our attention.  He knows his readers well and wrote that which would benefit their souls.  We should not overlook his message.  He does not draw his conclusions for his own sake, but for ours.  

"For behold, they rejected all the words of Ether; for he truly told them of all things, from the beginning of man; and that after the waters had receded from off the face of this land it became a choice land above all other lands, a chosen land of the Lord; wherefore the Lord would have that all men should serve him who dwell upon the face thereof;" (Ether 13:2).

Why does Moroni begin with the words "For behold..."?  How do the words "for behold" tie the previous verse to the ideas he's about to put forth?  "For behold," the Jaredites rejected all the words of Ether (Ether 13:2).  Who was Ether (Ether 12:2-5)?  Why is it significant that the people rejected his words?  And what does that have to do with their destruction (Ether 13:1)?  Why does Moroni choose to make this point for our sake?  Have we had someone like Ether among us?  Someone like the brother of Jared?

Joseph Smith's message, which he received from God, was intended to fix the mess the Christian world had gotten itself into over centuries of unbelief.  How different are we from the Christian world today?  Are we the same as other Christians, just as the I'm a Mormon campaign tries to make us out to be?  How are we different?  It's been almost 200 years since this prophet was among us.  How well have we taken to heart his message?  

Are we warned today, as the Jaredites were by this prophet Ether, of the need to repent lest we be destroyed?  By whom?  That appears to be the very reason Moroni has included this warning in the text.  It is for our benefit and warning.  We must believe it was put there to teach us something.  If Moroni chose carefully which texts he would include in the Book of Mormon for our sake, we must ask ourselves what we can learn about ourselves from what he is sharing.  Do we find ourselves in a similar dilemma to what the Jaredites faced? Do we run the risk of rejecting the words of a prophet of God?

The record of the Jaredites begins with two prophet leaders - brothers - and their families; the brother of Jared being the mighty seer.  They both die (Ether 6:29).  Generations pass and the people are in need of repentance.  Some of their kings have been good men, and others not.  The Lord finally sends Ether among them, declaring repentance lest they be destroyed (Ether 12:3).  He "truly told them of all things" (Ether 13:2).  He prophesied unto them many great and marvelous things, but the people did not believe him (Ether 12:5).  

The Last Mention Of Gentiles

In giving to us the record of the Jaredites, Moroni left behind a record of invitation and warning.  

The history of the Jaredites began with a prophet who conversed with the Lord through the veil, entered his presence, and was given the vision of all (Ether 3:25).  He received these blessings because of his faith and because of his knowledge (Ether 2:15, 19-20; 12:20-21).  The story begins with intimate contact between God and man, and degrades over time to secret combinations, conspiracy, politics, envy, and wars.  It is reminiscent of our day.

Moroni's inserted warnings to the latter-day Gentiles throughout the Book of Ether are, in fact, the last time the Gentiles are mentioned in the Book of Mormon.  He finishes his warnings by saying this:

"And now I, Moroni, bid farewell unto the Gentiles...until we shall meet before the judgment-seat of Christ, where all men shall now that my garments are not spotted with your blood.

"And then shall ye know that I have seen Jesus, and that he hath talked with me face to face, and that he told me in plain humility, even as a man telleth another in mine own language, concerning these things;

"And now, I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and abide in you forever.  Amen."

"And now I, Moroni, proceed to finish my record concerning the destruction of the people of whom I have been writing..." (Ether 12:38-39, 41; 13:1).

Moroni was a true prophet.  He knew Christ.  He wrote about other men who knew Christ.  He saw our day (Mormon 8:34-41).  He wanted to help us see clearly what our inheritance is, and discern the reality of the problems we face.  He tells us that our only hope for redemption is in Christ.