Moroni Finishes His Record, Part 3

"And it came to pass that in that same year in which [Ether] was cast out from among the people there began to be a great war among the people..." (Ether 13:15).

Moroni makes note of the fact that the war began in the very year that this prophet was cast out by the people.  The ensuing war never ceases until the consumption decreed makes an entire end of the Jaredites.  None of the "fair sons and daughters upon the face of the whole earth" repented of their sins, but persisted in a course that was contrary to the warnings of the Lord.  He had sent a prophet among them warning them.  This prophet taught them of "all things, from the beginning of man" yet the people chose to pursue their present course.

The perpetual war became so "swift and speedy" that there were none left to bury the dead (Ether 14:22).  They left "the bodies of both men, women, and children strewed upon the face of the land, to become a prey to the worms of the flesh" (ibid.).  The people who were left were tormented by the terrible scent upon all the face of the land, both day and night (Ether 14:23).  Millions were destroyed (Ether 15:2).  

"And thus we see that the Lord did visit them in the fulness of his wrath, and their wickedness and abominations had prepared a way for their everlasting destruction" (Ether 14:25). 

At last, when men were nigh unto death they "began to remember" the words of Ether and of all the prophets (Ether 15:1, 3).  Still, few chose to repent.  These were exceedingly sorrowful times (Ether 15:16-17).  The people could not pull themselves away from the fighting because "the Spirit of the Lord had ceased striving with them, and Satan had full power" over their hearts (Ether 15:19).

Ether had written an extensive record.  Moroni wants us to understand that he deliberately chose which items from Ether's record to include in the plates we were going to receive.    He explains that he gave not even "the hundredth part" to us (Ether 15:33).  It is all the more significant, therefore, that Moroni includes what he does in the record.  We must pay attention to those items he chose for inclusion in the record we have inherited.

Moroni saw the terrible scene of iniquity and destruction that will be poured out upon this land in our day.  It was revealed by the Lord to the prophet Joseph Smith.  The consumption decreed will eventually make an end of all nations (D&C 87:6; D&C 45:30-33).  All people will be at war one with another (D&C 45:33).  Disease will spread (D&C 45:31; D&C 29:14-21).  The only place of safety will be Zion.  The only promise of protection is to be clean from the blood and sins of this generation. 

What a sad state; Satan's will to rule and reign with blood and horror completely enacted upon the earth.  We should learn from history.  We should also learn from prophets the Lord sends declaring the message of repentance.  The Lord's victory seems too small.    

God's sword is bathed in heaven, and shall fall upon the inhabitants of the earth (D&C 1:13).  The telestial world and its inhabitants are almost utterly wasted before and at his coming, all to begin anew.  The course of the Lord is one eternal round.  In great mercy, he will ever gather his children -worlds without end. 

The Prophet Abinadi, Part 2

The Prophet Abinadi, Part 2

“And except they repent and turn to the Lord their God, behold, I will deliver them into the hands of their enemies; yea, and they shall be brought into bondage; and they shall be afflicted by the hand of their enemies.

“And it shall come to pass that they shall know that I am the Lord their God, and am a jealous God, visiting the iniquities of my people.

“And it shall come to pass that except this people repent and turn unto the Lord their God, they shall be brought into bondage; and none shall deliver them, except it be the Lord the Almighty God.

“Yea, and it shall come to pass that when they shall cry unto me I will be slow to hear their cries; yea, and I will suffer them that they be smitten by their enemies.

“And except they repent in sackcloth and ashes, and cry mightily to the Lord their God, I will not hear their prayers, neither will I deliver them out of their afflictions; and thus saith the Lord, and thus hath he commanded me” (Mosiah 11:21-25).

Because God loves his children and desires to save them, the message of repentance has been sent from God from the beginning.  Adam and his family were taught the gospel of repentance by the Lord and angels sent by Him (Moses 5:58; 6:1, 23,57).  All other righteous patriarchs and prophets received and taught the gospel of repentance (Moses7:10-12; 8:19-20; Ezek. 14:6; 1 Ne. 1:4; Alma 5:32-33, among many others).  The opposite of a message of repentance would be the message of flattery delivered by king Noah and his priests.  Flattery is not borne of love, but of lies.  It is the anti-Christ that will use flattery as a tool (Jacob 7:2).

Helaman 12 is an excellent sermon on the “unsteadiness of the hearts of the children of men” (Hel. 12:1).  The sermon is true of men and women from the beginning of the earth until the end.  Men tend to “forget the Lord their God…and this is because of their ease, and their exceeding great prosperity” (v. 2).  Things haven’t changed.  We remain the same.  While in this telestial world there is a persistent need to combat the decaying force of entropy that is ever-present.  Men not only lose hair and muscle with the advance of time, but are always losing “light and truth” (D&C 93:39). 

Consistent with that truth therefore, is that the message men need to hear has never changed.  The message required to bring men to the Son of God 6000 years ago, was the same message required to bring men to the Son of God 2000 years ago, and is the same today.  In a revelation given to the Prophet in 1833 this is verified:

“Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on me name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth me commandments, shall see my face and know that I am” (D&C 93:1).

In our day the Lord commanded Joseph Smith to share the message of repentance.  Those who repent can be reconciled to Christ and “know that [He is]” while in the flesh. 

In order to combat the constant decay of light and truth, prophets reveal and restore lost truths, and always preach repentance, pointing people to Christ.  If the message “inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ” you may know “with a perfect knowledge it is of God” (Moro. 7:16).   

Whether it is sooner or later, the Lord does visit “the iniquities of [His] people.”  This he has spoken, and he excuses not himself.  But before the house comes crashing down, the Lord always gives fair warning by the voice of “his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7).  This is why Abinadi was sent to the people.  It seems only one man received the message.  Though wolves in sheep’s clothing will flatter you, prophets warn of God’s judgment.  Look to the scriptures for the pattern.  It is unmistakable.  The only message that will not be compromised in the unfolding of the Lord’s “strange” work is the message of repentance (D&C 101:95).