Come Unto Christ

Come Unto Christ
Moroni 7-8, 10

In these last chapters, Moroni includes several epistles from his father, Mormon. In these documents, Mormon explains how to judge between good and evil, the importance of faith, hope and charity, that little children are saved through Christ’s Atonement, that the Holy Ghost testifies of all truth, and that spiritual gifts follow those who come unto Christ.

Mormon addresses his epistle to the members of the church who are ‘peacable followers of Christ’

How are we the peacable followers of Christ of our dispensation?

By allowing the atonement to work in our lives to the extent that we make peace because we are at peace within ourselves. Even though the world is in turmoil around us, we have an inner peace through Christ Jesus.

Moroni 7
5 For I remember the word of God which saith by their aworks ye shall know them; for if their works be good, then they are good also.
6 For behold, God hath said a man being aevil cannot do that which is good; for if he boffereth a gift, or cprayeth unto God, except he shall do it with real dintent it profiteth him nothing.
7 For behold, it is not counted unto him for righteousness.
8 For behold, if a man being aevil giveth a gift, he doeth it bgrudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God.
9 And likewise also is it counted evil unto a man, if he shall pray and not with areal intent of heart; yea, and it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks
Have you ever found yourself doing something you thought was right, but doing it because you "had" to? Did you ever keep a commandment of God with an attitude of resentment or self-righteousness, or even because you expected some immediate personal benefit? I suppose most of us have had this experience. Do you remember your feelings on such occasions? Do you think such feelings will be ignored by a Father in Heaven who gave us the willpower we call agency? Don't such feelings tell us something about the desires of our hearts? under the law of God we are accountable for our feelings and desires as well as our acts. Evil thoughts and desires will be punished. Acts that seem to be good bring blessings only when they are done with real and righteous intent. On the positive side, we will be blessed for the righteous desires of our hearts even though some outside circumstance has made it impossible for us to carry those desires into action.1985-86 Devotional and Fireside Speeches, 29, 31)

In the world we live in today, good is called evil and evil called good all about us. Mormon knew this would be the case and gave us this council to guide us:

12 Wherefore, all things which are agood cometh of God; and that which is bevil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to csin, and to do that which is evil continually
16 For behold, the aSpirit of Christ is given to every bman, that he may cknow 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.
17 But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do aevil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.

Mormon told his listeners that they could lay hold upon every good thing through their faith, for a good thing comes through Christ. God declared to prophets that Christ would come and that there were various ways that good things were manifest: “Wherefore..men began to exercise faith in Christ; and thus by faith, they did lay hold upon every good thing; and thus it was until the coming of Christ.” (v23-25)

Mormon continued.. people were saved by faith in Christ, becoming His sons and His daughters. Without faith, the saving ordinances are not performed, angels do not minister, and individuals are not fit to be numbered among the people of the Church.

Such faith cannot be obtained without hope. Hope motivates us to do things and is a necessary companion of faith. Through the humility required to obtain hope and faith, one is also able to obtain the essential quality for salvation, charity. Charity is the pure love of Christ, and without it, we are nothing.

In a world where many Christian churches emphasize that salvation comes only through faith and the grace of God, Mormon tells us differently. Faith, hope and Charity are all required for salvation. Because hope for eternal life produces works, individuals will be judged according to their works. Through faith we gain the ordinances prerequisite for salvation. However, after we receive all of the ordinances and do all of the works, it is the grace of God that prepares and purifies us for salvation.

Chapter 8
This Chapter also contains an epistle by Mormon- this concerning the baptism of little children. Mormon testifies to his son that those who suppose that little children need baptism are “in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; for he hath neither faith, hope, nor charity.” (v14)

What are the reasons Mormon gives as to why children do not need baptism?
They are not capable of committing sin- satan has no power to tempt them
the atonement of Christ has paid for their transgressions- God knowing that many little children would not live to the age of accountability, provided for their salvation through the atonement, without the necessity of baptism. Not to have provided for these little children would have rendered God a partial God.
little children cannot repent- repentance includes the recognition of sin, a remorse for mistakes, and a restitution for the damage or hurt that has been done. Until the child matures enough to be able to do this, he is not accountable

Where is it revealed to us the age of accountability?

D&C 68:27
27 And their children shall be abaptized for the bremission of their sins when ceight years old, and receive the laying on of the hands

Moroni 8
8 aListen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance; the bwhole need no physician, but they that are sick; wherefore, little cchildren are dwhole, for they are not capable of committing esin; wherefore the curse of fAdam is taken from them in me, that it hath no power over them; and the law of gcircumcision is done away in me.

JST 17
11 And I will establish a covenant of circumcision with thee, and it shall be my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in their generations; that thou mayest know for ever that children are not accountable before me until they are eight years old.

Prior to the Savior’s advent, circumcision at 8 days typified the principle that children are not accountable until they are eight years old. When the atonement was accomplished, circumcision, like the Mosiac law, was done away with.

Chapter 10
As Moroni closes this record, he does so with “ a few words by way of exhortation”

What does the word exhort mean?
to urge, advise, or caution earnestly; admonish urgently.

What does Moroni exhort us to do?

“Remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men” (verse 3).
This provides a perspective that spans time and races, and causes us to realize that God is a personal and lovng individual who has been dealing with humanity for their salvation since time began on this planet. Pondering adds the dimension of the feelings of the soul so that heart and mind are combined in an effort to understand.

“Ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true” (verse 4).
Nephi said, “ If ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ.” (2 Ne 33:10) The proof of the book of mormon’s truthfulness is open only to the view of all who perform this test in a very specific way- with a sincere heart and real intent. when these conditions are met, a direct communication from God through the Holy Ghost will occur.

“Deny not the power of God” (verse 7).
If we seek a testimony of the Book of Mormon, we must be open to the idea that God will speak, the heavens will open and that God will grant us wisdom and truth.

“Deny not the gifts of God” (verse 8).
The power and gifts of God are real. They should be sought after and acquired. The Saints of God in all ages are eligible for these privileges.

“Remember that every good gift cometh of Christ” (verse 18).
By the grace of God — following devotion, faith, and obedience on man's part — certain special spiritual blessings called gifts of the Spirit are bestowed upon men. Their receipt is always predicated upon obedience to law, but because they are freely available to all the obedient, they are called gifts. They are signs and miracles reserved for the faithful and for none else.

f. “Remember that [Christ] is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (verse 19).

g. “Remember these things [that Moroni has written]” (verse 27).
All the major writers of the Book of Mormon have testified their writings, and this sacred volume of scripture is true. In regards to the Book of Mormon, if we do not remember these things, our salvation itself is at stake.

h. “Come unto Christ” (verse 30).
The power unto life and salvation is in Christ the person, not the programs, procedures or policies of the church. It is Him who extends the invitation to change our ways, forsake the worldly, and partake of His divine nature, to be saved.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught:

“The Savior said, ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. … Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid’ (John 14:27).

“I submit to you, that may be one of the Savior’s commandments that is, even in the hearts of otherwise faithful Latter-day Saints, almost universally disobeyed; and yet I wonder whether our resistance to this invitation could be any more grievous to the Lord’s merciful heart. I can tell you this as a parent: as concerned as I would be if somewhere in their lives one of my children were seriously troubled or unhappy or disobedient, nevertheless I would be infinitely more devastated if I felt that at such a time that child could not trust me to help or thought his or her interest was unimportant to me or unsafe in my care. In that same spirit, I am convinced that none of us can appreciate how deeply it wounds the loving heart of the Savior of the world when he finds that his people do not feel confident in his care or secure in his hands or trust in his commandments” (“Come unto Me,” Ensign, Apr. 1998, 19).

Looking over this past year and all that we have studied in the Book of Mormon, is this not what each and every writer has encouraged us to do? Come unto Christ ? They saw our day. They knew us. They knew that it is only through Christ Jesus that we find our salvation and exaltation. They knew- and those of you who have risen to the challenge of reading and studying this book, written by the hand of Mormon and Moroni for our day, know too. The spirit has testified it over and over to you as you read the pages.

I add my testimony. I know God lives. I know He has a plan. I knowthat plan included sending His son Jesus Christ to atone for our sins. I know that Jesus is my savior, my redeemer, my brother and friend; and it is only in and through Him that salvation comes. His gospel has been restored to the earth and I am privileged to have it in my life.