To Keep Them in the right way

To Keep Them in the Right Way
Moroni 1-6

The Book of Moroni was written by Moroni after his father’s death- probably about 15-35 years after the battle at Cumorah. Moroni was wandering “whithersoever I can for the safety of mine own life” (v3), He thought that the book of Ether would be his last writings, but because he had not yet perished, he wrote a few more things, that perhaps they may be of worth unto my brethren, the Lamanites, in some future day" (v4).

The first six chapters of Moroni deal with procedures and practices of the Church in Moroni’s day. It seems almost ordinary to us, as active members of the Latter-day church because these procedures and practices are similar to ours today. Because of that, we sometimes tend to skim over these chapters in search for more exciting material.

Clearly, Moroni thought this information was important, however, or he would not have put forth the effort to include it in the Nephite record. Consider Moroni’s words:

Mormon 8
34 Behold, the Lord hath shown unto me great and marvelous things concerning that which must shortly come, at that day when these things shall come forth among you.
35 Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.
36 And I know that ye do awalk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not blift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of cvery fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts

If Moroni saw our day, did he not see modern Christianity. Would he not then, have great concern and interest in telling us the correct procedures for such basic practices as conferring the Holy Ghost, ordaining to offices in the priesthood, administering the sacrament, ordinations and church meetings?

Moroni 2 & 3
These chapters clarify the doctrine of authority.
The world of Christianity often teaches that one obtains authority in the ministry through a divinity degree or simply through a desire to serve.
Moroni taught:
Moroni 2
1 The words of Christ, which he spake unto his adisciples, the twelve whom he had chosen, as he laid his hands upon them—
2 And he called them by name, saying: Ye shall acall on the Father in my name, in mighty prayer; and after ye have done this ye shall have bpower that to him upon whom ye shall lay your chands, dye shall give the Holy Ghost; and in my name shall ye give it, for thus do mine apostles.

Moroni 3
1 The manner which the disciples, who were called the aelders of the church, bordained cpriests and teachers—
2 After they had prayed unto the Father in the name of Christ, they alaid their hands upon them, and said:
3 In the name of Jesus Christ I ordain you to be a priest, (or, if he be a ateacher) I ordain you to be a teacher, to preach repentance and bremission of sins through Jesus Christ, by the endurance of faith on his name to the end. Amen.
4 And after this manner did they aordain priests and teachers, according to the bgifts and callings of God unto men; and they ordained them by the cpower of the Holy Ghost, which was in them

Though brief, these chapters in Moroni are a witness to the unchanging nature of the gospel. One obtains authority to act in the ministry through ordination by the power of the Holy Ghost by those with authority from Jesus Christ.

Moroni 4 & 5 - Sacramental Prayers
Likewise, if Moroni looked forward to our day and observed a typical Christian Sabbath, he must have been amazed at the multitude of apostate practices surrounding the holy, yet simple ordinance of the sacrament as practiced in various Christian churches.
Moroni gives us the sacramental prayers and gives his testimony of them: "...wherefore we know the manner to be true" (Moroni 4:1).
WE take the sacrament in remembrance of either the body or the blood of the Son, Jesus Christ that we might always remember Him.
Why is it so important to always remember Him?
It was the Nephite’s lack of ability to do this that ultimately led to their destruction.
How do people ‘begin to forget?’ How did Laman and Lemuel forget that they had seen an angel? How did the Nephites who had seen the sign of the savior’s birth forget that they had seen a day, a night and a day as if they were one day? How did the people of Zarahemla forget the words of King Benjamin?
It may not be a matter of forgetting the actual events or words spoken, perhaps it is a matter of forgetting the spiritual significance of that experience. How else are we continually reminded to keep His commandments in order to have His spirit with us always?
o President Spencer W. Kimball:
"When you look in the dictionary for the most important word, do you know what it is? It could be remember. Because all of you have made covenants--you know what to do and you know how to do it--our greatest need is to remember. That is why everyone goes to sacrament meeting every Sabbath day, to take the sacrament and listen to the priests pray that they 'may always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them.' Nobody should ever forget to go to sacrament meeting. Remember is the word. Remember is the program." (quoted in Studies In Scripture, 8:286)
Moroni 6 - Nourishing New Members
Moroni 6
4 And after they had been received unto baptism, and were wrought upon and acleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost, they were numbered among the people of the bchurch of Christ; and their cnames were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually dwatchful unto prayer, erelying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO "NOURISH" THE NEW MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH?
§ The words "nourish" and "new" almost seem to go together. A new baby requires care and nourishment or it will not survive. A new plant needs close care and nourishment or it will wither. A new employee needs attention and constant instruction in order to master the job.
§ President Gordon B. Hinckley: "With the ever increasing number of converts, we must make an increasingly substantial effort to assist them as they find their way. Every one of them needs three things: a friend, a responsibility, and nurturing with 'the good word of God' (Moroni 6:4)." (Ensign, May 1997, p47)
§ President Gordon B. Hinckley: "The greatest tragedy in the Church...is the loss of those who join the Church and then fall away. With very few exceptions it need not happen. I am convinced that almost universally those who are baptized by the missionaries have been taught sufficiently to have received knowledge and testimony sufficiently to warrant their baptism. But it is not an easy thing to make the transition incident to joining this Church. It means cutting old ties. It means leaving friends. It may mean setting aside cherished beliefs. It may require a change of habits and a suppression of appetites. In so many cases it means loneliness and even fear of the unknown. There must be nurturing and strengthening during this difficult season of a convert's life. A tremendous price has been paid for his presence in the Church. The long efforts of the missionaries and the cost of their service, the separation from old relationship and the trauma associated with this makes it imperative that these precious souls be welcomed, reassured, helped in their times of weakness, praised for what they do, given responsibility under which they may grow strong, and encouraged and thanked for all they do." (Ensign, Oct 1987)
WHAT CAN WE DO TO FOLLOW PRESIDENT HINCKLEY'S COUNSEL?
“Have you ever gone to sacrament meeting, stood at the back of the hall for ten or fifteen minutes before the meeting began, watched people come in and sit down, and noticed who looked like he might be all alone? Have you ever watched for somebody sitting all by himself? Did you ever have enough compassion and spirit of fellowshipping to go sit down by that person and say, “ I’m so- and-so and you’re who?” Did you get acquainted with that person and make them feel at home? Did you go through the meetings with him? That’s as much a part of missionary work for this time and circumstances as to accept a full-time mission when the call comes.” (Studies in the Scripture 8:290)
The same can be applied to all members of the church. Are not all our names taken by the church- those born under the covenant of Celestial marriage as well as those baptized members and converts as well? We are remembered, by name, by our church leaders in order that we can be spritually ministered to and encouraged to live the gospel, that we might be consistently mindful of the need for prayer, and to more faithfully rely upon the arm of the Lord. We are not told, specifically what programs were employed by the Nephite Church in order to accomplish this. In the latter-day church, the home teaching and visiting teaching programs assist in this purpose. As we are going about those assignments, can we honestly say that we are accomplishing these goals? Are we truly ministering to those under our stewardship?