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Book of Mormon Commentary
Mormon Chapter 4
MORONI FINISHES MORMON'S RECORD, VER. 1-28
Mormon 4:2 And now it came to pass that after the great and tremendous battle at Cumorah, behold, the
Nephites who had escaped into the country southward, were hunted by the Lamanites, until they were all
destroyed; and my father also was killed by them; and I, even remain alone to write the sad tale of the
destruction of my people.
In keeping with the instructions of his father, Moroni completed the abridgment of the larger
plates of Nephi, and added a few things of his own.
"Whether they will slay me, I know not"; his great concern was to finish his testimony and hide it
in the earth. "And whither I go it mattereth not" (4). With the destruction of his people went his
zest for living. “I have not friends, nor whither to go; and how long the Lord will suffer that I may
live, I know not" (6). He was writing sixteen years after the great battle (7; 3:6). All his kinsfolk
had been slain in battle, and he was alone. He would write more if there was room on the plates or
if he had ore to make plates, but there was none.
Mormon 4:8 And behold, the Lamanites have hunted my people, the Nephites, down from city to city,
and from place to place, even until they are no more, and great has been their fall; yea, great and
marvelous is the destruction of my people, the Nephites.
"And. ..it is the hand of the Lord which hath done it" (9). This epitaph does not mean that God
struck the blow which destroyed the nation, but that he permitted their enemies to prevail against
them (2:6).
When there were no more Nephites to kill, the Lamanites made war upon each other. "The whole
face of this land is one continual round of murder and bloodshed; and no one knoweth the end of
the war" (10). The only ones who "know the true God'. are the three "disciples of Jesus, who did
tarry in the land until the wickedness of the people was so great that the Lord would not suffer
them to remain with the people; and whether they be upon the face of the land, no man knoweth”
(12). (See comment on III N. 13:12.)
Close scrutiny of Jesus' promise does not show any evidence that they shall always stay on earth,
but that their lives should be prolonged "until all things shall be fulfilled, according to the will of
the Father" (III N. 13:18). This statement gives rise to much speculation; however, Moroni makes
it clear that at the time of which he wrote, these three were not "to remain with the people"
(Mn.4:12). It is certain that their ministry then would not be accepted (2:44,45).
Some have testified that they have received spiritual ministry 0£ one or more messengers who
seemed to vanish, and they have believed that it was quite probable that the ministry was by one or
more of those who were not to "taste of death." If it had been consistent with God's plan, they
would probably have identified themselves. Since they did not, we can only speculate. Moroni
closes the reference to them by testifying, "My father and I have seen them, and they have
ministered unto us" ( 13) .
Mormon 4:14 And whoso receiveth this record, and shall not condemn it because of the imperfections
which are in it, the same shall know of greater things than these.