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Book of Mormon Commentary
Moroni Chapter 9
MORMON ' S LAST EPISTLE TO MORONI, VER. 1-28
Moroni 9:1 My beloved son, I write unto you again, that ye may know that I am yet alive, but I write
somewhat that which is grievous.
He first mentions "a sore battle with the Lamanites, in which we did not conquer" (2). He does not
say that the Nephites were defeated. There was no quarter asked nor given. Both sides had
resolved on a war of extermination. "We have lost a great number of our choice men." The three
men named, Archeantus, Luram, and Emron, were doubtless personal friends known to Moroni;
however, this is the only mention of them in the Book of Mormon.
Mormon then wrote of his fear that the Lamanites would destroy his people, "for they do not
repent, and Satan stirreth them Lip continually to anger, one with another" (3). However, Mormon
was "laboring with them continually," speaking "the word of God" with sharpness at times and at
times in mildness. But they seemingly "have no fear of death; and they have lost their love, one
towards another," wanting only "blood and revenge" (4, 5).
Moroni 9:6 And now my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if
we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform
whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest out
souls in the kingdom of God.
The wantonness of the people was no excuse for ministers of the gospel not trying. Only when
God's servants have done the best they can do should 'they be satisfied (Ezek. 3:17-21).
He next wrote of their sufferings. The Lamanites captured many prisoners from "the tower of
Sherrizah." They killed the men and fed their flesh to their wives and children (7-9).
But the Nephites of Moriantum were-even worse. They raped the Lamanite girl prisoners, then
murdered them in a most cruel manner, and even devoured their flesh "like unto wild beasts . for a
token of bravery" (11).
Moroni 9:12 O my beloved son, how can a people like this, that are without civilization; (and only a
few years have passed away, and they were a civil and a delightsome people;) but O my son, how
can a people like this, whose delight is in so much abomination, how can we expect that God will
stay his hand in judgment against us?
Mormon related another inhuman atrocity. The women and girls who were left in Sherrizah with a
few pro-' visions were robbed of their food supply by the Lamanites and the army of Zenephi. As
these people went out to forage for food, the old women would faint and die from hunger (15).
"The army which is with me, is weak; . . . and as many as have fled to the army of Aaron [the
Lamanite king, Mn. 1:31-34] have fallen victims to their awful brutality" (16). Scared traitors were
not needed nor respected by Aaron.
Moroni 9:17 O the depravity of my people! they are without order and without mercy.