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Book of Mormon Commentary
Moroni Chapter 10
MORONI’S EXHORTATION TO THE LAMANITES, VER. 1-31
Moroni 10:3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom
in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been
unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam, even down until the time that ye shall
receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
Moroni writes the closing chapter of the book bearing his name. It is addressed to the Lamanites,
and was written 420 years "since the sign was given of the coming of Christ." He planned to "seal
up these records, after I have spoken a few words by way of exhortation unto you" (2). The plates
received by Joseph Smith, Jr., in A.D. 1827 were partly sealed (Church History, Vol. 1, p. 19;
Preface to the Book of Mormon, page iii; Story of the Church, p. 55; Wentworth letter; I N. 3:248-
252; E. 1:88, 92-100). The method of sealing part of the Book of Mormon plates was never
disclosed.
Moroni 10:5 And if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will
manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost; and by the power of the Holy Ghost,
ye may know the truth of all things.
Moroni's exhortation was given to the Lamanites, and they were to "ask God, the eternal Father, in
the name of Christ, if these [written] things are not true" (4) - Latter Day Saints are inclined to
give this promise of spiritual assurance a universal application. Why not, since "God is no
respecter of persons; but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is
accepted with him" (Acts 10:34, 35).
Moroni then offers more reasons for accepting the records as true: "Whatsoever thing is good, is
just and true; wherefore, nothing that is good demeth the Christ, but acknowledgeth that he is"
(Mi. 10:6). This testimony of the Christ is the central purpose of the bringing forth of the Book of
Mormon. The preface reads, "To the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ."
Moroni 10:7 And ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore I would exhort
you, that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the children
of men, the same to-day and to-morrow, and for ever.
The apostle Paul supports this: "No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost" (I
Cor. 12:3). Moroni continued by saying, "I would exhort you, that ye deny not the power of God;
for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the children of men" (Mi. 10:7). For those who
say that God finished his earthly ministry with Christ's ascension, and had it put in a book there is
no promise. "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for.... But without faith it is impossible to
please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them
that diligently seek him" (Heb. 11:1, 6).
In a day when church leaders are explaining that the spiritual gifts (I Cor. 12:1-11) were done
away with or ceased A.D. 100, there was need of such exhortation: "Deny not the gifts of God, for
they are many" (Mi. 10:8). "There are different ways that these gifts are administered; but it is the
same God who worketh all in all; and they are given by the manifestations of the Spirit of God
unto men, to profit them" (9). He then refers specifically to these gifts. (See Mi. 10:10, 11.)