Difference between revisions of "Moroni"

Revision as of 13:14, 17 February 2006

If you have ever seen a Mormon temple, chances are you have seen the golden statue that adorns most of the steeples of these beautiful buildings. The statue is known as the angel Moroni. The male figure is dressed in a robe and typically (there are different versions on different temples) blows a long golden trumpet in one hand and sometimes carries a golden book in the other.

Moroni: Warrior, Prophet, Historian

Moroni, as a mortal man, was the last author of the Book of Mormon, burying the plates it was recorded on in the year AD 421. He followed in the footsteps of his father, Mormon (after whom the Book of Mormon is named) as keeper of an ancient record detailing the history and eventual destruction of their people. Moroni served as a general during the final military campaign of his people. All but himself and a handful of others survived. Moroni was left alone and described his situation: "My father hath been slain in battle, and all my kinsfolk, and I have not friends nor whither to go" (Mormon 8:5).

Despite being alone, Moroni lived for at least 36 after the destruction of his people. During this time he finished the record of his father by describing the final battle and including a few letters his father had written to him. Since Moroni bids the reader farewell a number of different times, it is presumed he did not expect the Lord to preserve his life for so long. Moroni additionally abridged the record of the Jaredites (a nation that came to the Americas at the time of the Tower of Babel and destroyed itself before Moroni's people arrived) into what is known as the Book of Ether.

Lastly, Moroni wrote the segment known as the Book of Moroni. In this he details particulars about the organization of Christ's church. He also includes two more epistles from his father, Mormon, containing sermons on faith, hope, and charity. In the last chapter of the book, Moroni leaves the reader with an exhortation and a promise:

"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. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; 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 10:3-5).

Moroni: Angelic Messenger

Revelation 14:6 reads "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people."

In September 1823 Moroni, who was then a glorified personage, visited young Joseph Smith as a heavenly messenger sent from God. Moroni told Joseph of the very plates he himself had buried 1400 years earlier.