Last time I read Moroni 7 was a real eye-opener for me. This is Moroni writing down what he heard his father, Mormon, preach. I used to think of this sermon as twofold: The first part talking about the light of Christ and distinguishing good from evil, the second part talking about faith, hope and charity. I didn't really think there was a connection between the two. But then I noticed the transitional verses and a curious expression there repeated several times (in bold):
19 Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ.
20 And now, my brethren, how is it possible that ye can lay hold upon every good thing?
21 And now I come to that faith, of which I said I would speak; and I will tell you the way whereby ye may lay hold on every good thing.
I realized that Mormon's entire sermon in Moroni 7 is describing a process:
- Recognize what is good
- Lay hold upon it through faith, hope and charity
What is good? Whatever persuades to believe in Christ (v.16). Why does faith, hope and charity help us lay hold upon it? Because faith is centered in Christ (v.25), our hope is in Christ (v.41) and charity is the pure love of Christ (v.47). This chapter made so much more sense after this realization and has caused me to reflect on how I can use faith, hope and charity to "lay hold upon every good thing".
