- The person is in darkness, fear, or pain.
- A divine messenger delivers (or has delivered) a message.
- The person prays/cries out ...
- ... for mercy.
- They come to know of Christ, the son of God (or a symbol of Christ)
- They receive comfort and a remission of sins.
- The person experiences the fruits of the Spirit.
In this post, we'll look at an important variant version of this theme, then we'll revisit Moroni's final exhortation and see how an understanding of this pattern might help us see that chapter in a new light.
Variant #1 -- Jesus' words to the Nephites
If we look for this same pattern/invitation elsewhere, we can find it. Notice the pattern hinted at in these words from Jesus to the Nephites after the great destrcution.
- 3 Nephi 8:20-22 -- The survivors were encompassed by darkness: "20 And it came to pass that there was thick darkness upon all the face of the land, insomuch that the inhabitants thereof who had not fallen could feel the vapor of darkness;"
- 3 Nephi 8:25; 9:10-11 -- The prophets had been cast out and slain: "10 And behold, the city of Laman, and the city of Josh, and the city of Gad, and the city of Kishkumen, have I caused to be burned with fire, and the inhabitants thereof, because of their wickedness in casting out the prophets, and stoning those whom I did send to declare unto them concerning their wickedness and their abominations."
- 3 Nephi 8:23-24 -- The survivors cry out: "24 And in one place they were heard to cry, saying: O that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and then would our brethren have been spared,"
- 3 Nephi 9:13-14 -- Jesus Christ offers mercy: "13 O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they, will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you? 14 Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me."
- 3 Nephi 9:15 -- The people come to know Jesus Christ: "15 Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God."
- 3 Nephi 11-12 contain numerous relevant examples of the people being instructed in how to receive remission of sins. The best example might be 3 Nephi 12:1-2
- 3 Nephi 17:17-18 -- The multitude is overwhelmed with joy: "17 And no tongue can speak, neither can there be written by any man, neither can the hearts of men conceive so great and marvelous things as we both saw and heard Jesus speak; and no one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the Father. 18 And it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of praying unto the Father, he arose; but so great was the joy of the multitude that they were overcome."
This variant example is strikingly significant in my opinion since it directly ties priesthood ordinances to the more symbolic examples in the previous post. This connection is intended to teach us how important the ordinances are for us to experience the joy that these people experienced.
If we look at the final chapter in the Book of Mormon, we'll see yet another variant example of this pattern intended for us.
Moroni's Final Exhortation
Quite often (and for good reason) we focus on three verses of this final chapter, with an emphasis on coming to know that the Book of Mormon is true. This is wonderful, and effective, and yet I believe (as is often the case) additional layers of depth and meaning can be found if we look more intently at the words of the book. I'll include verses from throughout the chapter here, but exclude much of the middle section which deals with the gifts of the Spirit. The elements of the pattern are all found in this exhortation, in a different order, I believe verses 7-20 could all be colored yellow, fitting into element #7 in the pattern above.
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.
4 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.
5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
6 And whatsoever thing is good is just and true; wherefore, nothing that is good denieth the Christ, but acknowledgeth that he is.
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 today and tomorrow, and forever.
...
22 And if ye have no hope ye must needs be in despair; and despair cometh because of iniquity.
...
24 And now I speak unto all the ends of the earth—that if the day cometh that the power and gifts of God shall be done away among you, it shall be because of unbelief.
25 And wo be unto the children of men if this be the case; for there shall be none that doeth good among you, no not one. For if there be one among you that doeth good, he shall work by the power and gifts of God.
26 And wo unto them who shall do these things away and die, for they die in their sins, and they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God; and I speak it according to the words of Christ; and I lie not.
27 And I exhort you to remember these things; for the time speedily cometh that ye shall know that I lie not, for ye shall see me at the bar of God; and the Lord God will say unto you: Did I not declare my words unto you, which were written by this man, like as one crying from the dead, yea, even as one speaking out of the dust?
28 I declare these things unto the fulfilling of the prophecies. And behold, they shall proceed forth out of the mouth of the everlasting God; and his word shall hiss forth from generation to generation.
29 And God shall show unto you, that that which I have written is true.
30 And again I would exhort you that ye would come unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift, and touch not the evil gift, nor the unclean thing.
31 And awake, and arise from the dust, O Jerusalem; yea, and put on thy beautiful garments, O daughter of Zion; and strengthen thy stakes and enlarge thy borders forever, that thou mayest no more be confounded, that the covenants of the Eternal Father which he hath made unto thee, O house of Israel, may be fulfilled.
32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.
33 And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.
The purpose of the Book of Mormon, according to the title page:
Which is to show unto the remnant of the house of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever—And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations
This theme shows up over and over again in various forms and certainly helps accomplishes the book's stated purpose.