Why would Nephite Christians in AD 400 be worshipping in Jewish synagogues?
In Moroni chapter 7, Moroni will quote his father, Mormon, from a sermon which Mormon gave to members of the Nephite Church, sometime during his lifetime.
The word “behold” is written 17 times in this chapter.
Moroni 7:1 “AND now I, Moroni, write a few of the words of my father Mormon, which he spake concerning faith, hope, and charity; for after this manner did he speak unto the people, as he taught them in the synagogue which they had built for the place of worship.” ^The words “concerning faith” are in 1 Timothy 1:19. If Mormon and Moroni are Christians, what are they teaching and worshipping in a Jewish synagogue?
Moroni 7:2 “And now I, Mormon, speak unto you, my beloved brethren; and it is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, and his holy will, because of the gift of his calling unto me, that I am permitted to speak unto you at this time.” The phrase “my beloved brethren” is in 1 Corinthians 15:58 and “by the grace of God” is in 1 Corinthians 15:10 and “and our Lord Jesus Christ” in 1 Thessalonians 3:11.
Moroni 7:3 “Wherefore, I would speak unto you that are of the church, that are the peaceable followers of Christ, and that have obtained a sufficient hope by which ye can enter into the rest of the Lord, from this time henceforth until ye shall rest with him in heaven.”
Moroni 7:5 Next, Mormon speaks of motives, when it comes to doing good. “For I remember the word of God which saith by their works ye shall know them; for if their works be good, then they are good also.”
Moroni 7:6 “For behold, God hath said a man being evil cannot do that which is good; for if he offereth a gift, or prayeth unto God, except he shall do it with real intent it profiteth him nothing.”
Moroni 7:7 “For behold, it is not counted unto him for righteousness.” He does not get credit for doing good.
Moroni 7:8 “For behold, if a man being evil giveth a gift, he doeth it grudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God.” He is still considered to be an evil man. ^The words “he doeth it” are in Matthew 8:9.
Moroni 7:9 “And likewise also it is counted evil unto a man, if he shall pray and not with real intent of heart; yea, and it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such.” This might tie into Moroni 10:4.
Moroni 7:10 “Wherefore, a man being evil cannot do that which is good; neither will he give a good gift.”
Moroni 7:11 “For behold, a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water; neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter water; wherefore, a man being a servant of the devil cannot follow Christ; and if he follow Christ he cannot be a servant of the devil.” The words “of the devil” are in Matthew 4:1.
Moroni 7:12 Next, Mormon teaches about the ultimate source of good and evil. “Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually.” The phrase “do that which is evil” is in Romans 13:4.
Moroni 7:13 “But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired by God.” ^The words “to do good, and to” are in Romans 13:4.
Moroni 7:14 Mormon will now give simple guidelines for judging between good and evil. “Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be the devil.”
Moroni 7:15 “For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.”
Moroni 7:16 “For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.” The phrase “gift of Christ” is in Ephesians 4:7. Members of the LDS Church are told they have the gift of the Holy Ghost to help them judge all things. And, that all people whether members or not, have the Spirit of Christ, commonly referred to as a conscience, which everyone is born with.
Moroni 7:17 “But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.” ^The words “persuade men to” are in Acts 18:13.
Moroni 7:18 Mormon now touches on the topic of accountability. “And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged.”
Moroni 7:19 “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.” The phrase “Wherefore I beseech” is in Acts 26:3.
Moroni 7:20-24 Mormon is now going teach how faith in Christ enables a person to “lay hold on every good thing.” All good things come from Christ. Without Christ, we would all be lost.
Moroni 7:25 Mankind had to have faith that there would be a Christ, up until Jesus came to earth to live. The words “faith in Christ” are in Acts 24:24.
Moroni 7:26 “And after that he came men also were saved by faith in his name; and by faith, they become the sons of God. And as surely as Christ liveth he spake these words unto our fathers, saying: Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is good, believing that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you.” The phrase “were saved” is in 1 Peter 3:20 and “faith in his name” is in Acts 3:16 and “become the sons of God” is in John 1:12 and “Christ liveth” in Galatians 2:20 and “ye shall ask the Father in my name” is from John 16:23 and “it shall be done unto you” is in John 15:7.
Moroni 7:27-28 Mormon asks if miracles have ceased, since Christ ascended to heaven and eternally dwells there?
Moroni 7:27 The phrase “ascended into heaven” is in Acts 2:34 and “sat down on the right hand of God” is from Hebrews 10:12.
Moroni 7:29 “And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men.”
Moroni 7:30 “For behold, they are subject unto him, to minister according to the word of his command, showing themselves unto them of strong faith and a firm mind in every form of godliness.” The words “subject unto him” are in 1 Corinthians 15:28 and “form of godliness” are in 2 Timothy 3:5.
Moroni 7:31 Next, Mormon teaches about the role of angels in preparing the way for all to be saved. “And the office of their ministry is to call men unto repentance, and to fulfill and to do the work of the covenants of the Father, which he hath made unto the children of men, to prepare the way among the children of men, by declaring the word of Christ unto the chosen vessels of the Lord, that they may bear testimony of him.” The phrase “the word of Christ” is in Colossians 3:16.
Moroni 7:32 “And by so doing, the Lord God prepareth the way that the residue of men may have faith in Christ, that the Holy Ghost may have place in their hearts, according to the power thereof; and after this manner bringeth to pass the Father, the covenants which he hath made unto the children of men.”
Moroni 7:33 “And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me.” The words “is expedient” are in 2 Corinthians 8:10.
Moroni 7:34 “And he hath said: Repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, and have faith in me, that ye may be saved.” The Bible does not teach that baptism is necessary for salvation.
Moroni 7:35 “And now, my beloved brethren, if this be the case that these things are true which I have spoken unto you, and God will show unto you, with power and great glory at the last day, that they are true, and if they are true has the day of miracles ceased?” The phrase “things are true” is in Philippians 4:8 and “with power and great glory” is in Luke 21:27 and “at the last day” is in John 6:39.
Moroni 7:36 “Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved?” The phrase “the power of the Holy Ghost” is from Romans 15:13 and “there shall be one” is in John 10:16.
Moroni 7:37 “Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain.” The words “because of unbelief” are in Romans 11:20.
Moroni 7:38 “For no man can be saved, according to the words of Christ, save they shall have faith in his name; wherefore, if these things have ceased, then has faith ceased also; and awful is the state of men, for they are as though there had been no redemption made.” The words “faith in his name” are in Acts 3:16.
Moroni 7:39 Next, Mormon compliments his people, the Nephite members of the church. “But behold, my beloved brethren, I judge better things of you, for I judge that ye have faith in Christ because of your meekness; for if you have not faith in him then ye are not fit to be numbered among the people of his church.”
Moroni 7:40 Now, Mormon will teach about having hope. You will recognize similar words in these verses to those found in 1 Corinthians 13 and 1 John 3-4. “And again, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto you concerning hope. How is it that you can attain unto faith, save ye shall have hope?”
Moroni 7:41 “And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.” The phrase “I say unto you that ye” is in Matthew 5:39 and “the power of his resurrection” is in Philippians 3:10 and “unto life eternal” is in John 4:36 and “your faith” is in Matthew 9:29.
Moroni 7:42 “Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope.” No certainty of salvation. The words “without faith” are in Hebrews 11:6.
Moroni 7:43 “And again, behold I say unto you that he cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart.” The words “faith and hope” are in 1 Peter 1:21.
Moroni 7:44 Next, Mormon discusses the topic of charity. “If so, his faith and hope is vain, for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.” The phrase “acceptable before God” is in 1 Timothy 5:4 and “meek and lowly in heart” is in Matthew 11:29 and “the power of the Holy Ghost” is from Romans 15:13 and “that Jesus is the Christ” is in John 20:31 and “have not charity” is in 1 Corinthians 13:3.
Moroni 7:45 This verse is a quotation of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, which comes directly from the writing of Paul. How did Mormon – in North America – have a copy of Paul’s writings – from the Middle East? “And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeking not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoinceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” The words “puffed up” are in 1 Corinthians 4:6.
Moroni 7:46 “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are noting, for charity never faileth. Werefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail -” The phrase “charity never faileth” is from 1 Corinthians 13:8.
Moroni 7:47 “But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.” People with charity will have a pleasant Judgment Day. The words “love of Christ” are in 2 Corinthians 5:14 and “possessed of” are in Matthew 8:33 and “at the last day” are in John 6:39.
Moroni 7:48 Finally, Mormon teaches that charity is a gift from God, and that it should be prayed for. “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he his pure. Amen.” The phrase “may be filled with” is in 2 Timothy 1:4 and “his Son, Jesus Christ” is in Romans 1:3 and “become the sons of God” is in John 1:12 and “that when he shall appear we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” is taken from 1 John 3:2.
Moroni 8 is a well-known chapter on the subject of the baptism of little children.
Moroni 8:1 “An epistle of my father Mormon, written to me, Moroni; and it was written unto me soon after my calling to the ministry. And on this wise did he write unto me saying:” The phrase “An epistle” is in 1 Corinthians 5:9 and “to the ministry” is in Colossians 4:17 and “And on this wise” is in John 21:1.
The word “epistle” is an obvious copy from the King James Version. The word “epistle” was left in its original Greek form (epistolos) but given an English ending. This shows the writer of the Book of Mormon was not very, careful in selecting his words.
Moroni 8:2 “My beloved son, Moroni, I rejoice exceedingly that your Lord Jesus Christ hath been mindful of you, and hath called you to his ministry, and to his holy work.” ^The words “Jesus Christ hath been” are in Galatians 3:1.
Moroni 8:3 “I am mindful of you always in my prayers, continually praying unto God the Father in my name of his Holy Child, Jesus, that he, through his infinite goodness and grace, will keep you through the endurance of faith on his name to the end.” The phrase “of you always in my prayers” is in Romans 1:9.
Moroni 8:4 “And now, my son, I speak unto you concerning that which grieveth me exceedingly; for it grieveth me that there should disputations rise among you.”
This letter from Mormon to his son, Moroni, is a stern rebuke to anyone who believes that God would hold little children accountable for their sins.
Moroni 8:5 “For, if I have learned the truth, there have been disputations among you concerning the baptism of your little children.” It seems Mormon is concerned about the way baptisms would be performed hundreds of years later. It seems that God has told him how the Catholics and some of the Protestants would be baptizing little children, and He does not like it one little bit.
The word “baptism” could not be an actual translation of a word found in ancient plates, because “baptism” is a transliteration of the Greek word “baptisma” and was peculiar to the King James Version. This word is clearly a copy of an early English term, demonstrating again the fraudulent nature of the Book of Mormon.
Moroni 8:6 “And now, my son, I desire that ye should labor diligently, that this gross error should be removed from among you; for, for this intent I have written this epistle.” The words “I desire that ye” are in Ephesians 3:13.
With all that was going on at this time with the final destruction of the Nephite nation, why would infant baptism be so, high on Mormon’s worry list?
The Book of Mormon was written in 1829. In 3 Nephi 12:1, Jesus supposedly calls his twelve disciples to baptize, but neglects to tell them not to baptize anyone under the age of eight. There is this whole chapter in Moroni 8 on not baptizing little children, but there is no confirmation of a minimum age. The “age of baptism” was an idea of Smith’s in 1831. If he had thought of it earlier, it would have invariably appeared in his Book of Mormon.
A popular controversy in Joseph Smith’s day was whether or, not infants needed baptism. Since Joseph’s mother, sister and two brothers had all joined the Presbyterian Church in the mid 1820’s, which practiced infant baptism, we assume this was a point of discussion in his own home.
While some religions do baptize babies, the purpose in many instances is not that dissimilar to Latter-day Saints blessing babies, and actual membership comes much later when a form of confirmation takes place – sometimes around the age of 12. In Catholicism, partaking of the communion or sacrament starts at the age of discernment, usually about the age seven. But in Mormonism, children start to take the sacrament as soon as they can manage to do so – like at 2 years old. In Catholicism, actual confirmation, which involves a series of classes, is usually at the age of thirteen or fourteen, although there is no set age. However, LDS children are baptized and confirmed at the age eight, with no specific learning or personal understanding – parents simply request it. And there is a lot of social pressure on LDS children to get baptized, because their friends are getting baptized at eight. The child is “interviewed” by the bishop, but they are usually naïve as to what they are committing themselves to.
In Judaism, boys are thirteen and girls twelve when they formally commit to live by Jewish laws. This is known as becoming a “bar mitzvah” or a son of the commandments. Confirmation is about sixteen or eighteen and is considered a “coming of age.”
Baptism at age eight is not biblical. No age for baptism is specified in the Bible at all. In Luke 2:41-50, Jesus was twelve when he was found in the temple talking with the doctors and he was thirty before he became a preacher. He was baptized at that time in His adult life. He never define a suitable baptism age and never said baptism was necessary for salvation.
Moroni 8:7 “For immediately after I had learned these things of you I inquired of the Lord concerning the matter. And the word of the Lord came to me by the power of the Holy Ghost, saying:” The phrase “the power of the Holy Ghost” is from Romans 15:13.
Moroni 8:8 “Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance; the whole need no physician, but they that are sick; wherefore, little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin; wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me, that it hath no power over them; and the law of circumcision is done away in me.” The “law of circumcision” as taught in Genesis 17:10-12.
Moroni 8:9 “And after this manner did the Holy Ghost manifest the word of God unto me; wherefore, my beloved son, I know that it is solemn mockery before God, that ye should baptize little children.” In other words, God is mocked every time a child is baptized.
The term “ghost” as in “Holy Ghost” did not come into use until many hundreds of years after the Book of Mormon was supposed to have been inscribed on ancient plates. That the writer borrowed from the King James Version is indisputable.
Moroni 8:10 “Behold I say unto you that this thing shall ye teach – repentance and baptism unto those who are accountable and capable of committing sin; yea, teach parents that they must repent and be baptized, and humble themselves as their little children, and they shall all be saved with their little children.” The phrase “repent and be baptized” is from Acts 2:38.
Moroni 8:11 “And their little children need no repentance, neither baptism. Behold, baptism is unto repentance to the fulfilling the commandments unto the remission of sins.” This teaches that baptism is necessary to have sins forgiven – which is not true. The words “need no repentance” are in Luke 15:7 and “unto repentance” are in Matthew 3:11 and “the remission of sins” are in Matthew 26:28.
Moroni 8:12 “But little children are alive in Christ, even from the foundation of the world; if not so, God is a partial God, and also a changeable God, and a respecter to persons; for how many little children have died without baptism!” In other words, if some little children were saved because they are baptized, while others are not saved, because they are not fortunate enough to be baptized, God would be showing favoritism. The phrase “from the foundation of the world” is from Matthew 13:35.
Moroni 8:13 “Wherefore, if little children could not be saved without baptism, these must have gone to an endless hell.”
Moroni 8:14 Next, Mormon expresses some strong feelings about anyone who would claim that little children need to be baptized. “Behold I say unto you, that he that supposeth that little children need baptism is in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; for he hath neither faith, hope, nor charity; wherefore, should he be cut off while in the thought, he must go down to hell.” The phrase “in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity” is taken from Acts 8:23.
Moroni 8:15 “For awful is the wickedness to suppose that God saveth one child because of baptism, and the other must perish because he hath no baptism.”
Moroni 8:16 “Wo be unto them that shall pervert the ways of the Lord after this manner, for they shall perish except they repent. Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear.” The words “except they repent” are in Revelation 2:22 and “having authority” are in Matthew 7:29 and “perfect love” are in 1 John 4:18.
Moroni 8:17 “And I am filled with charity, which is everlasting love; wherefore, all children are alike unto me; wherefore, I love little children with a perfect love; and they are all alike and partakers of salvation.” ^The words “charity, which is” are in Colossians 3:14.
Moroni 8:18 “For I know God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity.” Mosiah 3:5 agrees saying, “…the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity.” But Joseph Smith says, “Not so fast!” In an 1844 funeral address called the King Follet Discourse, Joseph invents this idea: “We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea,… he was once a man like us…” (Teaching of Joseph Smith, pages 345-346). I would ask Joseph Smith – Why did the Latter-day Saints “imagine and suppose” this? Because it came from the Book of Mormon. From the same prophet Mormon who wrote that God is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity.
The God of the Bible is from everlasting to everlasting (see Psalm 41:13), without beginning or end; the all-powerful Creator of the universe; a God of perfect wisdom and knowledge; unchanging and unlimited. Joseph Smith’s God is one that was once a sinful human being and is supposed to be ever increasing and ever progressing. He is bound and subject to the laws of physics and has, to learn to work within their limitations. That is not the God of the Bible, nor the Book of Mormon, for that matter.
Moroni 8:19 “Little children cannot repent; wherefore, it is awful wickedness to deny the pure mercies of God unto them, for they are all alive in him because of his mercy.” The phrase “mercies of God” is in Romans 12:1.
Moroni 8:20 “And he that saith that little children need baptism denieth the mercies of Christ, and setteth at naught the atonement of him and the power of his redemption.”
Moroni 8:21 Child-baptizers will be tormented forever in hell. “Wo unto such, for they are in danger of death, hell, and an endless torment. I speak it boldly; God hath commanded me. Listen unto them and give heed, or they stand against you at the judgment-seat of Christ.” The words “in danger of” are in Matthew 5:21 and “the judgment-seat” are in Romans 14:10.
Moroni 8:22 “For behold that all little children are alive in Christ, and also all they that are without the law. For the power of redemption cometh on all them that have no law; wherefore, he that is not condemned, or he that is under no condemnation, cannot repent; and unto such baptism availeth nothing –“ The words “no condemnation” are in Romans 8:1.
Moroni 8:23 “But it is mockery before God, denying the mercies of Christ, and the power of his Holy Spirit, and putting trust in dead works.” The words “dead works” are in Hebrews 6:1.
Moroni 8:24 “Behold, my son, this thing ought not to be; for repentance is unto them that are under condemnation and under the curse of a broken law.” Those who are accountable for breaking laws of God, in spite, of their knowledge and understanding of them.
Moroni 8:25 “And the first fruits of repentance is baptism; and baptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins;” The phrase “remission of sins” is in Matthew 26:28.
Moroni 8:26 “And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God.” ^The words “lowliness of” are in Philippians 2:3 and “the Holy Ghost” are in Matthew 1:18.
Moroni 8:27 “Behold, my son, I will write unto you again if I go not out soon against the Lamanites. Behold, the pride of this nation, or the people of the Nephites, hath proven their destruction except they should repent.”
Moroni 8:28 “Pray for them, my son, that repentance may come unto them. But behold, I fear lest the Spirit hath ceased striving with them; and in this part of the land they are also seeking to put down all power and authority which cometh from God; and they are denying the Holy Ghost.” This situation is looking grave. The phrase “Pray for them” is in Matthew 5:44 and “I fear lest” is in 2 Corinthians 11:3 and “power and authority” is in Luke 9:1 and “cometh from God” is in John 5:44.
Moroni 8:29 “And after rejecting so great a knowledge, my son, they must perish soon, unto the fulfilling of the prophecies which are spoken by the prophets, as well as the words of our Savior himself.” ^The words “the fulfilling of the” are in Romans 13:10 and “the prophets, as” are in Acts 15:15.
Moroni 8:30 “Farewell, my son, until I shall write unto you, or shall meet you again. Amen.”
In a revelation through Joseph Smith in 1830, the Lord teaches that little children cannot sin because Satan does not have the power to tempt little children (see Doctrine and Covenants 29:46-47).
Likewise, an 1831 revelation through Joseph Smith teaches that the age for children to be baptized is eight. At that magical age, they should be baptized for the remission of their sins (see Doctrine and Covenants 68:25-27). It is a perfect age to influence a child ready for a Mormon future, and a terrible age at which to suggest that any child actually knows what they are doing.
Joseph Smith claims to have created his own translation of the Bible called the Inspired Version or the Joseph Smith Translation where he added and revised sections of the Bible without any support from the ancient manuscripts. One change he made to his version of the Bible is at Genesis 17:10-12 where God makes a covenant with Abraham, requiring circumcision at “eight days” old. Although this covenant was performed for centuries by all biblical prophets up through the time of Christ, Joseph Smith changed it from “eight days” to “eight years.” And this is the basis of the LDS practice of baptism at “eight years,” even though the context of the Genesis passage speaks of circumcision, and not baptism. Does that make sense? Would God really wait over 3,000 years of His Prophets and His Son performing the first covenant wrong until Joseph Smith comes along and corrects it in his Bible?
And, in a vision given to Joseph Smith in 1836, he teaches that children who die before they arrive at the years of accountability – meaning 8 years old – are saved in the celestial kingdom (see Doctrine and Covenants 137:10).
Furthermore, President Joseph F. Smith, taught that such children are not only saved in the celestial kingdom, but they will be exalted: “Under these circumstances, our beloved friends who are now deprived of their little one, have great cause for joy and rejoicing, even in the midst of the deep sorrow that they feel at the loss of their little one for a time. They know he is all right; they have the assurance that their little one ha passed away without sin. Such children are in the bosom of the Father. They will inherit their glory and their exaltation.” (see Gospel Doctrine: Selections from the Sermons and Writings of Joseph F. Smith, page 452).
In continuing the theology of Mormonism – Since these little ones will be exalted, they must be married and sealed to a spouse. They will be given the opportunity in the afterlife, to associate with others and chose an eternal mate. Then to have worthy Latter-day Saints on earth enter a Mormon temple and get sealed for them, by proxy, during the Millennium. Apostle and President Joseph Fielding Smith taught: “The Lord has said through his servants during the millennium those who have passed beyond and have attained the resurrection will reveal in person to those who are still in mortality all the information which is required to complete the work of these who have passed from this life. Then the dead will have the privilege of making known the things they desire and are entitled to receive. In this way no soul will be neglected and the work of the Lord will be perfected.” (see Doctrines of Salvation vol. 3, page 65.)
Moroni 9 This is the second letter from Mormon to his son, Moroni. He uses the phrase “my son” eight times.
Moroni 9:1 “MY beloved son, I write unto you again that ye may know that I am yet alive; but I write somewhat of that which is grievous.” The phrase “My beloved son” is in Matthew 3:17.
Moroni 9:2 “For behold, I have had a sore battle with the Lamanites, in which we did not conquer; and Archeantus has fallen by the sword, and also Luram and Emron; yea, and we have lost a great number of our choice men.”
Moroni 9:3 “And now behold, my son, I fear lest the Lamanites shall destroy this people; for they do not repent, and Satan stirreth them up continually to anger one with another.” The words “I fear lest” are in 2 Corinthians 11:3.
Moroni 9:4 “Behold, I am laboring with them continually; and when I speak the word of God with sharpness they tremble and anger against me; and when I use no sharpness they harden their hearts against it; wherefore, I fear lest the Spirit of the Lord hath ceased striving with them.” ^The words “speak the word of God with” are in Acts 4:31.
Moroni 9:5 “For so exceedingly do they anger that it seemeth me that they have lost their love, one towards another; and they thirst after blood and revenge continually.”
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 our souls in the kingdom of God.” The phrase “in this tabernacle” is in 2 Corinthians 5:4 and “enemy of all righteousness” is from Acts 13:10 and “the kingdom of God” is in Matthew 6:33.
Moroni 9:7 “And now I write somewhat concerning the sufferings of this people. For according to the knowledge which I have received from Amoron, behold, the Lamanites have many prisoners, which they took from the tower of Sherrizah; and there were men, women, and children.”
Moroni 9:8 Mormon describes the war-time atrocities of the Lamanites, like cannibalism. “And the husbands and fathers of those women and children they have slain; and they feed the women upon the flesh of their husbands, and the children upon the flesh of their fathers; and no water, save a little, do they give unto them.”
Moroni 9:9 “And notwithstanding this great abomination of the Lamanites, it doth not exceed that of our people in Moriantum. For behold, many of the daughters of the Lamanites have they taken prisoners; and after depriving them of that which was most dear and precious above all things, which is chastity and virtue – “ They have raped the Nephite women.
Moroni 9:10 “And after they had done this thing, they did murder them in a most cruel manner, torturing their bodies even until death; and after they have done this, they devour their flesh like unto wild beasts, because of the hardness of their hearts; and they do it for a token of bravery.” The phrase “the hardness of their hearts” is in Mark 3:5.
Moroni 9:11 Next, Mormon poses a series of questions about such deplorable behavior. “O my beloved son, how can a people like this, that are without civilization – “
Moroni 9:12 “(And only a few years have passed away, and they were a civil and delightsome people)”
Moroni 9:13 “But O my son, how can a people like this, whose delight is in so much abomination – “
Moroni 9:14 “How can we expect that God will stay his hand in judgment against us.”
Moroni 9:15 “Behold, my heart cries: Wo unto this people. Come out in judgment, O God, and hide their sins, and wickedness, and abominations from before thy face!”
Moroni 9:16 “And again, my son, there are many widows and their daughters who remain in Sherrizah; and that part of the provisions which the Lamanites did not carry away, behold, the army of Zenephi has carried away, and left them to wander withersoever they can for food; and many old women do faint by the way and die.”
Moroni 9:17 “And the army which is with me is weak; and the armies of the Lamanites are betwixt Sherrizah and me; and as many as have fled to the army of Aaron have fallen victims to their awful brutality.”
Moroni 9:18 “O the depravity of my people! They are without order and without mercy. Behold, I am but a man, and I have but the strength of a man, and I cannot any longer enforce my commands.”
Moroni 9:19 “And they have become strong in their perversion; and they are alike brutal, sparing none, neither old nor young; and they delight in everything save that which is good; and the suffering of our women and our children upon all the face of this land doth exceed everything; yea, tongue cannot tell, neither can it be written.”
Moroni 9:20 “And now, my son, I dwell no longer upon this horrible scene. Behold, thou knowest the wickedness of this people; thou knowest that they are without principle, and past feeling; and their wickedness doth exceed that of the Lamanites.”
Moroni 9:21 “Behold, my son, I cannot recommend them unto God lest he should smite me.”
Moroni 9:22 “But behold, my son, I recommend thee unto God, and I trust in Christ that thou wilt be saved; and I pray unto God that he will spare thy life, to witness the return of his people unto him, or their utter destruction; for I know that they must perish except they repent and return unto him.” Moroni did witness the complete destruction of the Nephite nation (see Mormon 8:3). In the 1830 edition page 585 the word “behold” was incorrectly spelled “beold.” ^The words “and I pray” are in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 and “except they repent” are in Revelation 2:22.
Moroni 9:23 “And if they perish it will be like unto the Jaradites, because of the wilfulness of their hearts, seeking for blood and revenge.”
Moroni 9:24 “And if it so be that they perish, we know that many of our brethren have deserted over unto the Lamanites, and many more will also desert over unto them; wherefore, write somewhat a few things, if thou art spared and I shall perish and not see thee; but I trust that I may see thee soon; for I have sacred records that I would deliver up unto thee.” He is hoping to transfer the gold plates to Moroni.
Moroni 9:25 This is Mormon’s final blessing to his son Moroni. “My son, be faithful in Christ; and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever.” The words “faithful in Christ” are in Ephesians 1:1 and “of eternal life” are in John 6:68.
Moroni 9:26 “And may the grace of God the Father, whose throne is high in the heavens, and our Lord Jesus Christ, who sitteth on the right hand of his power, until all things shall become subject unto him, be, and abide with you forever. Amen.” The phrase “the grace of God” is in Hebrews 12:15 and “and our Lord Jesus Christ” is in 1 Thessalonians 3:11 and “subject unto him” is from 1 Corinthians 15:28.
This concludes our study for today. Please subscribe, so you will not miss any of the future episodes. You can also catch us on YouTube, Apple podcast, and Google podcast. Or you can go to our website at Talking to Mormons.com – where you can download this script and learn much more.
Until next time,
God Bless!