Come, Follow Me

Moroni’s Final Message for You

By Eric B. Murdock

Church Magazines

Moroni thought he had finished his record. Be glad that he wrote a little more.

It’s hard to imagine things getting any worse at the end of the Book of Mormon. Moroni, the last Nephite prophet, witnessed the entire destruction of his people—his whole family, all his friends, everyone.

Now he’s on the run.

Lamanites have vowed to kill anyone who will not deny Jesus Christ, so Moroni must wander alone “for the safety of [his] own life” (Moroni 1:3).

How terrifying! How did Moroni get through it?

He boldly declared, “I, Moroni, will not deny the Christ” (Moroni 1:3). He knew that no matter what happened, his faith in Jesus Christ would see him through. The same is true for you. This is Moroni’s final message that he left for you.

Remember What Matters Most

All alone and in hiding, Moroni worked to finish the record of his father, Mormon, who had been killed in battle. After adding the book of Ether and some words of his own (see Mormon 8–9), Moroni thought that he was done—until he felt inspired to “write a few more things” he hoped would “be of worth … in some future day” (Moroni 1:4). That day is our day, which Moroni saw (see Mormon 8:35). What did Moroni consider to be “of worth” to us?

Moroni shared important gospel truths (see Moroni 2–6) and testified of Jesus Christ. Even in troubling times, Moroni remembered what matters most. Like Moroni, you can find strength by remembering what matters most—your relationships with Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and your family and friends; living the gospel; and sharing what you know to be true.

Find Hope in the Pure Love of Christ

Moroni also included his father’s words (see Moroni 7–9). Mormon taught that faith in Jesus Christ leads to “hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection” (Moroni 7:41). Faith and hope then lead to charity, which “is the pure love of Christ” (Moroni 7:47).

Jesus Christ lived for us, He suffered, bled, and died for us, because He loves us. We can pray “with all the energy of heart” to be filled with His love, which is charity (Moroni 7:48; see Ether 12:33–34). It is only through the Savior that “we may have this hope” (Moroni 7:48). Mormon and Moroni knew this with all their hearts. The Savior’s unfailing love gives us every reason to hope.

Look to the Future with Faith

At great risk, Moroni finished the record and buried it near the top of a hill. Hundreds of years later, Joseph Smith translated the record and published it to the world as the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

In his final message, Moroni shares how we can know the Book of Mormon is true (see Moroni 10:4–5). He also invites us to “come unto Christ” (Moroni 10:32). When we accept Moroni’s invitation, we can look to the future with faith even when we’ve done our best and things still don’t go as we hoped.

Moroni knew this better than most. His faith allowed him to realize this promise from Jesus Christ: “If ye have faith ye can do all things which are expedient unto me” (Moroni 10:23). Moroni’s final message testifies that this promise is for you, too.

Jesus Christ is your Savior and Redeemer—in good times or troubling times; right now and always.