“What did Moroni teach Joseph Smith?” Liahona, January 2021, 28
Come, Follow Me: Doctrine and Covenants
What did Moroni teach Joseph Smith?
Doctrine and Covenants 2; Joseph Smith—History 1:27–65
(January 11–17)
He Called Me by Name, by Michael Malm
On September 21, 1823, Joseph Smith prayed for forgiveness of his sins and to know his standing before God. As Joseph prayed, a light filled his room and he saw an angel standing in the air.
The angel called Joseph by name and introduced himself as Moroni. He told Joseph that he was forgiven and that God had a work for him to do.
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Moroni told Joseph that his name would “be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues” (Joseph Smith—History 1:33).
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Joseph learned about gold plates buried in a nearby hill that contained “the fulness of the everlasting Gospel” (Joseph Smith—History 1:34). Moroni also told Joseph about the Urim and Thummim that God had prepared for Joseph to translate the plates (see Joseph Smith—History 1:35).
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Moroni shared with Joseph several prophecies that were about to be fulfilled about the establishment of this last dispensation and the blessings it would bring to the world.
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Moroni appeared to Joseph three times that night and once the next morning. He delivered the same message but gave additional information and instruction to Joseph each time (see Joseph Smith—History 1:44–46, 49).