Seminary
Moroni 1: I Will Not Deny the Christ

“Moroni 1: I Will Not Deny the Christ,” Book of Mormon Student Manual (2024)

“Moroni 1,” Book of Mormon Student Manual

Moroni 1

I Will Not Deny the Christ

Moroni

Being a follower of Jesus Christ has never been easy. Near the end of the Book of Mormon, the prophet Moroni revealed that followers of Christ were being put to death unless they denied the Savior (see Moroni 1:2). Because Moroni refused to deny Jesus Christ, he was forced to wander wherever he could to find safety and stay hidden from the Lamanites. Perhaps you have felt alone when trying to live your faith and stay true to the Savior and His Church. This lesson can help motivate you to always follow Jesus Christ and not deny Him.

Facing opposition

Take a moment to think about how you tend to act when you are surrounded by those who may not share your standards or beliefs about God.

green, yellow, orange, and red squares

The colors in this diagram could help you imagine different levels of opposition that a disciple of Jesus Christ might face. Green could represent no opposition. Yellow and orange could suggest increasing levels of opposition, while red could symbolize the most difficult opposition.

President Thomas S. Monson (1927–2018) served in the military as a young man and witnessed many acts of courage. He shared the following example.

Think about the color you would choose to represent the level of opposition this young man experienced. How do you think you would act in a similar situation?

16:18

Be Strong and of a Good Courage

President Thomas S. Monson

One which I shall never forget was the quiet courage of an 18-year-old seaman—not of our faith—who was not too proud to pray. Of 250 men in the company, he was the only one who each night knelt down by the side of his bunk, at times amidst the jeers of bullies and the jests of unbelievers. With bowed head, he prayed to God. He never wavered. He never faltered. He had courage. (Thomas S. Monson, “Be Strong and of a Good Courage,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 67)

  • What stands out to you about this example?

  • What do you think is difficult about always following Jesus Christ? What helps you?

List some other situations in which following Jesus Christ might be challenging. Try to imagine specific details and consider what color on the diagram would best fit each situation.

Of course, it is much easier to talk about our commitment to Jesus Christ than it is to follow through in the moment we are challenged. As you study, seek to find the motivation you need to stay true to your belief in Jesus Christ and to the standards of His restored Church.

Moroni is hunted by the Lamanites

When Moroni was given the responsibility to keep and preserve the records of the Nephite people, he also faced opposition.

Read Moroni 1:1–4, considering how you might rate the opposition he faced.

To help you get a better idea of what life might have been like for Moroni, you might also watch “Moroni Invites All to Come unto Christ” from time code 0:00 to 3:59, available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

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Moroni Invites All to Come unto Christ | Mormon 8–9; Moroni 1, 10; Title Page

  • How intense would you rate Moroni’s opposition?

  • What can we learn from Moroni’s example?

One truth we can learn is that we can be true to Jesus Christ in any circumstance and not deny Him.

  • Why is it important for us to be true, or loyal, to Jesus Christ?

  • What experiences do you think Moroni had that helped him be so loyal to Jesus Christ?

  • What do you know about Jesus Christ that could motivate you to not deny Him?

Consider marking Moroni’s words in verse 3. You could also record your name next to Moroni’s to help motivate you to always follow Jesus Christ.

Look up some of the following examples of individuals who were true to God during difficult circumstances.

Showing our commitment

  • When have you or someone you know shown commitment to Christ in difficult circumstances?

  • Are there any circumstances in which you are facing opposition for following Jesus Christ?

  • What can you do to be true to Jesus Christ in those circumstances?

  1.  Complete the following:

    To help you summarize what you learned from this lesson, make a poster or online post that can motivate you and others to stay true to Christ in any circumstance. Include a message from the scriptures that could motivate you to be true to Jesus Christ and not deny Him. You can pattern your poster or post after those in the For the Strength of Youth magazine. Here is an example:

data-poster about the Atonement of Jesus Christ

You could begin by finding an image in the “Image Collections” section of www.ChurchofJesusChrist.org/media or create your own illustration to help communicate your message. Then find a scripture to include with your picture. You could use a verse from Moroni 1, a scripture you find on your own, or one from the following list.