Unit 31: Day 2

Moroni 1–5

Introduction

After completing his abridgment of the plates of Ether, Moroni explained that he “had supposed not to have written more” (Moroni 1:1). However, he was preserved to “write a few more things, that perhaps they may be of worth” to those in the last days (Moroni 1:4). Moroni 1–5 affirm Moroni’s faithfulness to Jesus Christ. They also outline instructions for important ordinances of the gospel, including the administration of the sacrament.

Moroni 1

Moroni wanders for the safety of his life and continues his writings

Elder David E. Sorenson, an emeritus member of the Seventy, told the following story about a young woman who had the courage to stand up for her beliefs:

“My granddaughter Jennifer was invited to go with several of her school friends to a dinner and a movie. The girls all agreed on the movie they were going to see, and Jennifer was comfortable attending. However, the girl who left dinner to buy the movie tickets for the group returned with tickets to a different movie than was planned! She said, ‘It is a great show, and it’s R-rated.’

“Jennifer, caught by surprise, couldn’t believe the situation had changed so quickly. But fortunately she had made up her mind before she ever found herself in this position that she would not watch R-rated movies. She was able to stand firm and say to her friends, ‘I can’t go see an R-rated movie. My parents would not approve.’ To which the girls replied, ‘Oh, come on! Your parents will never know!’ Confronted with this, Jennifer went on to say, ‘Well, actually it doesn’t matter whether my parents will know. I just don’t go to R-rated movies!’

“Her friends were upset and tried to get her to relent. They told her she ‘was ruining everything.’ When she would not give in, they threw the ticket and change in her face and deserted her for the R-rated movie. It wound up being a lonely night full of rejection from her friends. But it was a great moment for Jennifer and our family. She gained confidence, self-worth, and spiritual power” (“You Can’t Pet a Rattlesnake,” Ensign, May 2001, 42).

Read Moroni 1:1–3, and look for how Moroni stood alone for his beliefs. Moroni and Elder Sorensen’s granddaughter both exemplify ways in which individuals can choose to stand up for that which they know is right. You too can make seemingly small decisions every day that demonstrate your faith, obedience, and desire to follow Christ.

1. Write in your scripture study journal about a time when you chose to stand up for your beliefs or to demonstrate your faith through obedience.

Think about how you can better stand up for your belief in Jesus Christ. Read Moroni 1:4 to discover why Moroni chose to write more. What can we learn from Moroni’s example and motivation to write more to the descendants of those seeking his life? What might you write to your own descendants that would be a blessing to them? As you study Moroni 2–5, consider how the things Moroni chose to write about are “of worth” to you (Moroni 1:4).

Moroni 2

Moroni records instructions on conferring the gift of the Holy Ghost

Think about your experience being confirmed a member of the Church and having hands laid on your head so you could receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. What do you remember about this ordinance? Read Moroni 2:1–3, and consider how the gift of the Holy Ghost has been a blessing in your life.

One gospel truth taught in these verses is this: Worthy members holding proper priesthood authority can bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost on baptized members by the laying on of hands.

Moroni 3

Moroni records instructions on ordaining individuals to priesthood offices

Have you ever seen a record of someone’s priesthood line of authority? This record shows who ordained an individual to the priesthood and who in turn ordained that person and so on back to Jesus Christ. Perhaps you have a copy of your own priesthood line of authority or have seen a brother’s or father’s. Think about the significance of being able to trace the line of authority directly to Jesus Christ as you read the following statement from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:

“Clearly, acting with divine authority requires more than mere social contract. It cannot be generated by theological training or a commission from the congregation. No, in the authorized work of God there has to be power greater than that already possessed by the people in the pews or in the streets or in the seminaries—a fact that many honest religious seekers had known and openly acknowledged for generations leading up to the Restoration. …

“… We in the restored Church of Jesus Christ can trace the priesthood line of authority exercised by the newest deacon in the ward, the bishop who presides over him, and the prophet who presides over all of us. That line goes back in an unbroken chain to angelic ministers who came from the Son of God Himself, bearing this incomparable gift from heaven” (“Our Most Distinguishing Feature,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2005, 44).

Each person who receives the Aaronic or Melchizedek priesthood is also ordained to a priesthood office that includes certain duties. Read Moroni 3:1–4, and look for how individuals are ordained to priesthood offices, including the office of priest or teacher.

You may want to write the following truth in your scriptures next to these verses: Individuals are ordained to priesthood offices by the laying on of hands by those having authority.

2. Answer the following questions in your scripture study journal:

   1. Why do you think it is necessary for an individual to be ordained to a priesthood office by someone who already holds the priesthood?

   2. How is having the authority of the priesthood in the Church or in your family of worth to you?

Moroni 4–5

Moroni explains how the sacrament is to be administered

3. Think about the emblems of the sacrament and about your experiences of partaking of the sacrament. Then do the following in your scripture study journal:

   1. From memory, as best you can, write out one of the sacrament prayers, either for the bread or for the water.

   2. After reviewing these sacred prayers (see Moroni 4:3; 5:2) and checking what you wrote in the first part of this assignment, write about a part of one of the sacrament prayers that stands out to you, and explain why that portion of the prayer is meaningful to you.

Moroni included the prayers for the administration of the sacrament in his record because he felt they would be “of worth” to people “in some future day” (Moroni 1:4). Read Moroni 4:1–3 and 5:1–2, and identify phrases that explain what the sacramental bread and water represent. As you read, it may be helpful to remember that today the Church uses water in the sacrament instead of wine as a result of a revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith (see D&C 27:2).

Summarize the purpose of the sacrament by completing this statement: The emblems of the sacrament help us remember .

Contemplate why the Savior’s body and blood are significant to you.

The physical suffering, death, and Resurrection of the Savior’s body and His intense spiritual suffering, evidenced through the shedding of His blood, made possible a remission of sins for all people who exercise faith in Him and repent. The emblems of the sacrament help us remember the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

4. Answer one or both of the following questions in your scripture study journal:

   1. How has sincerely pondering the Savior’s Atonement during the sacrament helped or strengthened you spiritually?

   2. What can you do to better focus on remembering the Savior’s Atonement during the sacrament?

To help you understand what you promise to do as you partake of the sacrament, review Moroni 4:3 and complete the following chart:

What I covenant to do	What I think it means to keep this part of the covenant	What I can do to better keep this part of the covenant
1.
2.
3.

We also learn from Moroni 4:3 that as we faithfully keep our part of the covenant of the sacrament, we can always have the Lord’s Spirit to be with us.

As you read the following statement from Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, think about how you have experienced the gift of the Holy Ghost in the ways he mentions: “The Spirit of the Lord can be our guide and will bless us with direction, instruction, and spiritual protection during our mortal journey” (“That We May Always Have His Spirit to Be with Us,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2006, 31).

Ponder the Savior’s Atonement as you partake of the sacrament on Sunday. Try to keep the parts of the covenant that you identified in the chart so you can always have the Lord’s Spirit with you.

5. Write the following at the bottom of today’s assignments in your scripture study journal:

   I have studied Moroni 1–5 and completed this lesson on (date).

   Additional questions, thoughts, and insights I would like to share with my teacher: