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| ©Darrell Wyatt |
This morning as I was reading, I learned of the absolute integrity that Mormon possessed. The kind of integrity that is, unfortunately, so rare. Mormon knew that his people were going to be destroyed because of their wickedness. He tried with all his might to preach repentance to them, but to no avail. They continued to boast in their own strength when they won sporadic battles against the Lamanites. They delighted in their riches, and went to war for unrighteous reasons. He knew that they would have to be swept off the face of the earth, as had been foretold, and he sorrowed greatly because of this knowledge. Yet, when he was again appointed to lead these armies, he did so with honor. Instead of putting himself halfheartedly into his duties, he led the armies with every ounce of courage and strength that he could muster.
Knowing that the coming battle would be the last, Mormon hid the plates away from the Lamanites. He knew that if the records fell into the wrong hands, they would be destroyed. But he did not bury all of the plates. He understood that there would need to be a continued record of the events to follow, so he left a few plates to his son Mormon. Even in this, he showed extreme integrity. He was called on by the Lord to keep a record of the happenings of his time. Facing certain death, he continued this record. Could I have done the same? I'm not sure.
If my math is right, over 230,000 Nephites died in this, the last battle. According to Mormon's count, there were twenty-four left alive, including himself and his son, Moroni.
And my soul was rent with anguish, because of the slain of my people, and I cried:
O ye fair ones, how could ye have departed from the ways of the Lord! O ye fair ones, how could ye have rejected that Jesus, who stood with open arms to receive you!
Behold, if ye had not done this, ye would not have fallen. But behold, ye are fallen, and I mourn your loss.
O ye fair sons and daughters, ye fathers and mothers, ye husbands and wives, ye fair ones, how is it that ye could have fallen!
But behold, ye are gone, and my sorrows cannot bring your return. (Mormon 6:16:20)
I cannot even comprehend the sorrow that Mormon felt, seeing an entire nation wiped out because they wouldn't turn to the Lord in repentance and humility. He had tried to warn them. He had tried to help them. But they would not listen. And now they were gone.
But Mormon did not see their annihilation as the end of his earthly calling. He continued to call on people to turn to the Lord - to preach to them of Jesus Christ and the blessings that come from belief on Him. The people that he was preaching to, however, were not even aware yet that he was speaking to them.
And now, behold, I would speak somewhat unto the remnant of this people who are spared, if it so be that God may give unto them my words, that they may know of the things of their fathers; (Mormon 7:1)
He was speaking to the descendants of the few surviving Nephites, and also to anyone who would thereafter read the records that he had written and abridged. He was, again, speaking to me.
Therefore repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus, and hold upon the gospel of Christ which shall be set before you, not only in this record but also in the record which shall come unto the Gentiles from the Jews, which record shall come from the Gentiles unto you. (Mormon 7:7)
Mormon wanted us to know that not only did his record testify of Christ, but so did the Bible.
For behold, this is written for the intent that ye may believe that; and if ye believe that ye will believe this also; and if ye believe this ye will know concerning your fathers, and also the marvelous works which were wrought by the power of God among them.(Mormon 7:8)
He testified of the truthfulness and importance of the Bible. The whole intent of Mormon's abridgment of the plates into what would become the Book of Mormon was to be another witness that the things in the Bible were true. That if we would read the Book of Mormon, we would believe the Bible, and if we would believe the Bible, we would believe the Book of Mormon. That we would have a complete record of the marvelous works which were wrought by the power of God.
Mormon spent his final days magnifying the calling given him by God. To testify of Christ. To complete the records of his people. He could have spent these days in peaceful rest, waiting to be taken to his promised place in the presence of the Lord. But he did not. His integrity would not allow it.
Shaking my head in awe once again. Where did she learn to be so wise and so cool?
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