So, this is something I studied this week. I loved it.
Moroni was a smart guy. He and his father, also a very smart man, did some incredible work in the composition and protection of the Book of Mormon. Mormon, kind of in the background, is pretty much responsible for the entire BOM, but Moroni also helped in the end. He did a great job abridging the Jaredite record, and I love the following: Moroni 7.
In moroni 7, Moroni introduces one of his father´s talks on faith hope and charity. Mormon starts out by addressing members of the church who already "have obtained a sufficient chope by which ye can enter into the drest of the Lord." These members are you and I. We already have a testimony, or a hope, however big or small it may be. He speaks to us about good works, and other good things. One is that he helps us know how to judge good from evil (which, as easy as it sounds, can become very difficult as themes and ideas mix and intermingle). Then, he explains that to make it easier to judge these things (good and evil), we are all given the Light of Christ, and reminds us to be careful how we judge, for our own actions determine our later consequences (v. 18).
Then getting beyond just picking good things from all the bad things, he teaches us how to "lay hold on every good thing." this is important, because if you want to see miracles, or have any kind of spiritual experience for that matter, (things that build our faith even stronger), you must exercise the faith that you already have.
Then, in verse 40, he starts to talk about these other traits of hope and charity. I like to call this part, gospel math, because Mormon lays out this super cool equation that explains where each of these things comes from. I invite you all to read the chapter, because I´m not going to outline the whole thing here.
Hope is a precurser for Faith. Humility and Meekness come before hope AND faith. Then we get to charity, which in some regards is stronger than them all. For "acharity is the pure blove of Christ, and it endureth cforever". I think this is magnificent. Because Christ extends this beautiful wonderful charity to all those who simply look to him, have faith in him, follow him. And better yet, Christ will give you this love so you can be more like him, and feel what´s it´s like to have it for someone, and the process is very simple. I will let you all study the chapter to find out how to do it. (I know you prob know how already, but you may have forgotten..)
Please study Moroni 7. It will bless your week. I promise that what it says in there is true. Faith hope and Charity are traits to make sacrifices for. Powers to yearn for. I invite you all to search after them. Try to develop them and become more Christlike people. I bear my testimony that Christ can give us hope-- If you find it hard to have faith in something at first, start with hope. Hope for it. Hope it´s true. Elder Holland taught us that it´s ok to start with just that. And then, work towards faith that´s strong enough that you keep all the commandments, even though you dont understand many of them. (Also very OK. You won´t EVER understand the commandments until you keep them first.) And then comes, Charity, and you will find that you do things for people you never thought you could. You will see the power of Christ working in you, and THAT is truly a treasure, an honor, and a blessing.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Elder Hartvigsen
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