Mormon 7
Message to the Surviving Remnant
Mormon 7:1–5
1 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; yea, I speak unto you, ye remnant of the house of Israel; and these are the words which I speak:
2 Know ye that ye are of the house of Israel.
3 Know ye that ye must come unto repentance, or ye cannot be saved.
4 Know ye that ye must lay down your weapons of war, and delight no more in the shedding of blood, and take them not again, save it be that God shall command you.
5 Know ye that ye must come to the knowledge of your fathers, and repent of all your sins and iniquities, and believe in Jesus Christ, that he is the Son of God, and that he was slain by the Jews, and by the power of the Father he hath risen again, whereby he hath gained the victory over the grave; and also in him is the sting of death swallowed up.
Comments
These verses originally followed immediately upon Mormon’s lamentation for the destruction of his people. He had just stated of his current destroyed people: “O that ye had repented before this great destruction had come upon you” (Mormon 6:22). Now he transitions from the sadness of what cannot be recovered to a future remnant of that destroyed people who will still be capable of restoration to the house of Israel.
Therefore, as Mormon begins, he speaks to his future audience. Although he has previously known that his future audience would include the Gentiles, he is speaking particularly of the remnant of his people. They are the ones who are on his mind in these final days. This will be the last time that Mormon writes on the plates. After this, Moroni takes over. Thus, this chapter gives us Mormon’s final thoughts on the work he has produced.
What should that future remnant know? That they are descendants and inheritors of the blessings of the house of Israel. That they must repent. That they must come to the knowledge of their fathers (through Mormon’s writing), and that this will lead them to “believe in Jesus Christ, that he is the Son of God.”
Very interesting is that they “must lay down [their] weapons of war.” That aspect of repentance has been used to show what happened when the Lamanites became righteous. Most readers of the Book of Mormon remember the Anti-Nephi-Lehies who laid down their weapons of war, and we see that again in Helaman 5:50–51.
Mormon 7:6–8
6 And he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead, whereby man must be raised to stand before his judgment-seat.
7 And he hath brought to pass the redemption of the world, whereby he that is found guiltless before him at the judgment day hath it given unto him to dwell in the presence of God in his kingdom, to sing ceaseless praises with the choirs above, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, which are one God, in a state of happiness which hath no end.
8 Therefore repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus, and lay 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.
Comments
The Nephite nation had been destroyed. There were no more Nephites. By definition, those who remained were Lamanites, but Mormon had taken pains to note that there was no significant difference in righteousness among the peoples. For nearly two hundred years, both groups had given up their designations as opposites, and were joined in righteousness. After that time, both began to become wicked again, and Mormon once again declined to lead his people in war due to their unrighteousness.
Therefore, when Mormon spoke to future descendants who would be of the house of Israel, he would have designated them as Lamanites, but only as a category and not as enemies, nor as being unrighteous. Mormon told of different Lamanite populations who repented, and those who did became arguably more righteous than the Nephites. That is certainly the message of the Book of Mormon to modern Lamanites. They inherit the blessings, and, upon accepting Christ and living the gospel, can become “white and delightsome,” not because there is any physical change, but because they are the inheritors of the Lamanites who became white, or righteous, even more so than the Nephites.
Mormon 7:9–10
9 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.
10 And ye will also know that ye are a remnant of the seed of Jacob; therefore ye are numbered among the people of the first covenant; and if it so be that ye believe in Christ, and are baptized, first with water, then with fire and with the Holy Ghost, following the example of our Savior, according to that which he hath commanded us, it shall be well with you in the day of judgment. Amen.
Comments
Verse 9 begins by declaring: “This is written for the intent that ye may believe that.” The word that refers to Jesus Christ and his gospel, referenced in the preceding verse. Thus, Mormon again declares that the purpose of the Book of Mormon is to be a witness to Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God.
His final declaration to the future Lamanites is to assure them that they are “a remnant of the seed of Jacob; therefore [they] are numbered among the people of the first covenant.” That means that all of the blessings of the covenant can pertain to them ”if . . .” The “if” is that “[they] believe in Christ, and are baptized, first with water, then with fire and with the Holy Ghost.”
These are Mormon’s last words, and the end of a chapter that originally included our chapters 5–7.
