Moroni 9
Mormon’s Epistle on the Abominations of the People
Moroni 9:1–3
1 My beloved son, I write unto you again that ye may know that I am yet alive; but I write somewhat of that which is grievous.
2 For behold, I have had a sore battle with the Lamanites, in which we did not conquer; and Archeantus has fallen by the sword, and also Luram and Emron; yea, and we have lost a great number of our choice men.
3 And now behold, my son, I fear lest the Lamanites shall destroy this people; for they do not repent, and Satan stirreth them up continually to anger one with another.
Comments
This letter is a stark contrast to the letter in chapter 8. That letter was more formal, almost what we might call a First Presidency letter. This is clearly a letter from father to son, and it passes on the information of the day: sad information, but needed information.
Even though Mormon and Moroni are far enough apart that they have to resort to letters (and Mormon is clearly on the frontlines of the war), Moroni would have heard of the conflicts even though they had not yet reached where he was at the time. Therefore, it is most appropriate for his father to note immediately, that “I am yet alive.”
In Moroni 8:4, Mormon wrote of something that “grieveth [him] exceedingly.” Now he writes of very different news, “which is grievous.” These are hard times.
Mormon tells Moroni that the war is not going well. They are losing important men, or at least men that Moroni would have known, and for whom he would grieve. Most importantly, however, is that Mormon “fear[s] lest the Lamanites shall destroy this people; for they do not repent.”
That is an interesting statement because it is not only a prediction throughout the Book of Mormon, but a theme that Mormon ties to the destruction of the Jaredites. Yet, at the time of this letter, it might appear that Mormon does not yet know, but only fears, that the destruction will come.
The details of the timing of this letter are beyond these notes, but it appears highly likely that the Book of Mormon was written after this letter. Hence, we are seeing a time prior to the writing of Mormon’s masterwork, a time when perhaps he held out just a little hope; a time when he at least feared their destruction rather than knew it too well.
Moroni 9:4–6
4 Behold, I am laboring with them continually; and when I speak the word of God with sharpness they tremble and anger against me; and when I use no sharpness they harden their hearts against it; wherefore, I fear lest the Spirit of the Lord hath ceased striving with them.
5 For so exceedingly do they anger that it seemeth me that they have no fear of death; and they have lost their love, one towards another; and they thirst after blood and revenge continually.
6 And now, my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God.
Comments
Mormon the General spoke of the war. Mormon the Apostle now speaks of the second “war” he is fighting. Just as he is losing the battle for their physical lives, he is also losing the battle for the Nephites’ spiritual lives. His descriptions of the people’s reaction to his preaching is completely recognizable. If he speaks “with sharpness,” they become angry. When he uses “no sharpness they harden their hearts.”
Mormon is speaking of a people who have given themselves over to the bloodlust of war: “They thirst after blood and revenge continually.”
Nevertheless, Mormon does not advocate giving up, but encourages himself and Moroni to “labor diligently, for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation.” They do not necessarily labor in hope of success, but out of the duty of the calling.
Moroni 9:7–8
7 And now I write somewhat concerning the sufferings of this people. For according to the knowledge which I have received from Amoron, behold, the Lamanites have many prisoners, which they took from the tower of Sherrizah; and there were men, women, and children.
8 And the husbands and fathers of those women and children they have slain; and they feed the women upon the flesh of their husbands, and the children upon the flesh of their fathers; and no water, save a little, do they give unto them.
Comments
Mormon returns to the issue of the war, and the sad way in which the war is developing. He is commenting on things that he clearly feels have gone beyond the honorable way of war. In the ancient world, war was never a pretty thing. It was always gruesome, but typically there were rules that one would follow. Mormon appears to be suggesting that the nature of warfare has changed. Indeed, previous wars had the goal of political and economic dominance. This war is a war of intended destruction. It really was different.
Particularly abhorrent to Mormon was the treatment of captive women and children. He passes on the report that has come to him that “they feed women upon the flesh of their husbands, and the children upon the flesh of their fathers.” That is abhorrent. That is beyond our understanding. It was probably hyperbole.
If we are placing the Book of Mormon in Mesoamerica, there was certainly a practice of ritual cannibalism. However, in Mesoamerica, and in virtually all known cases, cannibalism is not acceptable except within certain confines, and typically those are considered by the practitioners as sacred. Thus, we can be certain that women and children were sacrificed. That was known practice, under certain circumstances, in Mesoamerica.
Ritual cannibalism was practiced, but nothing in the practice would suggest that it was used to humiliate, which is the suggestion here. If they were actually fed the flesh of the fathers, there would have been some religious meaning behind it, even though we would not agree with the religion that would do that.
Moroni 9:9–10
9 And notwithstanding this great abomination of the Lamanites, it doth not exceed that of our people in Moriantum. For behold, many of the daughters of the Lamanites have they taken prisoners; and after depriving them of that which was most dear and precious above all things, which is chastity and virtue—
10 And after they had done this thing, they did murder them in a most cruel manner, torturing their bodies even unto death; and after they have done this, they devour their flesh like unto wild beasts, because of the hardness of their hearts; and they do it for a token of bravery.
Comments
Mormon continues with the horrors of war by noting that this new type of warfare is affecting the way Nephites fight the war as well. They, too, are adopting some of these terrible practices. For the Nephite cannibalism, note that “they do it for a token of bravery.” That is a little closer to the religious motivations of ritual cannibalism. The eating of flesh entails not only the body, but also the spirit of the one sacrificed. Thus, there is the statement (verse 10) that the eating of flesh might be for demonstrating bravery, although typically it was the flesh of a warrior, and not of a sacrificed and tortured maiden. If the context of verse 9 really was the Nephite rape and torture of women, Mormon is telling Moroni just how far the Nephites have fallen, and why they will no longer hear the word of God. They are too far gone in their bloodlust.
Moroni 9:11–15
11 O my beloved son, how can a people like this, that are without civilization—
12 (And only a few years have passed away, and they were a civil and a delightsome people)
13 But O my son, how can a people like this, whose delight is in so much abomination—
14 How can we expect that God will stay his hand in judgment against us?
15 Behold, my heart cries: Wo unto this people. Come out in judgment, O God, and hide their sins, and wickedness, and abominations from before thy face!
Comments
Mormon’s feelings run over onto the letter. Verses 11–14 need to be read as a single idea, a single sentence. The phrase “how can a people like this” is not resolved until verse 14, where the conclusion is: “How can we expect that God will stay his hand in judgment against us?” Verse 12 is marked in parenthesis to note that it is an inserted idea into the sentence. It is Mormon noting the contrast between the current state of the people, and a people that only a few years prior were “a civil and a delightsome people,” but are now “without civilization.”
Moroni 9:16–17
16 And again, my son, there are many widows and their daughters who remain in Sherrizah; and that part of the provisions which the Lamanites did not carry away, behold, the army of Zenephi has carried away, and left them to wander whithersoever they can for food; and many old women do faint by the way and die.
17 And the army which is with me is weak; and the armies of the Lamanites are betwixt Sherrizah and me; and as many as have fled to the army of Aaron have fallen victims to their awful brutality.
Comments
Mormon’s failures to stir repentance on his people are echoed in his failure to physically protect his people: “The army which is with me is weak; and the armies of the Lamanites are betwixt Sherrizah (where help was needed) and me.”
Moroni 9:18–19
18 O the depravity of my people! They are without order and without mercy. Behold, I am but a man, and I have but the strength of a man, and I cannot any longer enforce my commands.
19 And they have become strong in their perversion; and they are alike brutal, sparing none, neither old nor young; and they delight in everything save that which is good; and the suffering of our women and our children upon all the face of this land doth exceed everything; yea, tongue cannot tell, neither can it be written.
Comments
Mormon concludes this portion of the letter with his personal feelings of failure. “I am but a man, and I have but the strength of a man, and I cannot any longer enforce my commands.” Mormon is a leader, but a leader only when those he leads will listen. They are no longer doing that. Mormon sees that the end is coming.
Moroni 9:20–22
20 And now, my son, I dwell no longer upon this horrible scene. Behold, thou knowest the wickedness of this people; thou knowest that they are without principle, and past feeling; and their wickedness doth exceed that of the Lamanites.
21 Behold, my son, I cannot recommend them unto God lest he should smite me.
22 But behold, my son, I recommend thee unto God, and I trust in Christ that thou wilt be saved; and I pray unto God that he will spare thy life, to witness the return of his people unto him, or their utter destruction; for I know that they must perish except they repent and return unto him.
Comments
Mormon intends to shift the subject. As his final word, he leaves an important parallel: “I cannot recommend them unto God.” That is a contrasting parallel to: “But behold, my son, I recommend thee unto God.”
Moroni 9:23–24
23 And if they perish it will be like unto the Jaredites, because of the wilfulness of their hearts, seeking for blood and revenge.
24 And if it so be that they perish, we know that many of our brethren have deserted over unto the Lamanites, and many more will also desert over unto them; wherefore, write somewhat a few things, if thou art spared and I shall perish and not see thee; but I trust that I may see thee soon; for I have sacred records that I would deliver up unto thee.
Comments
As suggested in the comments on verse 3 in this chapter, the Book of Mormon had not been written at this point. Nevertheless, Mormon’s readings were gelling as to the things that he would write. Therefore, even though the Nephite end does not yet seem sure (“if they perish”), Mormon still links it to the demise of the Jaredites. That is a theme that he elaborates clearly in his masterwork.
Verse 24 notes that Mormon has records that he wants to give to Moroni. Modern readers will certainly assume that this means the plates containing the Book of Mormon. However, they had not yet been written. Mormon intended originally for Moroni to have custody of all of the records. Eventually, that would not happen. The archive would be buried in Cumorah (Mormon 6:6) and Moroni would be entrusted with the record that was predicted to survive and to come forth, as out of the dust.
Moroni 9:25–26
25 My son, be faithful in Christ; and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever.
26 And may the grace of God the Father, whose throne is high in the heavens, and our Lord Jesus Christ, who sitteth on the right hand of his power, until all things shall become subject unto him, be, and abide with you forever. Amen.
Comments
Mormon understands that he has written a gloomy letter. His intent was to inform, not to depress, so he desires that rather than let these tidings “weigh [Moroni] down,” that Moroni should allow that “Christ lift [him] up.” He is to take heart and have hope in his faith.
