Lesson Manual

LDS Gospel Doctrine Teacher's Manual Lesson #47

LDS Gospel Doctrine Class Member Study Guide Lesson #47

KnoWhys

Why Did Moroni Deliver the Plates on September 22?
Joseph Smith—History 1:59

Why Will God Turn the Hearts of the Fathers to the Children?
3 Nephi 25:6

Why Was the 3 Nephites' Wish Helpful for Mormon and Moroni?
3 Nephi 28:7

Why is the 10-Year Peace Treaty Important?
Mormon 3:1

How Could So Many People Have Died at the Battle of Cumorah?
Mormon 6:14

How Did Mormon React to Seeing His People Slain?
Mormon 6:17

Why Did Moroni Write So Many Farewells?
Mormon 8:1

Articles

Moroni Overview

Peterson, H. Donl. Moroni 2 (Son of Mormon) In Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Edited by Daniel H. Ludlow. Vol. 2. New York: Macmillan, 1992.

Encyclopedic entry on the last Nephite prophet, Moroni.

Romney, Joseph B. Moroni, Angel In Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Edited by Daniel H. Ludlow. Vol. 2. New York: Macmillan, 1992.

Encyclopedic entry on the last Nephite prophet, Moroni, in his role as an angel of the Restoration.

Ricks, Eldin. Moroni, Visitations of In Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Edited by Daniel H. Ludlow. Vol. 2. New York: Macmillan, 1992.

Encyclopedic entry on the visits of the angel Moroni to Joseph Smith and others during the Restoration of the gospel.

Butler, John M. "The 'Author' and the 'Finisher' of the Book of Mormon." In The Book of Mormon: Fourth Nephi Through Moroni, From Zion to Destruction, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 61-68. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1995.

In the Church we speak of Jesus Christ as the author and finisher of our faith. This paper examines and compares Mormon as an “author” and Joseph Smith as a “finisher” of the Book of Mormon. Perhaps no other prophet personifies the preparation and achievements of Joseph Smith better than the prophet Mormon. He was a type for the Prophet Joseph—foreshadowing Joseph’s life and important mission.

Hatch, Gary Layne. "Mormon and Moroni: Father and Son." In The Book of Mormon: Fourth Nephi Through Moroni, From Zion to Destruction, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 105-115. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 1995.

A man of God to the end, Mormon the general knows that salvation cannot come by the sword but only through repentance and faith in Christ. Mormon ends his mortal ministry with his stirring testimony of Jesus and leaves his life’s work, his abridgment of the large plates of Nephi, the Book of Mormon, in the hands of his son, Moroni.

Peterson, H. Donl. "Moroni, the Last of the Nephite Prophets." In The Book of Mormon: Fourth Nephi Through Moroni, From Zion to Destruction, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate, Jr., 235-249. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, 1995.

This paper provides a thorough overview of what we know about the prophet Moroni. It discusses his possible upbringing, the origin of his name, his roles as church leader and military commander, and his most important role as abridger of the plates. The paper also discusses Moroni's influence in the Latter-days, from his presence in the Restoration, and his various travels across the Americas.

Reynolds, Noel B. Book of Mormon Authorship: New Light on Ancient Origins. Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, 1982.

In this volume, nine Latter-day Saint scholars each address the question of Book of Mormon authorship from a different approach. The tests of authenticity they employ rely on analytical techniques borrowed from such diverse disciplines as history, literature, statistics, and ancient Near Eastern studies.

Pace, Kevin G., and Mark R. Fotheringham. The Last Nephite, 2015.

Sheet music on Moroni.

Pratt, Parley P. An Angel from on High, Edited by John E. Tullidge, 1985.

Sheet music on Moroni, the angel of the Restoration.

Pratt, Parley P. An Angel from on High (Men's Choir), Edited by John E. Tullidge., 1985.

Sheet music on Moroni, the angel of the Restoration.

Frederick, Nick. "What Has Moroni to Do with John?" Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel 14, no. 3 (2013): 93-109.

When Jesus speaks to Moroni, he speaks with the voice and language similar to the voice and language found in the writings of John the Beloved. Moroni 7 also easily reflects 1 Corinthians 13.

Tvedtnes, John A. "Hidden Records." In The Most Correct Book: Insights from a Book of Mormon Scholar, 25-28. Salt Lake City: Cornerstone Publishing, 1999.

Although perceived as an anomaly and a fabrication by scholars of his day, recent discoveries have vindicated Joseph Smith’s account of a record written on gold plates and buried in the earth in a stone box. Indeed, the practice now appears to have been common among the cultures from which the Book of Mormon peoples derived.

Keller, Roger R. "Mormon and Moroni as Authors and Abridgers." In Reexploring the Book of Mormon, edited by John W. Welch, 269-271. Provo, UT: FARMS, 1992.

While many view Mormon as a passive compiler in creating the Book of Mormon, this article shows the different ways that he and Moroni actively interact with the sources. They even author entire chapters throughout the Book of Mormon in providing commentary on the narrative.

Moroni 1

Moroni 2

Welch, John W. "From Presence to Practice: Jesus, the Sacrament Prayers, the Priesthood, and Church Discipline in 3 Nephi 18 and Moroni 2–6." Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 5, no. 1 (1996): 119-139.

This paper explores several relationships between the texts in Moroni 2–6 and the words and deeds of Jesus in 3 Nephi 18. This study demonstrates that these instructions and procedures in Moroni 2-6 were rooted in the words and deeds of the resurrected Jesus in 3 Nephi 18, as he administered the sacrament, gave instructions to his disciples, and conferred upon the twelve the power to bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Gee, John. "Quotations of the Sealed Portions of the Book of Mormon." Insights 24, no. 6 (2004).

Gee points out several passages about Christ's ministry that Moroni quotes that aren't found elsewhere in the Book of Mormon and come after Mormon's death. Moroni’s quotations might come from a remarkable memory (the parallel quotations from Moroni 7:33 and 10:23 might indicate that), but they may also have come from the sealed portion of the plates that he had.

Moroni 3

Thomasson, Gordon C. "The Survivor and the Will to Bear Witness." In Reexploring the Book of Mormon, edited by John W. Welch, 266-268. Provo, UT: FARMS, 1992.

In an interesting and unique approach, Thomasson shows that Moroni and other Book of Mormon authors demonstrate similar human reactions to those that experience horrific traumas. Survivors of Hitler's death camps seem to react in similar ways to Book of Mormon authors, who also witnessed human atrocities and genocide.

Moroni 4 and 5

Welch, John W. "Our Nephite Sacrament Prayers." In Reexploring the Book of Mormon, edited by John W. Welch, 286-289. Provo, UT: FARMS, 1992.

Even though the Latter-day sacrament prayers are recorded in D&C 20, they first appear in the Book of Mormon. They appear in Moroni 4-5, as well as in 3 Nephi 18. A detailed relationship exists between Mosiah 5, 3 Nephi 18, and Moroni 4-5, and all three texts should be viewed together in minute detail.

Anderson, Richard Lloyd. "Religious Validity: The Sacrament Covenant in Third Nephi." In By Study and Also by Faith: Essays in Honor of Hugh W. Nibley. Volume 2. Edited by John M. Lundquist and Stephen D. Ricks. Provo and Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book and FARMS, 1990.

The baptismal commitment is the companion covenant to the sacrament in the Book of Mormon. This is vivid in the Nephite manual of ordinances, found at the beginning of Moroni, the final book in the Book of Mormon. It compiles documents of Nephite practices authorized by the Lord.

Pixton, Paul B., and John S. Tanner. Sacrament In Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Edited by Daniel H. Ludlow. Vol. 3. New York: Macmillan, 1992.

Encyclopedic entry on the sacrament, and the sacrament prayers that are recorded in the Book of Mormon.

Nicholson, John. "Questions and Answers - On Administering the Sacrament." Improvement Era 5, no. 6 (1902): 473-474.

This turn-of-the-century church document answers of question of administering the sacrament. It answers the question of whether two or one priests should kneel while blessing the sacrament.​

Moroni 6​

Further Reading

Preece, Michael J. Learning to Love the Book of Mormon - The Book of Moroni., 2014.

Hyde, Paul Nolan. A Comprehensive Commentary of the Book of Moroni. Orem, UT: Parrish Press, 2015.

Walker, Steve. "Last Words." In The Reader's Book of Mormon: Last Words: 4 Nephi – Moroni, edited by Robert A. Rees and Eugene England, vii-xxii. Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 2008.

Smith, Joseph F. "Questions and Answers - The Angel Who Restored the Gospel." Improvement Era 6, no. 5 (1903): 393-394.

Cowley, Matthias F.. "Questions and Answers - Were All the Unsealed Records of the Book of Mormon Translated?" Improvement Era 5, no. 5 (1902): 393-395.

Additional Lesson Guides

LDS Living Gospel Doctrine Lesson #47

RSC Gospel Doctrine Lesson #47

Meridian Magazine Gospel Doctrine Lesson #47

GospelDoctrine.com Moroni 1, Moroni 2, Moroni 3, Moroni 4, Moroni 5, Moroni 6

Feast Upon the Word notes on Gospel Doctrine Lesson #47

Jim Faulconer's notes on Gospel Doctrine Lesson #47

Joel's Monastery blog post on Gospel Doctrine Lesson #47