Moroni Began Editing
After the horrendous battle at Cumorah in A.D. 384 (Mormon 6:5), how long Mormon was able to edit Nephite records is not specified. It is clear that he did not live long enough to complete his abridged testament of Jesus Christ. By A.D. 401 (Mormon 8:6), his son Moroni wrote, “the Nephites who had escaped into the country southward were hunted by the Lamanites, until they were all destroyed. And my father also was killed by them, and I even remain alone to write the sad tale of the destruction of my people” (Mormon 8:2-3). About 15 years after Cumorah, a solitary Moroni had limited editing plans: “I have but few things to write, which things I have been commanded by my father” (Mormon 8:1). He began by adding just over 3200 words to his father’s book (Mormon, chapters 8-9).
In these closing chapters, Moroni focused on future generations: “Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing” (Mormon 8:35). The need for revelation, prophets, and healings had not ceased: “God has not ceased to be a God of miracles” (Mormon 9:15).
He worried about his writing system, using “characters which are called among us reformed Egyptian, …and if we could have written in Hebrew, behold ye would have had no imperfection in our record”(Mormon 9:32-33). In spite of his linguistic limitations, Moroni hoped that his words would initiate a restoration of true faith in Jesus Christ.
Abridging the Book of Ether
Moroni’s next task was to fulfill one of his father’s commandments. Near the end of the Book of Mosiah, Mormon explained that king Mosiah had “written the records which were on the plates of gold which had been found by the people of Limhi” (Mosiah 28:11). Mormon prophesied that “this account shall be written hereafter; for behold it is expedient that all people should know the things which are written in this account” (Mosiah 28:19). The task of completing this abridgment was left for Moroni to finish.
Moroni used just over 16,500 words in reviewing the history of 30 generations of an ancient civilization called Jaredites. They migrated to the Americas from the time of the Tower of Babel and lived in their “land of promise” (Ether 2:7) until their annihilation approximately 2000 years later (Omni 1:20-22). Moroni named this book for the prophet Ether, who “wrote this record” (Ether 1:6).
Only 10% of Moroni’s abridgement used direct quotations and dialogue from Ether’s account.
The most sacred event cited was when the prophet known as the brother of Jared both saw and heard the Lord: “Behold, I am Jesus Christ. …this body, which ye now behold, is the body of my spirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit will I appear unto my people in the flesh” (Ether 3:14-16).
This divine manifestation was so hallowed that the brother of Jared was commanded: “Write these things and seal them up; and I will show them in mine own due time unto the children of men” (Ether 3:27). This record would not be unsealed until after Christ’s resurrection.
Almost 90% of Moroni’s abridgement of the Book of Ether was made up of Moroni’s first person commentary, revelations from God, and third person summaries of Ether’s historical record. For example, concerning the brother of Jared’s heavenly vision, Moroni wrote what the Lord “commanded” him to say (Ether 4:5). Then, Christ revealed, “when ye shall receive this record ye may know that the work of the Father has commenced upon all the face of the land” (Ether 4:17). When Moroni again expressed doubts about his “weakness in writing” (Ether 12:23), the Lord responded: “because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong” (Ether 12:37). This revelation encouraged Moroni to complete his abridgement.
In his third person summaries of Ether’s record, Moroni reviewed the recurring cycles of faithfulness, apostasy, and wars that occurred among the Jaredite peoples. In the final battles millions of Jaredites were slain, leaving only two survivors: the king Coriantumr and the prophet Ether (Ether 15:30-33). Before coming to the Americas, the brother of Jared had been forewarned: “For behold, this is a land which is choice above all other lands; wherefore he that doth possess it shall serve God or shall be swept off” (Ether 2:10). Ether’s, Mormon’s, and Moroni’s historical accounts of the eradication of two civilizations revealed that modern weapons of mass destruction were not needed to destroy human civilizations. The most important way of avoiding annihilation was for all peoples to learn to serve God.
A Concluding Masterpiece
After completing the Book of Ether around A.D. 400, Moroni presumed that he would soon die, “but I have not as yet perished” (Moroni 1:1). Over the next 21 years Moroni did “wander whithersoever I can for the safety of mine own life” (Moroni 1:3). This gave him time to organize the ten chapters of his own book (see 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon). In starting his last editing project, Moroni simply hoped to write “a few more things, that perhaps they may be of worth unto my brethren” (Moroni 1:4). He was spiritually guided in piecing together his own masterful book.
In chapters 2-6, Moroni reviewed fundamental ordinances and guidelines implemented by Jesus Christ. He explained how Jesus gave Nephite apostles power to confer the gift of the Holy Ghost (Moroni 2:1-3). Next, he outlined how to ordain priests and teachers by the laying on of hands (Moroni 3:1-4).
In the chapters 4 and 5, he became the first testament author to record the exact words that Christ used in blessing the bread and water of the holy sacrament (Moroni 4:3; 5:2). Then, he reviewed how to baptize, fellowship, and conduct Church meetings “by the power of the Holy Ghost” (Moroni 6:9). In just over 800 words, Moroni outlined critical procedures needed to guide the restoration of The Church of Jesus Christ in the latter days.
The author of the next 3900 words was Mormon, accounting for nearly 64% of The Book of Moroni. In chapter 7, Mormon spoke directly to people in their “place of worship” about a variety of topics: spiritual guidance, ministering, faith, hope, miracles, and charity (Moroni 7). The next two chapters were letters Mormon wrote to his son. In the first epistle, Moroni had just been called to the ministry, and his father plainly explained why small children should not be baptized (Moroni 8). In the second letter, Mormon reviewed some of the depravities of war he had recently witnessed and passionately appealed for treating women with respect and dignity (Moroni 9). Through these chapters, Moroni showed what it was like to hear an awe-inspiring sermon and receive firsthand counsel from his father.
Moroni ended chapter 10 with 1150 of his own words. First, he explained how to pray in order to “know the truth of all things” (Moroni 10:4-5). Then, he reviewed the gifts of the Spirit of God and exhorted all to “come unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift” (Moroni 10:30). As an old man (quite likely in his 70’s or 80’s), he prepared to die. Yet, he sagely looked forward to the time when he would meet every person “before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge of both quick and dead” (Moroni 10:34). Moroni’s concluding chapter was both an invitation and a warning for all generations.
The Final Page
Before burying his sacred record, Moroni completed one last editing role—writing the title page. According to Joseph Smith, “…concerning the title page of the Book of Mormon, that it is not a composition of mine or any other man’s who has lived or does live in this generation, but that it is a literal translation taken from the last leaf of the plates, on the left side of the collection of plates” (Joseph Smith Papers).
On this last leaf, Moroni named these records in remembrance of his father, reviewed what information was abridged, and explained the ultimate purpose of the Book of Mormon—“the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ” (Title Page). Moroni’s concluding 265 words became the introduction to the Book of Mormon. Moroni had completed the final refining touches to an extraordinary testament of the divine mission and atoning love of Jesus Christ.