Mormon 5-7

Mormon 5

Mormon changes his mind (he doesn’t say why) about refusing to help the Nephites, and they gladly give him control over their armies again. But Mormon  knows the Nephites’ situation is hopeless because they aren’t repenting or changing.

These verses summarize the chapter pretty well:

7 And it came to pass that we did again take to flight, and those whose flight was swifter than the Lamanites’ did escape, and those whose flight did not exceed the Lamanites’ were swept down and destroyed.
 8 And now behold, I, Mormon, do not desire to harrow up the souls of men in casting before them such an awful scene of blood and carnage as was laid before mine eyes; but I, knowing that these things must surely be made known, and that all things which are hid must be revealed upon the house-tops—
 9 And also that a knowledge of these things must come unto the remnant of these people...therefore I write a small abridgment, daring not to give a full account of the things which I have seen...that ye might not have too great sorrow because of the wickedness of this people.

Mormon says this awful destruction of his people will be known in the future by the “remnant of these people” – and it's true! The Native American Indians and many of the people of Central and South America are decedents of the Lamanites, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (and the spread of the Book of Mormon) are growing the fastest among these people today. They are learning about their ancestors, as prophesied.

Mormon 6

7 And it came to pass that my people, with their wives and their children, did now behold the armies of the Lamanites marching towards them; and with that awful fear of death which fills the breasts of all the wicked, did they await to receive them.

Mormon records the tragic and horrific end to the Nephite people. They gather around the Hill Cumorah (where Mormon hides up all the records and plates he has been keeping, except for a few he passes to his son Moroni to write on), and the last great battle occurs.

Mormon manages to survive this great battle, because he fell wounded and was passed over by the Lamanite army. He says that twenty-four Nephites survive, and miraculously his son Moroni is among them. Twenty-four. Wow. As you do the math of all the leaders and their armies of ten-thousand who Mormon says were wiped out, it seems there were 230,000 who were killed in this battle. Wow… I have no words.

I’m grateful Mormon doesn’t give many details. It’s horrific enough with the few details he gives.

Mormon laments their deaths at the end of the chapter. How can you cry enough tears about your entire nation being slain on the ground in front of you? Especially knowing they had deliberately rejected God and would have to face him on judgment day. Whenever I want to feel sorry for myself, I'll think of Mormon instead.


Mormon 7

These are Mormon’s last words, which he writes to his descendants hoping they will read them someday (and as I mentioned in my Mormon 5 summary, many of them are reading them today). And of course these words are for me and you, too. Here are the highlights:

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…
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.
6 And he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead, whereby man must be raised to stand before his judgment-seat.

Mormon speaks one more time about this record, and he also speaks of the Bible, which is “the record which shall come unto the Gentiles from the Jews.” The Bible and the Book of Mormon go hand-in-hand, and both testify of Jesus Christ! I’ll insert some labels to help clarify what Mormon is talking about.

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 [The Book of Mormon!] but also in the record which shall come unto the Gentiles from the Jews [The Bible], which record shall come from the Gentiles unto you [The Native Americans and people of South America received the Bible from the Gentiles, or the Europeans].
9 For behold, this [Book of Mormon] is written for the intent that ye may believe that [Bible]; and if ye believe that [Bible] ye will believe this [Book of Mormon] also; and if ye believe this [Book of Mormon] ye will know concerning your fathers, and also the marvelous works which were wrought by the power of God among them.

Pretty cool! I am grateful for the Bible and the Book of Mormon! I am grateful to have both. They both help me to know Jesus Christ and His gospel, and each one helps to clarify the other.