While reading through Moroni 7, I realized how much this passage is something that I can testify of.
I’ve shared this story before, but when I was a young teenager, I was very afraid about Judgement Day. I worried that I would do my best, but then not know until long after my life, on Judgement Day, if I had even qualified for life with God.
I could imagine myself not quite making it, and wishing I had tried my best a little harder. I could see a very long Eternity having to regret my failure.
To me it felt like torment to not know if I was on my way to Him, and I feared for my eternal outcome.
I know that scripture could have corrected many of my misconceptions, but I hadn't come across those passages yet.
But miraculously, and unexpectedly, an angel came to me and eased my concerns, and gave me a proper understanding of the gospel.
Here were the words the angel confirmed to me. This angel did not speak, but confirmed the word being said by my seminary teacher, (I was in a seminary lesson at the time). The angel gave me an understanding that these words were the truth, and that this amazing doctrine was available for even me.
"Do you know you don't have to wait for Judgement Day to know where you stand with God? If you live a life of devotion to Him, He will come to you and give you the promise of Eternal Life while you are in this life. This is the Calling and Election. It's like an early Judgement Day."
I remember the emotional exhale of learning this truth. I hadn't known I'd been holding that breath of fear and dread, but the relief and release came out of me like a huge sigh of relief.
I knew I wanted this path. I wanted to live in a way that I could receive my Calling and Election, and I felt the invitation from this angel that this was available to me.
This miraculous experience sent my on a journey to contemplate living a life of devotion to Him, and within a year, I'd offered my broken heart and contrite spirit to Christ, and Christ came to me and Redeemed me.
Moroni 7
16 For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.17 But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.
18 And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged.
19 Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ.
I did certainly become a child of Christ because of the word from God that came to me that day.
I laid hold of the good I was taught that day, and it really did make me a child of Christ!
20 And now, my brethren, how is it possible that ye can lay hold upon every good thing?
21 And now I come to that faith, of which I said I would speak; and I will tell you the way whereby ye may lay hold on every good thing.
22 For behold, God knowing all things, being from everlasting to everlasting, behold, he sent angels to minister unto the children of men, to make manifest concerning the coming of Christ; and in Christ there should come every good thing.
23 And God also declared unto prophets, by his own mouth, that Christ should come.
24 And behold, there were divers ways that he did manifest things unto the children of men, which were good; and all things which are good cometh of Christ; otherwise men were fallen, and there could no good thing come unto them.
25 Wherefore, by the ministering of angels, and by every word which proceeded forth out of the mouth of God, men began to exercise faith in Christ; and thus by faith, they did lay hold upon every good thing; and thus it was until the coming of Christ.
This is true! By the ministering of an angel, and by God's word, I began to exercise faith in Christ, and I did receive the "good".
I believe good here means more than just our every day use of the word.
Let's remember Christ says "there is none good but God," and remember the gospel is the "good tidings" of Christ's life and His plan to save His people. Good is often a reference to God's goodness.
26 And after that he came men also were saved by faith in his name; and by faith, they become the sons of God. And as surely as Christ liveth he spake these words unto our fathers, saying: Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is good, in faith believing that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you.
27 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased because Christ hath ascended into heaven, and hath sat down on the right hand of God, to claim of the Father his rights of mercy which he hath upon the children of men?
28 For he hath answered the ends of the law, and he claimeth all those who have faith in him; and they who have faith in him will cleave unto every good thing; wherefore he advocateth the cause of the children of men; and he dwelleth eternally in the heavens.
29 And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men.
30 For behold, they are subject unto him, to minister according to the word of his command, showing themselves unto them of strong faith and a firm mind in every form of godliness.
31 And the office of their ministry is to call men unto repentance, and to fulfil and to do the work of the covenants of the Father, which he hath made unto the children of men, to prepare the way among the children of men, by declaring the word of Christ unto the chosen vessels of the Lord, that they may bear testimony of him.
32 And by so doing, the Lord God prepareth the way that the residue of men may have faith in Christ, that the Holy Ghost may have place in their hearts, according to the power thereof; and after this manner bringeth to pass the Father, the covenants which he hath made unto the children of men.
I was called to repentance, taught a certain way to offer myself to God. I was taught how to receive the covenant of the Father. The word of Christ was truly declared to me, and I do bear testimony of Him. I m a witness of Christ and I have received His redemption.
This experience DID give me faith in Christ, and DID result in the Holy Ghost having place in my heart.
(In addition, I love how the following passage from D&C 46 on the gifts of the spirit testifies of the same pattern we see here in vs 31 and 32, that receiving a witness of Christ is the call to testify of Him, which inspires others to seek Him and receive Eternal Life for themselves:)
D&C 46
13 To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world.
14 To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful.
Now back to Moroni 7,
33 And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me.
34 And he hath said: Repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, and have faith in me, that ye may be saved.
35 And now, my beloved brethren, if this be the case that these things are true which I have spoken unto you, and God will show unto you, with power and great glory at the last day, that they are true, and if they are true has the day of miracles ceased?
36 Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved?
37 Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain.
38 For no man can be saved, according to the words of Christ, save they shall have faith in his name; wherefore, if these things have ceased, then has faith ceased also; and awful is the state of man, for they are as though there had been no redemption made.
39 But behold, my beloved brethren, I judge better things of you, for I judge that ye have faith in Christ because of your meekness; for if ye have not faith in him then ye are not fit to be numbered among the people of his church.
Whether we call it becoming a child of Christ, or becoming born of God, or redemption, or becoming a member of the body of Christ, it's the baptism of Fire and the Holy Ghost that makes us the people of His church. The central focus of this passage is our redemption and living redeemed, being a disciple that can go forth with His authority, doing His work, directing others to Him.
Some things I'm contemplating:
Angels aid in the work of redemption. Angels and testifiers of Christ have an impact on the redemption of others. Is all vain otherwise? Is it as though there had been no redemption made?
It seems there's also the possibility of a compounding effect, where those who testify, really have the ability to inspire others to the same, which will create more and more testifiers. Won't that be delightful! Do you believe this happens in circles that do feel free to testify of their redemption?
I'm quite aware of how infrequent true redemption is testified of in the LDS church. For me it remained misunderstood for a long time. Even after my experience with an Angel and my Redemption with Christ, I didn't know precisely what I had received, and for over 20 years didn't know I was Redeemed.
I love how this passage explores, have miracles ceased because of Christ, God, or angels? Nope. They're perfectly ready to do their redemptive work,... but instead we need to correct our unbelief.
If miracles have ceased it's because of our unbelief.
I want to testify that this chapter is correct, and that this is my experience! An angel did teach me important parts of the way to Christ, and it resulted in my redemption. Finally, now that I know what I've received, my testimony of my Redemption is encouraging others to receive the same.
What does this passage mean to you from this perspective? Do you see it differently? I used to think it was just about knowing good from bad, but it's an entirely different read now. It's about Redemption, God's law, God's unchangeability, and our one job! We have one job people: unpolluted Faith in Christ.
What stands out to you?