Moroni's 5th Visit to the Prophet Joseph

Two weeks ago, Elder Bednar visited my stake. Among the many wonderful things he taught us was a lesson about the repetition in Moroni's visits to the Prophet Joseph. He challenged my stake to carefully study Moroni's 4 visits recorded in JS-H to the Prophet Joseph and to identify and ponder the what teachings made each visit different. (His point was that often when we think we've heard it all before, we are wrong, as there are small revelatory additions that we might miss if we tune out because we've heard it all before.) As my wife and I did that last Sunday night, I had one interesting thought regarding the 4th visit, where Moroni repeated all that he had said during the first visits and then asked Joseph to go and tell his father. I suddenly thought about how one of the first things Moroni had told Joseph was that this coming restoration would help to turn the hearts of the children to their fathers. It is not insignificant that Moroni asked Joseph to turn to his own father, a man who had stood aloof from all organized religion and who had had his struggles with poverty, and, as a result, with alcohol. If the aftermath of the 1st vision is any indicator, young Joseph may have been somewhat more inclined to turn to his mother regarding religious matters than he was to turn to his father. Going to his father, Joseph found not only someone who believed him, but a man who was wise enough to understand that when God revealed something of that nature, you don't wait to go where you have been asked to go. Right off the bat, the gospel message began its sacred mission of uniting and healing families.

As we read those accounts, I couldn't help but also think of the fact that there is a fifth visit that was not recorded in the Pearl of Great Price, but which includes tremendous spiritual insight and revelation. It is a lengthy account written by Oliver Cowdery, too long to include fully here, but well worth your study time if you have 20 or 30 minutes: http://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-1834-1836/97 (It begins on page 93 and ends on page 99). But here are a few insights from it:

1. As he undertook the journey to the hill, Joseph was tempted by thoughts of wealth, so that by the time he arrived at the place, those thoughts had entirely clouded out the spiritual purposes that Moroni had described in his prior visits. Moroni had warned Joseph about this during the 3rd visit. Joseph was young and in a family with tremendous financial struggles that took a heavy toll. Furthermore, he was accustomed to working to help his family financially, and that work had included searching for treasure as he had a special gift of being able to find things that were lost. As a result, when he got to the hill and saw the treasures within the box, he was almost overcome with desire. When he attempted to remove the records, he was shocked to the point of being deprived of his natural strength. He tried to obtain the plates 3 times, each time being unsuccessful, and finally cried out, "Why can I not obtain this book?" And at this moment Moroni reappeared and declared, "Because you have not kept the commandments of the Lord."

2. Moroni's response prompted Joseph to remember. "In an instant, all the former instructions, the great intelligence concerning Israel and the last days, were brought to his mind. He thought of the time when his heart was fervently engaged in prayer to the Lord, when his spirit was contrite, and when his holy messenger from the skies unfolded the wonderful things connected with this record. He had come, to be sure, and found the word of the angel fulfilled concerning the reality of the record but he had failed to remember the great end for which they had been kept, and in consequence could not have power to take them into his possession and bear them away." Remember that during the previous 3 visits, Moroni had rehearsed everything he had said to Joseph. But now it was the Spirit that brought all of those things back to his memory and chastised him for his failures. This is a vital moment in the young Prophet's life as he was learning how revelation would work most often. It wouldn't normally be through visions and angelic messages, but through the promptings of the Still Small Voice, bringing all things to his remembrance, and bring forward new insights.

3. Following this experience, Joseph was shown two visions, one of the glory of the Lord and one of the "the prince of darkness surrounded by his innumerable train of associates." Moroni then went on to explain, "'All this is shown, the good and the evil, the holy and impure, the glory of God and the power of darkness, that you may know hereafter the two powers and never be influenced or overcome by that wicked one. Behold, whatever entices and leads to good and to do good, is of God, and whatever does not is of that wicked one. It is he that fills the hearts of men with evil, to walk in darkness and blaspheme God; and you may learn from henceforth, that his ways are to destruction, but the way of holiness is peace and rest. You now see why you could not obtain this record; that the commandment was strict, and that if ever these sacred things are obtained they must be by prayer and faithfulness in obeying the Lord. They are not deposited here for the sake of accumulating gain and wealth for the glory of this world: they were sealed by the prayer of faith, and because of the knowledge which they contain, they are of no worth among the children of men, only for their knowledge. . . . These things are sacred, and must be kept so, for the promise of the Lord concerning them must be fulfilled. No man can obtain them if his heart is impure because they contain that which is sacred . . . consequently, they would be considered of no worth, only as precious metal. . . . You have now beheld the power of God manifested and the power of Satan: you see that there is nothing that is desirable in the works of darkness; that they cannot bring happiness; that those who are overcome therewith are miserable, while on the other hand the righteous are blessed with a place in the kingdom of God where joy unspeakable surrounds them. There they rest beyond the power of the enemy of truth, where no evil can disturb them. The glory of God crowns them, and they continually feast upon his goodness and enjoy his smiles."

I love this teaching by contrast in the two visions. Moroni was working to get the Book of Mormon published, but at least as important, he was training a young boy on how to be a prophet when he was gone, with the most significant training being related to that boy's ability to discern truth through the spirit of God.

4. Last but not least, Moroni delivered a significant prophecy."When [the plates] are interpreted the Lord will give the holy priesthood to some, and they shall begin to proclaim this gospel and baptize by water, and after that they shall have power to give the Holy Ghost by the laying on of their hands. Then will persecution rage more and more; for the iniquities of men shall be revealed and those who are not built upon the Rock will seek to overthrow this church; but it will increase the more [it is] opposed, and spread farther and farther, increasing in knowledge till they shall be sanctified and receive an inheritance where the glory of God will rest upon them; and when this takes place, and all things are prepared, the ten tribes of Israel will be revealed in the north country, whither they have been for a long season; and when this is fulfilled will be brought to pass that saying of the prophets--'And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord'--But, notwithstanding the workers of iniquity shall seek your destruction the arm of the Lord will be extended, and you will be borne off conquerer, if you keep all his commandments. Your name shall be known among the nations, for the work which the Lord will perform by your hands shall cause the righteous to rejoice and the wicked to rage: with the one it shall be had in honor, and with the other in reproach; yet, with these it shall be a terror because of the great and marvelous work which shall follow the coming forth of this fulness of the gospel."

The detail of that prophecy is absolutely astounding and it builds upon the prophecy that Moroni spoke of Joseph the night before.

Anyhow, we are incredibly blessed to have this great account of Moroni's 5th visit to the Prophet, as well as the previous 4 visits.