Hope

These chapters in the Book of Mormon are always heartbreaking to read. The contrast between the perfect society we read about in 4th Nephi and the total wickedness and destruction of the people we read about in Mormon 1-6 is so depressing and yet can be so instructive as well. Mormon tells us in chapter one that because of the wickedness that did prevail in the land, "the work of miracles and healing did cease... and there were no gifts from the Lord, and the Holy Ghost did not come upon any" (v.13-14). To me, this points to the importance of always striving to have the Holy Ghost with us, because when the Spirit ceases to be with us Satan begins to gain power over us.

So what can we learn about how to stay faithful and hopeful during hard times from the history that Mormon relates to us in these chapters?

1) Surround yourselves with believers: There must have been some believers around when Mormon tells his story because we are told of Ammaron, the record keeper, who was "constrained by the Holy Ghost" to hide up the sacred records (4 Nephi 1:48). Ammaron must have had enough interaction with Mormon at a young age to be able to describe him as sober, quick to observe, and to entrust him with the care of the sacred engravings of the Nephite people. Surrounding ourselves with people who share our beliefs can bring us strength and hope.

2) Teach and learn from the scriptures:  Mormon also says that at about ten years of age, he "began to be learned somewhat after the manner of the learning of my people" (Mormon 1:2). If you look at footnote "b" in that verse, it takes you to Mosiah 1:3 where it explains that to be learned was to be taught from the plates of brass, or, as we would say, the scriptures. So we know that someone (probably his family) was around to teach him from the scriptures. As we teach and learn from the scriptures we are anchoring our testimonies to a firm foundation that will bring us stability and hope during uncertain times.

3) Have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ: Mormon tells us that he was "visited of the Lord, and tasted and knew of the goodness of Jesus." (Mormon 1:15) He also knew that "he would be lifted up at the last day." (Mormon 2:19) No matter how wicked the world is, we can choose to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We can know for ourselves the goodness of Jesus and have confidence that we too can be lifted up one day to be with Him. 

4) Fortify and gather: I'm always impressed that Mormon never gave up trying to help his people. Even though he has a couple of years where he "utterly refuse(s)...to be a commander and leader of this people" (3:11), he ultimately "repents of the oath which (he) had made" (5:1) and commands the army once again. As commander, Mormon continues to fortify the Nephite cities and gather the people together, even though he knows that unless they repent it will all be in vain. The comparison we can make here is that we can also fortify, or strengthen, our homes and families and be involved in the gathering of Israel. Additionally, we can follow Mormon’s example and never give up trying to help people.

5) Love and serve others: I'm also impressed that Mormon genuinely loved his people and prayed for them to repent and be baptized. That love came as he served them as their commander. Closer to the beginning of his commander years he says, "I had led them many times to battle, and had loved them, according to the love of God which was in me, with all my heart; and my soul had been poured out in prayer unto my God all the day long for them." (3:12) And when the war is over and all but a few people remain alive, he again expresses his love for them by saying, "O ye fair ones, how could ye have departed from the ways of the Lord! O ye fair ones, how could ye have rejected that Jesus, who stood with open arms to receive you! Behold, if ye had not done this, ye would not have fallen. But behold, ye are fallen, and I mourn your loss. O ye fair sons, and daughters, ye fathers and mothers, ye husbands and wives, ye fair ones, how is it that ye could have fallen! But behold, ye are gone, and my sorrows cannot bring your return." (6:17-20) Even though the people were so wicked and had no desire to repent and turn from their evil ways, he continued to love them and mourn for them when they were gone. The gospel principle that we love those we serve is so evident in Mormon’s lament. He never stopped serving his people and as a result he was blessed with the gift of charity, the pure love of Christ. Serving and loving those that are different from us can be hard, but the reward is the gift of charity, which is the greatest of all gifts. (Moroni 7:46)

At times when it feels like the world is so wicked and there is nothing good happening, it helps to know that there are things we can actively do to help bring hope into the world and into our lives. We can continue to live the gospel and stand as witnesses of Jesus Christ, and by doing these things we can keep hope alive in our hearts and in our homes.