Day 357 Moroni's Hope for His Enemies
Show Notes
Dive into Moroni 1:4 with Allen Roberds as he explores Moroni's extraordinary hope and charity for his Lamanite enemies, despite their intent to destroy him. This episode unpacks Moroni's decision to write a final testament for the very people who wiped out his civilization, reflecting on the profound lesson of extending friendship and spiritual light even to those who oppose us, paralleling insights from Sam Walter Foss's poem.
Key Points
- Moroni 1:4 reveals Moroni's profound desire to write additional scripture, specifically for the Lamanites, his enemies, hoping it would be of future worth to them.
- The episode highlights Moroni's incredible charity and Christlike perspective, choosing to offer spiritual guidance to those who sought his destruction.
- Allen Roberds shares Sam Walter Foss's poem, 'The House by the Side of the Road,' to illustrate the universal principle of being a friend to all humanity, regardless of their nature.
- Listeners are encouraged to emulate Moroni's example by extending kindness, hope, and the gospel message even to those who hold them in contempt.
- The reflection challenges us to consider our own view of 'enemies' and to seek opportunities to be a source of good and friendship in the world.
Moroni shows us an incredible point of view to hold with those around us, even those that hold us in contempt and seek our ill will, maybe even ultimately seek our death.
Full Transcript
In Matthew 5:13, Jesus tells his followers that they are the salt of the earth, and in the same sentence offers a warning that savorless salt is good for nothing. Join me in an attempt to be savory salt as I share each day one verse of scripture and one small thought. Perhaps this small daily emphasis can lead to greater savor in your life and ultimately you and I can be savory salt.
Hello, my friends and family, wherever you're listening from. Thank you for joining me and know that I'm cheering for your every success. What's Moroni's view of his enemies?
Welcome to day 357 on our 365 day journey through the Book of Mormon together. We are so close to our final week of reading the Book of Mormon together. Thank you for joining me.
Today, we're going to be reading Ether chapter 15 verses 20 through 34. You will see the ultimate destruction of the Jaredites there, as we talked about yesterday. And you're also going to read Moroni chapter 1 and 2.
Inside of this, we get this little bit of Moroni here, where he realizes the Lamanites haven't got him yet. They're hunting him. They're hunting everyone who follows Jesus Christ.
And he realizes that he got some time and some space in the plates. And so he's going to just write a few things, and the few things that he writes are amazing for us: great insight, great learning, and we learned some incredible gospel truths here. Moroni chapter 1 verse 4 is our verse for today, and this is a little bit of an insight to Moroni's own, shall we say, maybe life philosophy a little bit.
It says, "Wherefore I write a few more things, contrary to that which I had supposed, for I had supposed not to have written any more. But I write a few more things, that perhaps they may be of worth unto my brethren the Lamanites, in some future day, according to the will of the Lord." Moroni is going to add these final thoughts that he adds here from chapter 1 to chapter 10 in the hopes that the Lamanites, the very people that just wiped his entire civilization off the earth, may find some value and worth in them. What does that say about Moroni's view of the Lamanites?
Now, don't get me wrong. He's definitely avoiding them. He is running from them.
They are seeking to destroy him. So he is avoiding them. And yet, at the same time, he's saying, "You know, maybe in the future they'll soften their hearts, and maybe they'll read these things, and maybe it'll get them to turn to the Lord." I thought today what I wanted to share with you was a little bit of the philosophy of life from Allen Roberds.
And I want to do so through my favorite poem by Sam Walter Foss. It's called "The House by the Side of the Road." Forgive me as I just read through it today. Inside of this thought: "There are hermit souls that live withdrawn in the place of their self-content.
There are souls like stars that dwell apart in the fellowless firmament. There are pioneer souls that blaze the paths where the highways never ran. Let me live by the side of the road and be a friend to man.
Let me live in a house by the side of the road where the race of men go by, the men who are good and the men who are bad, as good and as bad as I. I would not sit in the scorner's seat nor hurl the cynic's ban. Let me live in a house by the side of the road and be a friend to man.
I see from my house by the side of the road, by the side of the highway of life, the men who press with the ardor of hope, the men who are faint with the strife. But I turn not away from their smiles and tears, both parts of an infinite plan. Let me live in a house by the side of the road, and be a friend to men.
I know there are brook-ladden meadows ahead, and mountains of wearisome height, that the road passes on through the long afternoon, and stretches away to the night. And still I rejoice when the travelers rejoice, And weep with the strangers that moan, Nor live in my house by the side of the road Like a man who dwells alone. Let me live in my house by the side of the road where the race of men go by.
They are good, they are bad, they are weak, they are strong; wise, foolish — so am I. Then why should I sit in the scorner's seat or hurl the cynic's ban? Let me live in my house by the side of the road and be a friend to man." My friends, Moroni shows us an incredible point of view to hold with those around us, even those that hold us in contempt and seek our ill will, maybe even ultimately seek our death.
He writes a few things about the gospel of Jesus Christ and ultimately ends up writing his testimony of Jesus Christ in the hopes that it may be of worth to his brethren, the Lamanites. May we also be a friend to those that we come in contact with. May we live in our house by the side of the road and be a friend to all.
That's all for today, my friends. Remember that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass. Keep it small, keep it simple, and always seek to be savory salt. I'll be here tomorrow, and I hope you are too.
This transcript was generated using AI and may contain errors. I do my best to review and edit them when I can.