Transcript The Prince of America www.kevinhinckley.com Goodbye Elder Wirthlin Financial crunch hits the military…

The Prince of America
www.kevinhinckley.com
Goodbye Elder Wirthlin
Financial crunch hits the military…
Orson Hyde,
speaking of Moroni
In those early and perilous times, our men were few, and our
resources limited. Poverty was among the most potent enemies
we had to encounter; yet our arms were successful; and it may
not be amiss to ask here, by whose power victory so often perched on
our banner?
It was by the agency of that same angel of God that appeared unto
Joseph Smith, and revealed to him the history of the early inhabitants of
this country, whose mounds, bones and remains of towns, cities and
fortifications speak from the dust in the ears of the living with the voice of
undeniable truth.
This same angel presides over the destinies of America, and feels a
lively interest in all our doings. He was in the camp of Washington; and,
by an invisible hand, led on our fathers to conquest and victory; and all this to open and prepare the way
for the Church and kingdom of God to be established on the western hemisphere, for the redemption of
Israel and the salvation of the world.
This same angel was with Columbus, and gave him deep impressions, by dreams and by visions, respecting
this New World.
Trammeled by poverty and by an unpopular cause, yet his persevering and unyielding heart would not allow
an obstacle in his way too great for him to overcome; and the angel of God helped him--was with him on
the stormy deep, calmed and troubled elements, and guided his frail vessel to the desired haven.
Under the guardianship of this same angel, or Prince of America, have the United States grown, increased,
and flourished, like the sturdy oak by the rivers of water.
Question:
What else do we know about Moroni?
Moroni’s Wanderings
I had supposed not to have written more, but I
have not yet perished; and I make not myself
known to the Lamanites lest they should destroy
me.
Independence
For behold, their wars
are
exceedingly fierce
Hill
Manti
among themselves; and because Kirtland
of theirCumorah
hatred
Nauvoo
they put to death
every Nephite that will not deny
St. George
the Christ
Anti Nephi I
Lehis
Wherefore I wander whithersoever
can for the
(North Country)
safety of mine own life…
Cumorah
Death of Moroni
At a meeting at Spanish Fork, Utah Co., in the winter of 1896, Brother
Higginson stated in my presence that Thomas B. Marsh told him that
the Prophet Joseph Smith told him (Thomas B. Marsh, he being
then President of the Twelve), that he became very anxious to know
something of the fate of Moroni, and in answer to prayer the Lord
gave Joseph a vision, in which appeared a wild country and on the
scene was Moroni after whom were six Indians in pursuit;
he stopped and one of the Indians stepped forward and measured
swords with him. Moroni smote him and he fell dead; another Indian
advanced and contended with him; this Indian also fell by his sword;
a third Indian then stepped forth and met the same fate; a fourth
afterwards contended with him, but in the struggle with the fourth,
Moroni, being exhausted, was killed. Thus ended the life of Moroni.
Charles D. Tate, Monte S. Nyman, Fourth Nephi through Moroni: From Zion to Destruction ( 1995)
Elder Holland
President Boyd K. Packer,
himself a master teacher and
long-time administrator in the
Church Educational System, has a question he often
asks when we have made a presentation or given some
sort of exhortation to one another in the Twelve.
He looks up as if to say, “Are you through?” And then says
to the speaker (and, by implication, to the rest of the
Question:
group), “Therefore, what?”
Given
what
know
about
Moroni,
“Therefore,
what?”we
I think
that is what
the Savior
answered
day in and day out
as an inseparable element of His
“therefore,
what?”
teaching and preaching. I’ve tried to suggest that. These
sermons and exhortations were to no avail if the actual
lives of His disciples did not change.
CES Address, 8 August 2000
Moroni’s Words to Us
Behold, I speak unto you as though I
spake from the dead; for I know that ye
shall have my words.
Be wise in the days of your probation;
strip yourselves of all uncleanness; ask
not, that ye may consume it on your
lusts, but ask with a firmness unshaken, that ye will yield
to no temptation, but that ye will serve the true and living
God.
Condemn me not because of mine imperfection, neither my
For
instance,
father,
because of his imperfection, neither them who
have written
before
him; but rather
give
thanks unto God
What
is
this
“Prince
of
america”
that he hath made manifest unto you our imperfections,
that ye may
to be more
wise than we have been.
telling
uslearn
about
prayer?
Finally, his counsel…
And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord that he would
give unto the Gentiles grace, that they might have charity.
And now I, Moroni, bid farewell unto the Gentiles, yea, and
also unto my brethren whom I love, until we shall meet
before the judgment-seat of Christ, where all men shall
know that my garments are not spotted with your
blood.
And then shall ye know that I have seen Jesus, and that he
hath talked with me face to face…
And now, I would commend you to seek this Jesus of whom
the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of
God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the
Holy Ghost, which beareth record of them, may be and
abide in you forever. Amen.