Who was Mormon? Leader of Armies, Husband, Father, Historian, Prophet

Painting of Moroni, the prophet Mormon's son. He "sees our day" and knows that the words
 in the record will be pertinent to us in our day.

For some reason, the story of Mormon is one of my favorite stories in the Book of Mormon. This is a strange thing because the time in which Mormon lived was a time of wickedness, self-destruction, and war. But that just makes the person Mormon was all the more inspiring and ennobling.

Yes, this is Mormon, the prophet-historian who abridged the plates of Nephi. This is Mormon, who then added his own brief record to those he had abridged and then gave the entire record to his son, Moroni, before he died. This is the Mormon who is the reason this book of scripture is called The Book of Mormon. I wonder if Mormon had any idea that his name would one day be used as a nickname for people who believe his words were God's words--a nickname for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

So without further ado, here is why I admire Mormon:
Mormon was a descendant of Nephi (the one who begins the record found in the Book of Mormon and who I gave some background about in a previous post) who lived about 321 AD. He had been taught the gospel of Jesus Christ as a youth and was a "sober child" and "quick to observe." But by the time he was a pre-teen, the two groups of people living on the land, the Nephites and the Lamanites, had regressed so much in their knowledge of God and even in their belief in the natural freedoms due to humanity, that hatred and war consumed their world. (The Nephites and Lamanites had a long history of hatred and war--but this time they weren't going to settle their differences or call for peace.)

Mormon writes that:

"wickedness did prevail upon the face of the whole land, insomuch that the Lord did take away his beloved disciples, and the work of miracles and of healing did cease because of the iniquity of the people.And there were no gifts from the Lord, and the Holy Ghost did not come upon any, because of their wickedness and unbelief.And I, being fifteen years of age and being somewhat of a sober mind, therefore I was visited of the Lord, and tasted and knew of the goodness of Jesus." (Mormon 1:13-15)

At 16 years of age, the Nephites, admiring Mormon's large stature and probably his aptitude for leadership, asked him to be the leader of their armies. And he accepted. Under his direction, the Nephites, despite numerous casualties, won several big battles against their enemy. However, despite Mormon's constant pleas to turn away from their selfish, hard-hearted ways and to turn back to God, relying on His perfect strength and love, the Nephites refused to change and believed that any victory they gained was a reflection of their own strength and might. They did not want to bring God into the equation. Mormon writes:

"behold, the judgments of God will overtake the wicked; and it is by the wicked that the wicked are punished; for it is the wicked that stir up the hearts of the children of men unto bloodshed." (Mormon 4:5)

There comes a point that Mormon refuses to lead them anymore since he knows God will not fight their battles for them while they are living the way they are. But eventually, as the Nephites are basically being obliterated, Mormon decides to lead them again. He says:

"they gave me command again of their armies, for they looked upon me as though I could deliver them from their afflictions.But behold, I was without hope, for I knew the judgments of the Lord which should come upon them; for they repented not of their iniquities, but did struggle for their lives without calling upon that Being who created them." (Mormon 5:1-2)

Why do I admire Mormon? Because he knew exactly who he was and he refused to let go of that knowledge and he stood firm in what was right and true--even when almost no one around him would acknowledge that truth.  He had a great love for Heavenly Father. His great love for Jesus Christ is always at the center of his record. And he loved and mourned the loss of his people despite the choices they made (like in this passage). He knew they were children of God too.

"My son, be faithful in Christ; and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever."  Mormon's words to his son Moroni (Moroni 9:25)

-Elin
Who is grateful for saltines and apple juice today.