Mormon was a prophet who, like Joseph Smith, was ordained to fill an important role in the restoration of the gospel, by preparing the long-prophesied stick of Ephriam (Ezekiel 37:16, D&C 27:5), the second witness, the new covenant (D&C 84:57), the fullness of the gospel, the Book of Mormon. He was taught of the records that had been made and kept, because of his soberness and wisdom even at the age of 10. He retrieved the records spoken of by Ammaron, at about the age of 24. Similar to the preparation of Joseph who, at the young age of 14, received the revelation he sought. Joseph began his preparation to restore what was lost through visits with Moroni, the son of this same Mormon, three years later. Finally, seven years after his vision did Joseph obtain the ancient record. In each instance there was a time of learning and preparation that came first. Think of the times of learning and preparation that you have experienced. Time spent in school, serving a mission, in seminary, fulfilling callings, and raising children can all be times of learning that prepare us to receive something great and important. Times of learning and preparation are vital to our growth, especially when they seem to go on for so long. In truth, our mortal life is the greatest time of learning that can prepare us to receive the greatest gift if we so choose.

As Mormon wrote in 3rd Nephi 29:1, “I say unto you…” he writes in Mormon 3:17, “I write unto you…” this book was written to us, the prophets had a specific purpose in writing, and we are it. Helping us understand and know the testimonies of those who have gone before and the things that will shortly happen to us. “And for this cause I write unto you, that ye may know that ye must all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, yea, every soul who belongs to the whole human family of Adam; and ye must stand to be judged of your works, whether they be good or evil; And also that ye may believe the gospel of Jesus Christ, which ye shall have among you” (3:20-21). Could we ever neglect to read and study intently such an important message? Could we ever forget to make it part of our lives daily?

Mormon had the tragic experience of watching the destruction of his people, not only their physical destruction, but even more tragically their spiritual destruction. He experienced a time without hope for them (5:2), knowing that they were in open rebellion against God and that his judgements would soon come. There may be times in our own lives when we also have a feeling of hopelessness, but I would dare to say that we have not nor will we ever experience anything that would truly merit such a statement as did Mormon. Do not let the events of 2020 be one of them. Hopelessness can only exist in the absence of faith. Faith comes from desire, and desire comes from our knowledge of the gospel. So, if you do at any time feel a sense of hopelessness, please remember that the love of God can reach us at any depth as long as we are willing to look toward him. We look toward God by learning his gospel and keeping his commandments.

It is interesting to consider the events that were transpiring in the old world at this time, and compare their consequences. By this time the empire of Rome had reached its peak, the apostles and saints had been martyred and the depths of apostacy had reached every corner of it. The true form of Christianity had been replaced by a system that, in all parts but the name, no longer resembled the teachings of its founder. This corrupt form of Christianity had become embraced by an emperor and established as its only religion. The Roman empire was split in two, east and west, probably about the time Mormon and his son Moroni saw the very last of their people destroyed, the Dark Ages of the new world had begun, the Dark Ages of the old world would soon follow. “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)

Let us not dwell for so long on such sadness, but understand its cause. Darkness is the absence of light, hopelessness is the absence of faith, but we have both light and faith and the knowledge that they will never again be taken from the earth (D&C 13:1). “Now, what do we hear in the gospel which we have received? A voice of gladness! A voice of mercy from heaven; and a voice of truth out of the earth; glad tidings for the dead; a voice of gladness for the living and the dead; glad tidings of great joy. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those that bring glad tidings of good things, and that say unto Zion: Behold, thy God reigneth! As the dews of Carmel, so shall the knowledge of God descend upon them! And again, what do we hear? Glad tidings from Cumorah! Moroni, an angel from heaven, declaring the fulfilment of the prophets—the book to be revealed. A voice of the Lord in the wilderness of Fayette, Seneca county, declaring the three witnesses to bear record of the book! The voice of Michael on the banks of the Susquehanna, detecting the devil when he appeared as an angel of light! The voice of Peter, James, and John in the wilderness between Harmony, Susquehanna county, and Colesville, Broome county, on the Susquehanna river, declaring themselves as possessing the keys of the kingdom, and of the dispensation of the fulness of times!” – Joseph Smith (D&C 128:19-20)