The Book of Mormon ends with a challenge to the reader to trust in God. We will end this blog series with the same challenge to our readers.
What does it mean to trust in God? Does it mean that we give God assignments and trust (expect) that He will make things work out the way we want them to? If you’ve ever tried doing this, you know that it doesn’t really work that way. Those who think it does work that way often wind up losing their faith when they conclude that God is not trustworthy when He doesn’t give them what they ask for.
Trusting in God is really about trusting Him for the outcome in a given situation. It means that we put something in His hands and trust that He will work things out in the proper way, whatever that is. When we pray, we usually request specific outcomes to our situations and, when the outcome is what we requested, we rejoice and praise God. However, when the outcome is not what we wanted, if we truly trust in God, we will seek to understand why it worked out the way it did and ultimately trust that God allowed things to happen the way they did for some good reason, perhaps known only to Him.
We’ve learned quite a bit about trusting in God during the recent pandemic. We’ve learned that trying to force a specific outcome — not getting sick — has resulted in fear, frustration, separation from others, anger, loss of jobs, inability to attend church, and even severe disappointment or heartache for those who have gotten sick in spite of their best efforts. We’ve learned that we can trust in God by praying for the outcome we want — none of us wants to catch this terrible disease — but then we trust Him for the outcome, knowing that He is in the matter regardless of the outcome.
Trusting in God has allowed us to resume our lives, going wherever God leads us — whether to church or to meet with people who need the Lord or wherever — without the fear, frustration, and anger that accompanies trying to manage the outcome ourselves. We may not be exactly following all of the prescribed steps of the health experts, but remember that our goals don’t exactly match — their goal is to try to force a specific outcome, but our goal is to follow the Lord and leave the outcome in His hands.
Moroni 10 begins with Moroni reviewing all of the material that has been written by his ancestors and abridged by his father. As he prepares to seal up the records to be buried, Moroni considers the likelihood that people reading these writings at some future date (such as today) might have a hard time believing that it’s all true. Rather than adding his own persuasive language to try to convince the reader that the records are true, he instead invites the reader to take it to God:
“And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost” (Moroni 10:4)
What does it take to make this type of invitation? Trust in God! Moroni is willing to put this matter completely in the hands of God and trust Him for the outcome. Of course, Moroni wants people to believe in the Book of Mormon, but he is willing to leave it up to God to convince those who He will — those with a sincere heart, real intent, and faith in Christ, according to the verse above.
(By the way, this is a great verse for any of us to point people to when presenting the Book of Mormon — it shows confidence in the truth of the book and it shows that we trust God for the outcome.)
During our life on earth, there comes a time when we have to make a choice — between our own wisdom or God’s wisdom, between our own strength or God’s strength, between our own plan or God’s plan. Since our own wisdom, strength, and foresight pales in comparison to God’s, I heartily recommend trusting in God.
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)
We’ve Reached the End of the Book of Mormon! — Now What?
Editor’s Note: Today’s article is the last in a 239-article series written by Apostle Jerry Valenti. He’s written one article for each of the books in the Book of Mormon, from 1 Nephi 1 to Moroni 10 — an effort that has spanned five years (to the very month)! If you’ve been blessed by this series, please give Brother Jerry a shout-out in the comments below. (For the record, he takes no credit for this accomplishment, but it’s always a good thing to encourage one another in the Lord, right?)
Below, you’ll find an index for all of the articles in Moroni. Below that, we’ve linked to the indexes for the other books in the Book of Mormon, too.
What’s next for Wednesdays on the Gospel Blog? Brother Jerry has graciously agreed to continue writing weekly blog articles. Don’t miss next week’s blog titled, “Who Are You Voting For?” a timely article about the upcoming presidential election. Brother Jerry will begin a new series of articles on Oct. 28.
Click the links below, and scroll to the bottom of each article for the index.
Index for Jacob, Enos, Jarom, Omni and Words of Mormon
Index for Moroni (This post)
This article has undergone ministry review and approval.
Brother Jerry, thank you for your hard work and for writing each article as our LORD JESUS CHRIST directed you too. What a huge Blessing this was and I look forward to reading all of your coming articles. Thank You GOD for using Brother Jerry in ways you have. GOD Bless and Love you and your loved ones Brother Jerry.
Thank you Bro. Jerry and God bless you! You have used your time, God given talents and gifts to enrich our understanding of the scriptures and what it means to us today in our walk the Lord. It serves as an example to us all. May He richly bless you with strength and discernment and continue to use you as He sees fit to shepherd us even during these trying times
Brother Jerry thank you for all the writings you’ve done for each of the chapters throughout the Book of Mormon.
They’ve truly been a blessing to read. I’m so thankful for the Gospel blog as it’s been a huge uplift many times for me.
I look forward to reading them and save them to go back over to read at a later date. Some I’ve used for our LC lessons.
I look forward to reading what God inspires to be written.
May God continue to bless all the work being done
Sister Cindy
Bro Jerry, I have thoroughly enjoyed your inspired takeaways and insights each week. It put a refreshing twist on familiar passages. Thank you and thank God. God bless you and much love to you and your family.
My most favourite is the last blog on Moroni 10. It position the present day Church in perspective. Like everybody I wait for that day the daughter of Zion rise from dust clad in her beautiful clothing to expand the territory. Like all of us William Bickerton waited for that day. Have we reached it even without our knowledge. I think it is time to look around.
Brother Jerry As a fellow blog writer, I appreciate the time, dependence on God, and reflection it takes to deliver. May God continue to bless you with His wisdom. Thank you for these wonderful articles that have taken passages and added insight and relevance to our current day and time.
Congratulations on this huge milestone! Praise God! Since I started reading your articles, they have helped me understand the scriptures & see how God moves in our lives today! My walk with Christ began just over a year ago and I’m forever grateful for that decision. I’m so happy for you and if it means anything, I am proud of you for your achievement! I’m so blessed to have you in my life ?? Love you Jerry! ?
Brother Jerry, these articles have been a tremendous blessing for us as we were privileged to participate in seeing the “original” edition published in the Gospel Blog each week. Looking at the Indices and the huge number (239!) of articles, I can see how they can also be a valuable resource for generations to come. God bless you for your consistent efforts and the example you have set in using your gifts to glorify God and enhance His Church. I just browsed through the collection and decided to read your article on the Book of Omni, entitled, “The Book of You.” I was very blessed (for the second time) to reflect on how each of us who know the Lord could write a book about what He has done in our lives. I’m blessed to know you and to serve alongside you in this beautiful Church!
Hi Anthony,
I guess I have seen you in the youtube. I am very interested in communicating with you.
Thank you Brother Jerry. I have looked forward to our Wednesday articles. God bless you. Sister Dianne
Thank you for these articles. I plan to go back to your first blog to align your commentaries with the Book of Mormon book study that Josh Gehly put together. What a nice way to finish each book!
Thank you Bro. Jerry for all your lessons through the Book of Mormon! They have been a great blessing to read and your video lessons online have been wonderful as well. May God richly bless you for your efforts!
I am from Sri Lanka. Moroni 10 is the most attractive to me in the Book of Mormon. I compare that with the lamentation of Christ in the New Testament `O Jerusalem, Jerusalem …….` a feeling of hopelessness. In comparison and in short Moroni 10 brings hope where he calls Jerusalem to rise from dust. The daughter of Jerusalem in new cloths and gleeful gives us much hope of restoration.
Brother Jerry, thank you so much for your insights of the individual chapters of the Book of Mormon. Your diligence in this task is much appreciated and will be a help to all. Now back to First Nephi!
Thank you for this great article! Its so true that trusting in God means trusting Him even in times when things may not go the way we had wanted, or prayed for. Which is easier said than done, I feel like in the moment of those challenges it can be so hard to trust in God. But, if we can just remember that God can see what is coming and what is ahead of us in our lives, things will always work out if we just trust in Him and follow His plan for each of us. I loved the proverbs scripture you shared at the end which talks of trusting God rather than our own understanding. From a logical perspective it makes perfect sense to trust someone who literally knows all and wants the best for us. To trust our own understanding would be much less effective knowing that we dont have a perfect knowledge and it hinders us with our own pride sometimes. Anyways, I am greatful for the insightful article! Thanks again!