Moroni came

When Joseph Smith was 17, he asked God another question that was answered spectacularly; this time he asked for a review of his standing before God. He felt that he had messed up, been frivolous, not kept steady as he ought to have done. Basically Joseph wanted to know, “I’ve been weak and imperfect; am I doing okay? Please forgive me.”

Joseph had previously been visited in person; he felt confident that God would again speak to him. So he was not as astonished as last time, but still afraid at first, when a light appeared in his bedroom, brighter than the sunlight at noon, and a person appeared. This time Joseph gave us a more complete description, which fits, since Joseph saw this person several times over the course of 24 hours.

The person called Joseph by name and introduced himself as Moroni, a messenger from God with a mission for Joseph to fulfill. Moroni told Joseph that Joseph’s name would become famous, with all the good and bad that could be, worldwide. I don’t think Joseph thought of fame as we would, but certainly people he never met felt they knew all about him and either followed him or hated him.

Moroni told Joseph about a book, written on gold plates, holding the history of people in the Americas and the words of God given to them, from Jesus Christ. There was also a pair of stones called Urim and Thummim, for translating the gold plates into English. The stones had been prepared by God; their use made one a seer, as in ancient times. A seer sees: sees the future, the past, the present, whatever God wants them to see and bear witness of.

God doesn’t give us useless information; He has a purpose in answering our questions. He particularly wants us to share what we learn with each other; only rarely does He say, don’t share this bit or that bit. Mostly He tells us so we can bear witness to ourselves and to others, so we can remember His words.

The next logical question might be: what about the Bible? Does this new book supplant it? What about the prophecies and promises already known? Are we supposed to ignore them?

In answer to that, Moroni promptly quoted from the Old Testament and the New Testament, passages about the future, promises that have not yet been fulfilled, promises that would be fulfilled in the near future. He included a section from Joel 2:28-32, which promises that Joseph will not be the only one to see visions and receive information from God; there will be others, many others, who have contact with God through His Spirit. Joel mentions many weaker, low status people receiving visions and prophecies from God: children, old men, young men, servants and women. God is no respecter of persons but answers everyone who asks.

According to God, then, the Bible and the Book of Mormon stand together, both testifying of Jesus Christ and His promises to people on earth. Moroni made sure Joseph understood this. It was not yet time to open the Book of Mormon, but it was time for Joseph to prepare to do so. Moroni came three more times in quick succession, each time repeating what he had already told Joseph and adding more. The last time, Moroni told Joseph to tell his father about Moroni’s information and instructions.

Joseph went to his father, who by this time was up and working in the field; Moroni had talked to Joseph all night and in the morning. Joseph’s father listened. He listened! His son was acting sick, worn out, probably hollow-eyed and intensely emotional; Joseph’s father could have dismissed it and sent him to bed. In fact, the first time they tried to work the field that day, he had told Joseph to go home. Moroni had stopped Joseph, repeated everything the fourth time, and told him to Tell Your Dad.

So Joseph repeated everything to his father, who listened. Joseph’s father said, do it; it is of God.

The immediate instruction was to go see the plates. Not to translate them, not yet; just go find them and look at them. Joseph went to the place Moroni said the plates would be. Sure enough, there they were, buried in a stone box under a large protective stone that had to be levered out of the way. Joseph tried to take them out of the box, but Moroni forbade him. It was not yet time. Here were the plates, waiting for the right time. Remember what you’ve learned; come back every year to learn more, until the time is right.

Joseph waited. Oh what a trial! And yet, prayers answered. Have I been forgiven for not being better? Yes. Has God work for me to do? Yes. Is there a bright future coming? YES!!!!