Journal of Book of Mormon Studies
Keywords
Book of Mormon, Ether, Mormon, Moroni, Book of Mormon as Literature
Abstract
Moroni, the final writer and compiler of the Book of Mormon, provides three endings to the book. His first ending, in Mormon 8–9, can be called a “signature ending”—the primary purpose here is to state that the writing is finished and to identify the author and his father and nation. Moroni, yet alive, provides a second ending, a “farewell ending,” in Ether 12. This type of ending both concludes the work and wishes the reader well but then warns or rejoices that the narrator will meet the reader at the final judgment. In the final farewell ending (in Moroni 10), Moroni, the lone survivor of his people, expresses joy and hope. The three endings remind latter-day readers to acknowledge the destruction of the Nephite and Jaredite nations and provide doctrinal, logical, and scriptural arguments in defense of the Book of Mormon and its doctrines.
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Thomas, Mark D.
(2003)
"Moroni: The Final Voice,"
Journal of Book of Mormon Studies: Vol. 12:
No.
1, Article 11.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jbms/vol12/iss1/11