Nevertheless, I know. . . .

Mormon 2

Mormon leads the Nephite armies and it’s not a pretty scene.  The Nephites mourn, but it is not enough to bring them to repentance. 

This really is a sad tale Mormon has to tell.  He’s about 15 when he is given charge of the Nephite armies.  He says he was “large in stature”.  He must have been!  I can’t imagine the responsibility that was upon his shoulders.  He says in v18 that he wrote more detail about the wickedness and abominations in the plates of Nephi.  I’m guessing that is part of what is contained in the 116 pages of lost manuscript during the translation of the Book of Mormon.  It is fascinating to me how the Lord provided the information we really needed and it managed to stay in tact. 

At the time Mormon is writing, he is now 32 years of age.  He’s had over 16 years of leading a group of people who do not live the gospel in any form.  How did he keep it from wearing him down?  I marvel at Mormon’s righteousness.  He is someone I would like to know personally.  Even amidst all the blood and carnage and wickedness that surrounded him on both sides, he says “I know that I shall be lifted up at the last day.”  How did he know?  He had to have been living so close to the Lord that angels did surround him in his extremities.  He says he knew the three disciples.  I’m sure they ministered to him as he says later.  Did they “hang out” and talk with each other about the mysteries of heaven?  Were they friends that provided the human need we all have to interact with those like us?  Wouldn’t it be interesting to peek into this part of Mormon’s life?

In spite of their differences and wickedness, the Lamanites and Nephites eventually agreed to a treaty and divided the land between them.  I can’t help but wonder what that round table must have looked like.  How did they arrive to that conclusion?  I have so many unanswered questions that are really of no real consequence, but just of a curious mind. 

What do I take from reading this morning?  If nothing else, it is to realize the Lord will strengthen us in our righteous desires even if we are surrounded in a sea of wickedness, as was Mormon.  We can do it.  And we can also say, as did Mormon, “nevertheless, I know that I shall be lifted up at the last day.”