“Mormon and His Teachings,” Friend, Apr. 1997, 15
Mormon and His Teachings
Many years after Jesus Christ visited the Nephites, some people again took upon themselves the name Lamanites. 4 Ne. 1:19–20
Eventually nearly all the people became wicked, both Nephites and Lamanites. 4 Ne. 1:45
A righteous man, Ammaron, had the sacred records. The Holy Ghost told him to hide them so that they would be safe. 4 Ne. 1:48–49
Knowing that ten-year-old Mormon could be trusted, Ammaron told him where the records were hidden. Morm. 1:1–2
When he was twenty-four years old, Mormon was to get the plates of Nephi and write on them about his people. Morm. 1:3–4
When Mormon was eleven years old, a war started between the Nephites and Lamanites. The Nephites beat the Lamanites, and there was peace again. Morm. 1:6, 8–12
The Nephites were so wicked that the Lord took away the three disciples, there were no more miracles or healings, and the Holy Ghost no longer guided the people. Morm. 1:13–14
When Mormon was fifteen years old, Jesus Christ visited him. Mormon learned more about the Savior and his goodness. Morm. 1:15
Mormon wanted to preach to the people, but the Savior forbade it because of the hardness of their hearts. Morm. 1:16–17, 19
When Mormon was sixteen years old, war began again. Mormon was large and strong, and the Nephites chose him to lead their army. Morm. 2:1–2
The Nephites fought the Lamanites for many years. Mormon tried to help his people fight for their families and homes. Morm. 2:23
The Nephites had become so wicked, though, that the Lord would not help them. Morm. 2:26
The Lord told Mormon to tell the Nephites that they would be spared only if they repented and were baptized. But the people refused. Morm. 3:2–3
Instead, they bragged about their strength and swore to kill all the Lamanites. Because of the Nephites’ wickedness, Mormon refused to lead them any longer. Morm. 3:8–11
The Lamanites began to defeat the Nephites in every battle. Mormon decided to lead the Nephite armies again. Morm. 4:18; Morm. 5:1
He knew that the wicked Nephites could not win the war—they would not repent and pray for the help they needed. Morm. 5:2
Mormon took all the records from the hill where Ammaron had hidden them, and wrote to the people who would one day read his record. Morm. 4:23; Morm. 5:9, 12
He wanted everyone, including the Jews, to know about Jesus Christ, to repent and be baptized, and to live the gospel and be blessed. Morm. 5:14; Morm. 7:8, 10
The Spirit inspired Mormon to put the small plates of Nephi, which contained prophecies of Christ’s coming, with the plates of Mormon. W of M 1:3–7
Mormon led the Nephites to the land of Cumorah, where they got ready to fight the Lamanites again. Morm. 6:4
He knew that this would be the last battle. He did not want the Lamanites to find the sacred records and destroy them. Morm. 6:6
He gave the plates of Mormon to his son, Moroni, and hid the rest of the plates in the hill Cumorah. Morm. 6:6
The Lamanites attacked and killed all but twenty-four Nephites. Mormon himself was wounded. Morm. 6:8–11
He cried, “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.” Morm. 6:17–18
Mormon had tried to teach the Nephites the truth. He had told them how important it is to have faith in Jesus Christ. Moro. 7:1, 33, 38
He had taught them to have hope through the Atonement of Christ to obtain eternal life, and to have charity, the pure love of Christ. Moro. 7:40–41, 47
And Mormon had written letters to his son, Moroni, who also preached the gospel to the Nephites. Moro. 8:1–2
Mormon wrote about the terrible wickedness of the Nephites. He told Moroni to stay faithful to Jesus Christ. Moro. 9:1, 20, 25
The Lamanites killed Mormon and all the Nephites but Moroni, who finished writing the records. Morm. 8:2–3
Illustrated by Jerry Thompson