Moroni 10:26–34

“Come unto Christ”

the Savior with outstretched arms

We were sent to earth to learn and grow so that we can gain eternal life. To help us, Heavenly Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ. He has also called prophets to teach and testify of Jesus Christ. In the final verses of the Book of Mormon, Moroni invited all to follow the Savior. This lesson can help you “come unto Christ, and be perfected in him” (Moroni 10:32).

Purposes of the Book of Mormon

Have you ever thought about why God gave us the Book of Mormon?

Today you will study the final verses of the Book of Mormon. As you study, think about the purposes and blessings of the Book of Mormon.

In the title page of the Book of Mormon, Moroni declared that the Book of Mormon was written to convince us that “Jesus is the Christ.” The term “Christ” is the “Greek equivalent of Messiah. It means the anointed Prophet, Priest, King, and Deliverer” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Messiah,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

• How has studying the Book of Mormon strengthened your belief in Jesus Christ?

• How has studying the Book of Mormon helped you follow Jesus Christ?

• How do you feel you are currently doing in your efforts to follow Him?

Moroni’s final invitations

After teaching about the gifts of the spirit and warning about the consequences of unbelief, Moroni spoke about the Book of Mormon.

Read Moroni 10:27–29, looking for what Moroni prophesied would happen.

• What do you think about meeting Moroni at the judgment bar?

Moroni then extended his final exhortations, or invitations.

Read Moroni 10:30–34, looking for what Moroni invited us to do and for promised blessings he shared

Study at least two invitations and two promises from Moroni 10:30–34. The following chart can help. It may be helpful to list the additional scriptures and study helps in your scriptures next to the specific phrases from Moroni 10:30–34. You could also study other invitations or promises you find in Moroni 10:30–34 that are not listed in the chart.

What we must do (Moroni’s invitations)

What Heavenly Father promises

What we must do (Moroni’s invitations) Lay hold upon every good gift. (See Moroni 7:19; Doctrine and Covenants 6:7.) Avoid evil gifts and unclean things. (See 2 Nephi 4:27–28; Mormon 9:28.) Deny ourselves of all ungodliness. (See Joseph Smith Translation, Matthew 16:25–29 [in Matthew 16:24, footnote a]; Mosiah 3:19.) Love God with all our might, mind, and strength. (See Matthew 22:36–38; Omni 1:26.)

What Heavenly Father promises His grace is sufficient and can make us perfect. (See 2 Nephi 10:24; 25:23; Ether 12:27; Guide to the Scriptures, “Grace,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.) We will be sanctified and receive a remission of our sins. (See 3 Nephi 27:20; Doctrine and Covenants 76:41; Guide to the Scriptures, “Sanctification,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.) We will become holy without spot. (See Leviticus 19:2; Doctrine and Covenants 87:8; Guide to the Scriptures, “Holy,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.)

icon, record

1. Answer the following questions:

   • Which invitations or promises are most meaningful to you and why?

   • How can acting on these invitations help you come unto Jesus Christ?

   • What principles can we learn from Moroni 10:30–34?

One principle we learn is as we come unto Jesus Christ, we can be perfected in Him.

“Come unto Christ, and be perfected in him”

You may want to watch the video “Come unto Christ: 2014 Theme Song” (4:48), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Ponder how the Savior’s grace has helped you in your times of need.

2. Answer at least one of the following questions:

   • What did Jesus Christ do so we can receive the promises in Moroni 10:30–34 and be perfected in Him?

   • How have you seen the grace (divine help or strength) of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ working in your life?

Think of something you can do to come unto Christ and be perfected in Him. If you are not sure what to do, pondering the following questions might help. If there is something you feel you can do right now, do it. One of your youth development goals may already be helping you come unto Christ. You could continue working on that goal.

• Is there anything ungodly in my life that I need to deny myself of (for example, media influences or bad habits)?

• How can I better love God with all my might, mind, and strength?

• How will doing these things help me become like Jesus Christ?

Optional: Want to Learn More?

How can I be blessed as I accept the invitation to come unto Christ?

Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared:

Elder Gerrit W. Gong

God’s invitations are full of love and possibility because Jesus Christ is “the way, the truth, and the life” [John 14:6]. To those who feel burdened, He invites, “Come unto me,” and to those who come to Him, He promises, “I will give you rest” [Matthew 11:28]. “Come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, … love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ” [Moroni 10:32].

In this assurance “by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ” is also the comfort, peace, and promise that we can continue forward with faith and confidence in the Lord even when things do not go as we hope, expect, or perhaps deserve, through no fault of our own, even after we have done our best. (Gerrit W. Gong, “Our Campfire of Faith,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2018, 42)

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

“Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him … ,” Moroni pleads. “Love God with all your might, mind and strength, then … by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ” [Moroni 10:32; emphasis added]. Our only hope for true perfection is in receiving it as a gift from heaven—we can’t “earn” it. Thus, the grace of Christ offers us not only salvation from sorrow and sin and death but also salvation from our own persistent self-criticism. (Jeffrey R. Holland, “Be Ye Therefore Perfect—Eventually,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 41)

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Elder D. Todd Christofferson

Remember, the atoning power or grace of Christ not only takes away the guilt of sin and error, but it also sanctifies and makes us holy beings, capable of living in the presence of God. (D. Todd Christofferson, “Choice and Commitment,” [worldwide devotional for young adults, January 12, 2020], broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

Moroni 10:34. What will the Final Judgment be like?

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, then of the First Presidency, taught:

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

That Day of Judgment will be a day of mercy and love—a day when broken hearts are healed, when tears of grief are replaced with tears of gratitude, when all will be made right.

Yes, there will be deep sorrow because of sin. Yes, there will be regrets and even anguish because of our mistakes, our foolishness, and our stubbornness that caused us to miss opportunities for a much greater future.

But I have confidence that we will not only be satisfied with the judgment of God; we will also be astonished and overwhelmed by His infinite grace, mercy, generosity, and love for us, His children. If our desires and works are good, if we have faith in a living God, then we can look forward to what Moroni called “the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge” [Moroni 10:34]. (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “O How Great the Plan of Our God!,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 21)