The Book of Mormon a tragic book

Remember, the Book of Mormon is a tragic book; it is “a voice from the dust.” It’s very sad, as you know. It begins on a note of destruction and ends on a note of destruction. It begins with lone survivors in the wilderness and ends with a lone survivor. There’s nothing more sad than survival; it’s a dirty word. (Hugh Nibley, Teachings of the book of Mormon)

I guess I never thought of it like that. But if you take a look — you’ll see the destruction from beginning to end.

The Book of Mormon is compiled by a father (Mormon) and his son (Moroni). With the death of Mormon, Moroni becomes the lone wanderer left to bury their work in the hillside — their words destined to come forth at a later time — first for the latter-day Lamanites and second for the latter-day Gentiles and Jews. (I Know Your Doing, Ensign)

The book begins with Lehi sharing his vision that Jerusalem will be destroyed — which is not well received. The Lord warns Lehi to take his family out of the city and into the wilderness where the message left to us by Nephi is, “and my father dwelt in a tent.”

And … he departed into the wilderness. And he left his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness. (1Nephi 2:4)

The book ends with the words of the lone Nephite survivor — Moroni. His father, Mormon — now dead. It seems Moroni is left with the plates, hiding out from those that would kill him;

Now I, Moroni, after having made an end of abridging the account of the people of Jared, I had supposed not to have written more, but I have not as yet perished; and I make not myself known to the Lamanites lest they should destroy me. (Moroni 1:1)

The destruction theme is of primary importance to us. And the message of survival, through Christ. Mormon affirms, “I Mormon do write the things which have been commanded me of the Lord.” (3 Ne. 26:12.)

“I exhort you to remember these things,” wrote Moroni, “for the time speedily cometh that ye shall know that I lie not, for ye shall see me at the bar of God; and the Lord God will say unto you: Did I not declare my words unto you, which were written by this man, like as one crying from the dead … ?

“Again I would exhort you that ye would come unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift.” (Moro. 10:27–30.)

Moroni says, “I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.” (Morm. 8:35.) There is an immediacy to his words for our day.