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Moroni: Joseph Smith's Teacher
H. Donl Peterson
The prophet Isaiah, Israel's scholar and seer, saw an extraordinary scene as he was allowed to view this last dispensation. He saw a young man, lacking all but the most elementary educational skills, commissioned by the Lord to translate from engraved plates a most important record that was intended for the benefit and enlightenment of all the nations of the earth. Because the sacred engravings were undecipherable to any of his generation, the "unlearned" young man was unable to proceed. Nevertheless, the Lord gave the book to the young man with the command "Read this I pray thee"; and he could only reply, "I am not learned" (see Isa. 29:12 ).
The Lord explained to the young man that "The learned shall not read them, for they have rejected them, and I am able to do mine own work; wherefore thou shall read the words which I shall give unto thee,…for I will show unto the children of men that I am able to do mine own work." (2 Ne. 27:19-21 ).
Isaiah does not explain how the Lord would accomplish this remarkable latter-day work. This chapter addresses the question how the Lord, working through Joseph Smith, was able to translate and publish the Book of Mormon; and how he further prepared Joseph in his formative years for his role as the Prophet of the Most High.
Moroni Appears to Joseph Smith
An initial way that the Lord prepared Joseph Smith for his great role in the Restoration was to assign to him a personal tutor named Moroni. In a period of six years (1823-1829) Moroni appeared to his young pupil many times. A review of Moroni's visits follows.
At the Smith Home: Visits 1 to 4
It was the first day of fall 1823; in three months Joseph would celebrate his 18th birthday. Three and a half years before, God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ had appeared to the young teenager in response to his humble prayer inquiring which church he should join. The Savior replied to "join none of them for they were all wrong." (JS-H 1:19 ).
He was further instructed to prepare for the day when the true church would be upon the earth. He had been admonished "to continue as I was until further directed." (JS-H 1:26 ). Since Joseph had not been visited for such a long period of time, he wondered if his adolescent levity or his association with some frivolous friends had offended God, causing him to be rejected. In his soul searching these minor infractions were the only errors that he could recall which he felt might offend God.
On the evening of 21 September 1823 Joseph was determined to ask God to forgive him of his sins and follies and to know his "state and standing before God." Joseph had a resolve stronger than before; he wanted to talk to someone, and he fully expected to. He explained, "I had full confidence in obtaining a divine manifestation, as I previously had one." (JS-H 1:29 ).