Book of Mormon Reading: Mormon 1-9

I don't think I have ever read the whole Book of Mormon in one day.

I'm not talking 531 pages of The Book of Mormon, but the Book of Mormon chapters in The Book of Mormon 1 through 9.

And I have to admit that in reading all nine chapters today, I was completely overcome with emotion. I was not expecting to feel such deep anguish and sorrow for the Nephites who were annihilated because of their wickedness. And I was definitely not expecting to have my love and admiration for Mormon grow.

Beginning at age 16, Mormon served as the head of the Nephite army. He held that title for 36 consecutive years, and then, because he couldn't lead such a wicked nation, he relinquished his title and his leadership, taking somewhat of a sabbatical and wiping his hands from the wickness of his generation. But twelve years later, he once again agreed to lead the Nephite nation. All in all, Mormon served as a leader of war for 45 years. 45 years!!

In addition, at the age of 10, Mormon was asked to be the future record keeper of the plates. If my calculations are close, he started compiling and keeping the records when he was about 24 years old.

So here's this boy-to-man Moroni, who, in the midst of being in charge of protecting/defending an entire people, keeping record and compiling a book for our day, he also has a family and, as we know, raises up a righteous son, Moroni.

And in spite of the wickedness and evil; carnage and terror; whoredoms and abominations, he and Moroni, are ever true and steadfast disciples of Jesus Christ.

They exercised faith and obedience when God withdrew from their people.

They endured with Him, even when they knew it was over for their people.

They witnessed miracles because of their immovable faith in their Redeemer.

Mormon and Moroni set a precedence. They teach me that I can live righteously and teach righteous living in a day like today.

"Be wise in the days of your probation," Moroni wrote, "strip yourselves of all uncleanness; ask not, that you may consume it on your lasts, but ask with the firmness and shaken, that you will yield to no temptation, but that you will serve the true and living God" (Mormon 9:28).