Message For Future Generations

I have often wondered about how much has been revealed to prophets. I know the scriptures talk about some prophets having an experience where basically they were given to know everything about the earth, including all it's inhabitants. I believe that means it was revealed to them about their own lives too.

That being said, we are also aware that some don't seem to know much detail about what's coming in their own lives. The 12 disciples that Jesus chose when He visited the Nephites, for example, asked for a specific future, and it was granted them.

What I have wondered the most, I think, though, is whether most prophets through the ages have known their time on earth was coming to a close. And if so, it would make a lot of sense for them to take extra care to share a message of greatest importance to them.

Mormon seems determined, whether he actually dies soon after this message or not, to share a set of things that he wants future generations, who will read his words, to know. 

"I would speak somewhat unto the remnant of this people who are spared..." (Mormon 7:1) 

It almost reads like a bullet-point list (from Mormon 7:2-7)

• "Know ye that ye are of the house of Israel." (v. 2)
• Mormon wanted his descendants to know who they were and where they came from. The people of the house of Israel are God's people. He made promises to them, and those promises must be fulfilled. Great blessings will come to the house of Israel (provided they are righteous)
• "Know ye that ye must come unto repentance, or ye cannot be saved." (v. 3)
• The greatest blessing of all, salvation, only comes to the repentant. This exact thing is why Mormon was so grief-stricken at the end of the big battle. He knew that so many people had died, not being repentant, and therefore not prepared to receive the great blessing of salvation.
• "Know ye that ye must lay down your weapons of war, and delight no more in the shedding of blood, and take them not again, save it be that God shall command you." (v. 4)
• Mormon spent his entire life watching and fighting wars. He saw what it did to people. He knew that if people could just try to walk in peace, it would make all the difference in the world.
• "Know ye that ye must come to the knowledge of your fathers, and repent of all your sins and iniquities, and believe in Jesus Christ, that he is the Son of God, and that he was slain by the Jews, and by the power of the Father he hath risen again, whereby he hath gained the victory over the grave; and also in him is the sting of death swallowed up. And he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead, whereby man must be raised to stand before his judgment-seat. And he hath brought to pass the redemption of the world, whereby he that is found guiltless before him at the judgment day hath it given unto him to dwell in the presence of God in his kingdom, to sing ceaseless praises with the choirs above, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, which are one God, in a state of happiness which hath no end." (v. 5-7)
• This is a little more meaty, but he talks about basically just knowing Christ, and what He has done for us. This is the first principle of the gospel, faith in Christ. Without Him, we don't even have the option for repentance, and all would be lost because without that, we cannot be saved.

What does Mormon say to do about all of these things?

"Therefore repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus, and lay hold upon the gospel of Christ, which shall be set before you, not only in this record but also in the record which shall come unto the Gentiles from the Jews, which record shall come from the Gentiles unto you." (Mormon 7:8)

We need to have the faith in Christ he talked about, then repent, and be baptized. I love that Mormon knew that more than one record would be available to people to help them to know the gospel. He talked about the Book of Mormon ("this record", as in, the record I am writing these words in) as well as the Bible ("the record which shall come unto the Gentiles from the Jews"). With these multiple witnesses, or testaments, of Christ, we can better understand God's plan for us.

Mormon follows up with some great and encouraging words about how if we do these things, it shall be well with us in the day of judgement.

I think there are some things to think about with these words. It does lend some significance to the words of prophets to consider that they might know that certain words are among the final words they will share. It makes me want to go back and review what the latter-day prophets have spoken about in their last general conference talks, for example. While I don't know if any of them have known that the words they were sharing would be their last, they were still led by God to say those words. I feel to make the time to do that. I think I will be able to learn a lot about how God directs His people, and what He wants them to know.