Oct 27, 2024

Mormon Abridging the Plates by Tom Lovell 

In Mormon chapters 1–6, we read about the complete disintegration of civilization due to the people’s wickedness and their rejection of God’s teachings. Despite observing many horrible things, the prophet Mormon remained faithful to God. In Mormon 3:22 he said, “And I would that I could persuade all ye ends of the earth to repent and prepare to stand before the judgment-seat of Christ.” He knew that even though his people would not listen to his warnings and would not repent, he had a meaningful purpose to fulfill.

Mormon warned us of what can happen when we reject God’s teachings and fall into wickedness. What he witnessed is similar to the things we see in our world today. We are surrounded by wars, violence, and immorality. I am grateful for prophets of old, like Mormon, who were inspired to write counsel in the Book of Mormon that pertains to us today. I am also grateful for our modern prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, who guides and directs us in the face of the increasing wickedness of the world around us. 

President Wilford Woodruff wrote, “We should have our eyes, ears and hearts open to see, hear, understand and receive the counsels and reproof revealed through the mouth of the servants of God in our day.”

Despite all the wickedness in our world today, we have many tools to help us stay on the straight and narrow path: We have the Book of Mormon to read and learn from, which was written for our day. We have modern-day prophets like Wilford Woodruff and Russell M. Nelson to lead and guide us. And we have the Holy Ghost to direct our daily lives. 

When we study the Book of Mormon, heed the words of modern-day prophets, and utilize the gift of the Holy Ghost, we can be protected from wickedness and remain on the covenant path.

Maddie is a graduate of Brigham Young University and holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations. She currently lives in Kansas City. She enjoys cooking, traveling, reading, and spending time with friends and family. Maddie has always loved learning about Church history and is greatly inspired by the words of Wilford Woodruff. She is passionate about sharing those words with everyone and is grateful to be part of such an incredible project. 

The Wilford Woodruff Papers Foundation’s mission is to digitally preserve and publish Wilford Woodruff’s eyewitness account of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and make his records universally accessible in order to inspire all people, especially the rising generation, to study and to increase their faith in Jesus Christ. For more information, please explore wilfordwoodruffpapers.org.