Mormon 8:22 -- A couplet

Mormon 8:22

The writer of this verse is the son of the great historian-general and prophet Mormon, whose name is Moroni. Moroni was himself a prophet and general. He commanded ten thousand fighters and their families at the great battle that marked the final solution the Lamanites and robber bands had sought to the Nephite nation which had foolishly embarked on a war of aggression against them prompting Mormon to resign his commission and devote himself to his ministry.  Moroni was charged by his father to take custody of the record (the so-called Golden Plates), complete the record, and guarantee its preservation. About 25 years after that battle, still surviving, and now able to devote himself to his commissioned assignment, he mused about the vision had had obtained of the future world, our world, and the controversies that would erupt once the record had come forth again, and what the critics might say about it. In verses 34 and 35 of this chapter, Moroni discloses explicitly that he has this knowledge:

 34 Behold, the Lord hath shown unto me great and marvelous things concerning that which must shortly come, at that day when these things shall come forth among you.

 35 Behold, 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.

But in addressing the controversies he foresaw, he had this to say from his grand perspective, which I consider one of the literary gems of the Book of Mormon. It is an unrhymed couplet (in English anyway) that summarizes that perspective in exquisitely succinct terms:

  22 For the eternal purposes of the Lord shall roll on, until all his promises shall be fulfilled.

Moroni has much to day about the modern age, but all in all, he emphasizes that whatever controversies arise, the Lord will not be deterred in his purposes in fulfilling all things he has caused his servants the prophets to promise and predict.