Jerry Ainsworth writes that of all the voices that speak to us from the annals of ancient America, none is more eloquent than Moroni’s. His words ring with a heartfelt vibrancy, having been forged in the crucible of a holocaust and tempered by his foreknowledge of events ranging far into the future. Many of those future events would themselves depend upon Moroni’s successful completion of his ministry.
The picture of himself that emerges from Moroni’s writings is fashioned as much by what he does not say as by what he says. He writes very little about himself. The most notable character trait of this keeper of sacred records is his humility. When he speaks of himself, it is in the most self-effacing of contexts. We observe this when he admits his conflict over the fundamental principle of baptism. We see it when he speaks of his fears that people might mock the things of God because of the inadequacy of his writing skills.
Moroni the soldier grew up in the household of the greatest Nephite commander of all time. At the same time, he was possibly nurtured by a mother who was a pacifist. Moroni the writer and historian matured in the shadow of the man who single-handedly abridged centuries of his people’s history. Moroni the son, however, seems never to have been impoverished by his father’s greatness. Rather, he appears ennobled by a relationship that forever after shaped his long and productive life.
Following a brief and sober introduction, Moroni completes his father’s record, as commanded. He also abridges the Jaredite record. He then writes what is popularly called the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon. In addition, he writes his own section in the Book of Mormon--the book of Moroni--before closing this unique and sacred record.
The volume of Moroni’s work rivals, and probably far exceeds, that of his father. To begin with, he lacked the space on the plates in which to accomplish much writing and even ore from which to produce more plates. He overcame these obstacles. From a man who lamented the weakness of his writing skills, who didn’t know what the future had in store for him, the world received a priceless, enduring gift.
It is thus obvious from the final outcome that Moroni‘s circumstances changed significantly after his father’s death. But because he tells us so very little about his travels and circumstances, we are left to piece together a picture of what happened from a few personal remarks, even fewer documents, some scriptural innuendoes, and our own speculative attempts to understand his life. [Jerry L. Ainsworth, The Lives and Travels of Mormon and Moroni, pp. 201-202]
Mormon 8:1 I, Moroni, do finish the record of my father, Mormon (Nephite Record Keepers) [[Illustration] Nephite Record Keepers. Adapted from [Church Educational System, Book of Mormon Student Manual: Religion 121 and 122, 1989, p. 155]
Mormon 8:1 Behold I, Moroni … have but few things to write (Illustration): Chart: “Writings of Moroni.” [John W. & J. Gregory Welch, Charting the Book of Mormon: Visual Aids for Personal Study and Teaching, F.A.R.M.S., Chart #21]