Mormon had given a similar promise to Moroni of greater things being known to those who accepted the record (v. 12). Mormon said further that the showing of those greater things was based on a test of their faith for accepting the present-day record (see 3 Nephi 26:9–10). Mormon’s comments on the imperfections of the record will be commented on later. The greater things may have reference to the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, and also the Joseph Smith Translation. They may also refer to the unabridged plates of Nephi, and the sealed portion of the plates that were not translated (3 Nephi 26:9–10 referred to above, and 2 Nephi 27:10–11). Moroni’s willingness to make all things known to us was probably his way of saying he is following the will of the Lord and not his own. This concept is implied in the following verses.
Moroni’s genealogy mentions only his father and Nephi (Mormon 8:13). We have very little given to us in the Book of Mormon about Nephi’s descendants, but here is a strong implication that they had the major role in the keeping of the records. Nephi was responsible for keeping the small and the large plates of Nephi, as they have become known in the Church. The first 116 and ½ pages of the Book of Mormon are the translation of Nephi’s actual words. Mormon’s abridgment of the large plates and his comments are recorded from pages 143 through 480 (337 pages), plus a sermon and two epistles he wrote (6+ pages) that are included in the work of Moroni. Moroni is responsible for the words between Mormon 8 and Moroni 10, including the words of Mormon mentioned above (51 pages). Moroni was also responsible for the sealed portion as will be commented on in a future chapter. Thus, all but about 26 pages were given to us through Nephi, Mormon, and Moroni, and Nephi’s brother Jacob gave us about 19 of those 26 pages.
Moroni was the final custodian of the records, and hid them up unto the Lord. Those records that were hidden up unto the Lord were exempt from the curse of the Lord upon slippery treasures as foretold by Samuel the Lamanite (see Helaman 13:18–19). Moroni gives three promises of the Lord concerning these records that he had hidden up unto the Lord. First, no one shall have them to get gain (Mormon 8:14). Secondly, no one shall have power to bring them to light save it be given them by God (v. 15). Thirdly, he that brings it forth will bring it out of darkness unto light by the power of God, and it will come unto the knowledge of the people (v. 16).
Because the plates were made of precious metal, their monetary value was certainly great, but they could have been of greater value for personal or commercial benefit. The Lord knew that the presence of the plates would cause men to want to use them to obtain money or personal notoriety. That may be a reason why the Lord had the plates removed from the earth following their translation.
The plates had one purpose, to bring about the restoration of the gospel to the dispersed of Israel (v. 15). Therefore, the Lord gave Joseph Smith “power from on high, by the means which were before prepared [the Urim and Thummim], to translate the Book of Mormon” (D&C 20:8). Joseph Smith was blessed, as the Lord told Moroni, in bringing the record out of darkness, or out of the earth as the word confirms (Mormon 8:16). It has also shone forth spiritually out of darkness though bringing knowledge to the people in the latter days (v. 16). The power of God was also manifest in the translating instrument. Alma told his son Helaman:
23 And the Lord said: I will prepare unto my servant Gazelem, a stone, which shall shine forth in darkness unto light, that I may discover unto my people who serve me, that I may discover unto them the works of their brethren, yea, their secret works, their works of darkness, and their wickedness and abominations.
24 And now, my son, these interpreters were prepared that the word of God might be fulfilled, which he spake, saying:
25 I will bring forth out of darkness unto light all their secret works and their abominations; and except they repent I will destroy them from off the face of the earth; and I will bring to light all their secrets and abominations, unto every nation that shall hereafter possess the land. [Alma 37:23–25]
Moroni acknowledges the human element that may cause error in translating and copying, or other mechanical shortcomings, but he knows of none. The warning of God, which holds the critics responsible for their attitudes should be sobering to some in these latter days.