Moroni sees the inhabitants of the world in the day of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, including each of us and our family members. He has seen all the readership of the holy record over which he has charge. Let us hope that we are among those “few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts” (verse 36) or immerse themselves in iniquity and pollution. Let us take all needful precautions to avoid being numbered among the wayward and degenerate observed in vision by Moroni. Let us beware lest we become like the world he describes. Let us be grateful for the munificent kindness of the Lord in illuminating the bleak landscape of our latter-day godless civilization with the brilliant light of truth and wisdom as restored through the Book of Mormon.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie confirms Moroni’s prescient view of modern society and its moral laxity:
This is the great day of Satan’s power. It is the day of false Christs, false prophets, false miracles, false religions, false doctrines, false philosophies. It is a day when fables take precedence over facts, when all but the very elect are deceived. Of this day our Lord said: “There shall also arise false Christ, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch, that, if possible, they shall deceive the very elect, who are the elect according to the covenant.” (Jos. Smith 1:22; Revelation 13:13–14.)
Moroni, writing with fervor and in power, described conditions that would exist when the Book of Mormon should come forth. (Mormon Doctrine, 2d ed. [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966], 730)
Truly, these last days are days of wickedness and abomination, and they have become such through and because of apostasy from the truth. They have become such because the allegiance of men is pledged to Lucifer. Men choose to believe false doctrines—whether these doctrines bear the name of science or religion—and as a consequence, their way of life is evil. This is how and why they worship as Satan dictates. This is what is meant by loving Satan more than God. (The Millennial Messiah: The Second Coming of the Son of Man [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1982], 369)