Revelation is a basic principle of the gospel, as shown by Moroni listing various gifts of the Spirit. Those who deny revelation are also denying these gifts (v. 7). Without revelation there would be none of those gifts. Thus, they know not the gospel of Christ. Moroni’s next statement is also very insightful, “he has not read the scriptures; if so, he has not understood them” (v. 8). The scripture that Moroni cites (v. 9) is not in our current Old Testament, again showing the loss of plain and precious parts (see 1 Nephi 13:26–29). Nevertheless the concept is taught in the Bible (see Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). Notice that the god they are imagining is not spelled with a capital “G” showing it is a false god (Mormon 9:10).
The God of miracles, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was best illustrated in the book of Exodus. There we read: “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM; and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you” (Exodus 3:14). The Jews took up stones to cast at Jesus when he said: “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58–59). Jesus was identifying himself as the God who had led Israel. As clarified in the Joseph Smith Translation, God further identified himself unto Moses: “I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, I am the Lord God Almighty, the Lord Jehovah. And was my name not known unto them?” (JST, Exodus 6:3). The Book of Mormon confirms that Jesus Christ was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (see 1 Nephi 19:19; 2 Nephi 11:7). In the context of Moroni’s statement, Elohim may seem to be the God that he is talking about (Mormon 9:11). However, the unchanging God could apply to the Father or to Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was the God who created the earth, although he did it under the direction of the Father (see John 1:14, Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:1–2). The Book of Mormon also teaches that Jesus Christ was the creator (see Alma 11:38–40). Although Jesus Christ did not physically create Adam (v. 12), the plan to populate the earth was administered by him, and in that context he was his creator. Notice that Moroni calls Christ the Father and the Son. Abinadi explained the two titles applying to Christ in Mosiah 15:1–4.
Moroni’s comments on the redemption of man (Mormon 9:13–14) bears testimony of the Atonement, the Resurrection, and the Judgment through Jesus Christ. He adds his testimony to those of Jacob (see 2 Nephi 9); Abinadi (see Mosiah 15); Samuel the Lamanite (Helaman 14); and many others in the Book of Mormon.