As if Moroni’s vision of the Gentiles is closing before his eyes, he majestically says goodbye. We can only imagine Moroni—all alone—as he mourns the lack of charity among the Gentiles. Jacob was concerned that the blood of his people would not be found on his garments (Jacob 1:19). Moroni declared that the blood of his people—the Gentiles—would not be found on his garments. Moroni had the distinction of being called to preach to a people who would not live for 1400 years after his death. Yet, his responsibility was the same—to go to his grave having done all he could do for his people.
Yet, as we imagine Moroni, the vision of two other great prophets should come to view, for this passage can be applied, equally well, to the lives of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. Undoubtedly, they will be at the same judgment-seat of which Moroni spoke. Their garments were also clean of the blood of the Gentiles. They also bade farewell to the Gentiles prior to their untimely deaths. In fact, these words became the prophetic farewell of Hyrum. The morning of these two prophets left for Carthage, Hyrum read this passage in the Book of Mormon, and turned down the leaf upon it (DC 135:4).