In Moroni 1–6, Moroni presents information about ordinances and statements about the manner in which the Nephites worshipped when they were righteous. These chapters may be thought of as a priesthood handbook of the righteous Nephites, given under the guidance of the Savior during his visit. Moroni’s instructions provide the how-to from the first part of 4 Nephi, giving specific instructions for how they were able to create such a wonderful Zion community.
Still today, we can go through the Book of Mormon and find much of the information that we would need to run the Church of Jesus Christ. Indeed, the leaders of the Church wisely use the Book of Mormon as a key source of inspiration and guidance. It is regularly cited in General Conference addresses counselling members of the Church in their personal lives and callings within the Church.
In fact, the value of the Book of Mormon as an authoritative source for Church administration was recognized immediately. A little-known document called The Articles of the Church of Christ was written by Oliver Cowdery in June 1829, shortly after the translation of the plates of Mormon was completed. With Moroni 1–6 in hand, Oliver began drafting what was a first effort to determine how he and Joseph should build up the Church, and what its organizational practices should look like. He wrote, “Listen to the voice of Christ and write the words which I shall command you concerning my Church, my gospel, my rock.” “My Church,” “my gospel,” and “my rock” are words used by the resurrected Jesus in 3 Nephi 11 and 3 Nephi 27. According to historian Scott Faulring, “more than half of Cowdery’s Articles are either direct quotations or paraphrases with slight deviations from the Book of Mormon.” The subsequent revelation now found in Doctrine and Covenants 20 likewise draws heavily on the Book of Mormon, especially details on priesthood offices and the administration of ordinances found in Moroni 2–6.
The original Book of Mormon manuscript is a long, hand-written manuscript. It had no verse numbers, no paragraphs, and, of course, no index. Oliver had written most of the book out by hand, word by word, and that dictation process had gone on from the beginning of April to the end of June—approximately three months. But Oliver Cowdery was able to go to the manuscript pages and locate this scattered information, which he then put together in an amazing condensation of the administrative affairs of the Church.
Oliver’s “Articles” began with how to baptize people, and he quoted what we now have as 3 Nephi 11:23–27. Then he discussed ordaining priests and teachers using Moroni 3, and quoted how priests should be ordained. From there, he moved to the sacrament, inviting people to come and partake of the sacrament “often.” Moroni 6:6 says, “And they did meet together oft to partake of bread and wine, in remembrance of the Lord Jesus.” Moroni is not the only one to say that we should do this oft; Jesus himself blessed and broke the bread, and passed the sacrament to his disciples as they met together often with him. Jesus set the example, saying, “And behold, ye shall meet together oft” (3 Nephi 18:22) and “And if ye shall always do these things blessed are ye, for ye are built upon my rock” (3 Nephi 18:12). The actual words of the Sacrament prayers are then quoted as they are found in Moroni 4 and 5. Oliver then went to Moroni 6:7–8, which discussed what was to happen if someone came and was not worthy to partake of the sacrament, as set forth by Jesus toward the end of 3 Nephi 18. Approximately half of Oliver’s administrative document is taken verbatim from the Book of Mormon text.
Oliver’s two-page draft was not adopted for use in the Church in June 1829 because the Church had not yet been organized. When the Church was organized about ten months later, on April 6, 1830, Section 20 of the Doctrine and Covenants was then revealed by Joseph Smith, expanding and refining Oliver’s document and likewise making good use of administrative directives found in the Book of Mormon.
Even today, in the Church’s Handbook of Instructions and in the general administration of the operations of the Church, it is easy to find many ways in which the Church is organized that specifically follow the directions given by Jesus Christ and the prophetic leaders of his Church found in the Book of Mormon. As Jesus told his twelve disciples, “Ye know the things that ye must do in my church … for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do. Therefore, if ye do these things blessed are ye, for ye shall be lifted up at the last day” (3 Nephi 27:21–22). Obviously, the Book of Mormon gives us many things: revelation, doctrine, history, scripture, personal guidance, practical role models, political wisdom, literary inspiration, and much, much more. On top of all of that, it teaches us how to conduct the spiritual and temporal matters of the Church. Here is a list of some such policies and practices followed by the Church today that have scriptural authority behind them coming from the Book of Mormon:
Book of Mormon Central, “Why Did the Lord Quote the Book of Mormon When Reestablishing the Church? (3 Nephi 11:24),” KnoWhy 282 (March 3, 2017).
Scott H. Fraulring, “An Examination of the 1829 ‘Articles of the Church of Christ,’ in Relation to Section 20 of the Doctrine and Covenants,” BYU Studies 43 no. 4 (2004): 57–91; see also Scott H. Faulring, “The Book of Mormon: A Blueprint for Organizing the Church,” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 7, no. 1 (1998): 60–69, 71.
John W. Welch, “The Book of Mormon as the Keystone of Church Administration,” in A Firm Foundation: Church Organization and Administration, ed. Whittaker and Garr (Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book, 2011), 15–58; reprinted in Religious Educator 12, no. 2 (2011).
John W. Welch, “From Presence to Practice: Jesus, the Sacrament Prayers, the Priesthood, and Church Discipline in 3 Nephi 18 and Moroni 2–6,” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 5, no. 1 (1996): 120–129.
Evidence Central, “Book of Mormon Evidence: Parallels between the Didache and Moroni 2–6,” September 19, 2020, online at evidencecentral.org.