According to Sidney Sperry, Moroni 7-10 contains teachings which so closely parallel passages in 1 Corinthians 12-13 that they constitute a literary problem. We can focus our attention first on Moroni 10:8-17 and its parallel in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11. These scriptures deal with gifts of the Spirit which are bestowed on man in various forms. That more than a casual connection exists between these two scriptures is apparent to everyone. . . Next, we will focus on the fact that Moroni 7:45-46 parallel 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 so closely in some respects that they must be accounted for. . . . To be sure, great differences can be found between the two texts, but great likenesses also exist. It is only natural that critics of the Book of Mormon should call our attention to these facts, and explain them by saying that Joseph Smith simply "lifted" the ideas from the New Testament and used them to suit himself. . . .
Again, we point to the probability that Paul and a Nephite prophet had access to a common body of teaching. Christ was the original author of the great teachings on faith and charity; Mormon and the great apostle to the Gentiles simply adapted the teachings of our Lord common to the Nephites and Jews as seemed good to them. Many sincere persons may be shocked at the suggestion that Paul was not the author of the great ideas underlying 1 Corinthians 13. I recognize that Paul may be credited with a certain originality in presenting them but believe that much, even of the exact phraseology, is due to our Lord who taught the same great doctrines in America and Palestine.
Nevertheless, the reader might wonder about examples of other Nephite scriptures which have fairly close parallels in the New Testament and antedate Christ. Some examples are: 2 Nephi 33:9 and Matthew 7:13-14; Mosiah 5:8 and Acts 4:12; Mosiah 16:7-8 and 1 Corinthians 15:54-55. . . .
These quotations emphasize a common Latter-day Saint teaching to the effect that the doctrines of Jesus were given to men from the earliest ages. Christianity was in the world from the beginning. Consequently, many of the teachings of inspired men were bound to be similar to those of Christ in the New Testament. From the words of Jacob:
For, for this intent have we written these things, that they may know that we knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his glory many hundred years before his coming; and not only we ourselves had a hope of his glory, but also all the holy prophets which were before us.
Behold, they believed in Christ and worshiped the Father in his name, and also we worship the Father in his name . . . Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the spirit of prophecy . . . (Jacob 4:4-6)
It is important to realize that certain early scriptures containing Christian teachings, which we do not at present have, were apparently available to Paul. In the citation from 1 Corinthians 15:54 (cited above as similar to Mosiah 16:7-8) it will be noticed that Paul says, "Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written." The "word" or "saying" then follows. No single passage of scripture in our possession contains all of this saying. I am aware that most scholars attribute it to Paul's combining Isaiah 25:8 and Hosea 13:14. However, the possibility exists that Isaiah and Hosea were both quoting from a still earlier prophecy unknown to us which had the saying substantially as quoted by the apostle. . . .
We emphasize here the fact that different prophets may have somewhat similar inspiration in dealing with a given subject, and that this inspiration may be expressed in very similar language. [Sidney B. Sperry, "Literary Problems in the Book of Mormon," in Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, 4/1 (Spring 1995, pp. 166-174] [See the commentary on Moroni 7:45-46]; see Volume 6 Appendix C]