Moroni 4

Moroni 4:1 The Manner of . . . Administering the Flesh and Blood of Christ:

According to John Welch, the words for our sacrament prayers were first found in this dispensation in the Book of Mormon in Moroni 4:3–5:2. The words in those texts can be traced back further to the words of Jesus Christ himself in 3 Nephi 18. What is also noteworthy is that the words and covenants are also tied to King Benjamin’s speech. A detailed relationship exists between Mosiah 5, 3 Nephi 18, and Moroni 4-5. For example, at the conclusion of Benjamin’s speech, his people entered into a covenant, saying “we are willing . . . to be obedient to [God’s] commandments in all things that he shall command us,” after which they agreed to “take upon [themselves] the name of Christ” and obligated themselves to “remember to retain the name written always in [their] hearts” (Mosiah 5:5-12). These three specific promises not only reappear in Moroni 4, but are still the essential elements of the sacramental prayers as they are used today. ¹

Moroni 4:3 Always Remember Him:

[See the commentary on Mosiah 4:30; Helaman 5:6]

Moroni 4-5 (Sacramental Prayers):

According to John Welch, the similarities between the words of Jesus to the Nephites recorded in Third Nephi and the Nephite sacramental prayers in Moroni 4-5 are abundant and apparent, as the following comparison demonstrates:

O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of they Son (Moroni 4:3)

ask the Father in my name (3 Nephi 18:20)

Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify (Moroni 4:3)

he took of the bread and break and blessed it (3 Nephi 18:3)

this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it; that they may eat in remembrance of the body of, (Moroni 4:3)

unto all those who (3 Nephi 18:5) this shall ye do in remembrance of my body which I have shown unto you (3 Nephi 18:7)

thy Son and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father (Moroni 4:3) that they are willing to take upon them

it shall be a testimony unto the Father (3 Nephi 18:7) that ye are willing to do (3 Nephi 18:10)

the name of thy Son, and always remember him, and keep his (Moroni 4:3)

that ye do always remember me (3 Nephi 18:7)

commandments which he hath given them, that they may always have his Spirit to be with them, Amen. (Moroni 4:3)

that which I have commanded you (3 Nephi 18:10) ye shall have my Spirit to be with you (3 Nephi 18:7)

The close relationship between the words of Jesus in 3 Nephi 18 and the basic terms of the sacrament prayers found in Moroni 4-5 is readily apparent. Virtually every component in the two sacrament prayers has a precise counterpart in the express words of Jesus himself. ²