Comments on Moroni 1 After telling us he probably wouldn't be writing much more (cf. Mormon 8:4-5), Moroni write some more. The text of these few verses can be arranged in a parallelism, as follows: A - 1 NOW I, Moroni, after having made an end of abridging the account of the people of Jared, I had supposed not to have written more, but I have not as yet perished; B - and I make not myself known to the Lamanites lest they should destroy me. 2 For behold, their wars are exceedingly fierce among themselves; C - and because of their hatred they put to death every Nephite that will not deny the Christ. C - 3 And I, Moroni, will not deny the Christ; B - wherefore, I wander whithersoever I can for the safety of mine own life. A - 4 Wherefore, I write a few more things, contrary to that which I had supposed; for I had supposed not to have written any more; but I write a few more things, that perhaps they may be of worth unto my brethren, the Lamanites, in some future day, according to the will of the Lord. The A's inform the reader that while he had not intended to write anymore, the situation has sufficiently changed that he now has the opportunity to do so. His intent is that after finishing the Jaredite record, which abridgment was primarily aimed at Gentile readers, he is now going to address the Lamanites, the readers who are the remnants of natural Israel. The B's inform the reader that Moroni is wandering, probably in a solitary fashion, avoiding the Lamanite's internal conflict. But, the C's inform us that he is also avoided the Lamanites because if he were caught by them he would be killed because of their hatred (cp. 4 Ne. 1:38-39) of his religious beliefs. While Moroni appears to be wandering in a solitary fashion, he must have had some contact with other people in order to know that the Lamanites are systematically executing all Nephites who will not deny Christ (we are informed in Mormon 6:15 that some few Nephites escaped the wholesale slaughter at Cumorah) and that there are numerous wars amongst the Lamanites. Also, in Mormon 8:5 he says he has no ore to make plates to write on, so he cannot write. But, now he is writing some more, so he must have obtained ore somehow, and it seems like the easiest source would have been from someplace already civilized. Copyright © 2001 by S. Kurt Neumiller . All rights reserved. No part of this text may be reproduced in any form or by any means for commercial gain without the express written consent of the author. Digital or printed copies may be freely made and distributed for personal and public non-commercial use.