Two of the most important Prophets for us today are the Angel Moroni and Joseph Smith. I believe they have a critical mission for each of us even today. I believe they both are and will be, a big part of building the New Jerusalem and over seeing the Millennium. D&C 27:5 says, “and with Moroni, whom I have sent unto you to reveal the Book of Mormon, containing the fulness of my everlasting gospel, to whom I have committed the keys of the record of the stick of Ephraim”, which means anything to do with the Book of Mormon in this Promised Land and the World must be directed with Moroni in the lead. That includes an important stewardship to lead and teach Joseph Smith.
Joseph Smith is the Prophet of this Last Dispensation of the Fulness of Times, and the Lord Himself said to Joseph, “Behold, there shall be a record kept among you; and in it thou shalt be called a seer, a translator, a prophet, an apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the church through the will of God the Father, and the grace of your Lord Jesus Christ, D&C 21:1
The importance of Moroni and Joseph Smith communicating with each other is of vital importance. How could a young unlearned farm boy become a great Prophet of the Lord? Being taught by angels and having a personal tutor in the form of Moroni is the answer. We will discuss the many visits made to Joseph Smith including over 22 visits we know of with the Angel Moroni.
Moroni—Joseph Smith’s Tutor
“Joseph Smith’s six years of advanced training were anything but ordinary, for his tutors were celestial beings who taught eternal truths that would never change or become obsolete. Whereas much of man’s formal education is tentative, wrong, or outdated within a few years of graduation, Joseph said of his own education: “Could you gaze into heaven five minutes, you would know more than you would by reading all that ever was written on the subject.” (History of the Church, 6:50.) This was the quality of the heavenly instruction Joseph Smith enjoyed.
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How Many Visits?
It is impossible to determine the number of “interviews” Joseph had with Moroni, but twenty-two visits are often identified. (See accompanying chart, “Moroni’s Known Appearances to Joseph Smith, 1823–1829.”)” “Moroni—Joseph Smith’s Tutor” By H. Donl Peterson
Moroni’s Known Appearances to Joseph Smith, 1823–1829
| Date | Circumstances | References | Number of Appearances |
| 21–22 Sept. 1823 | Joseph’s bedroom—Message repeated three times. (Palmyra Township, N.Y.) | JS—H 1:30–47 | 3 |
| 22 Sept. 1823 | Field outside Joseph’s home—initial message repeated. (Manchester Township, N.Y.) | JS—H 1:48–49 | 1 |
| 22 Sept. 1823 | At the Hill Cumorah—Plates, Urim and Thummim, and breastplate are shown, in addition to an open vision. (Hill Cumorah, N.Y.) | JS—H 1:51–53; Latter Day Saints’ Messenger and Advocate, July and Oct. 1835 | 1 |
| 22 Sept. 1824, 1825, and 1826 | Yearly at Cumorah, instructions given to help Joseph prepare for the Restoration. (Hill Cumorah, N.Y.) | JS—H 1:53–54 | 3 |
| Winter 1827 | Moroni meets Joseph by the Hill Cumorah and says that the time has come for the record to be brought forth. He tells Joseph to be up and doing the things he has been commanded. (Hill Cumorah, N.Y.) | Biographical Sketches, p. 99 | 1 |
| 22 Sept. 1827 | Joseph receives the plates. (Hill Cumorah, N.Y.) | JS—H 1:59 | 1 |
| June–July 1828 | Urim and Thummim are taken by Moroni because of the Martin Harris incident. (Harmony, Pa.) | HC 1:21–22 | 1 |
| July 1828 | Urim and Thummim are returned. | HC 1:21–22 | 1 |
| July 1828 | Plates and Urim and Thummim are taken. (Harmony, Pa.) | HC 1:23 | 1 |
| July–Aug. 1828 or 22 Sept. 1828 | Plates and Urim and Thummim are returned. (Harmony, Pa.) | HC 1:23; Biographical Sketches, p. 126 | 1 |
| June 1829 | Angel obtains the plates at Harmony, Pa., to transport them to Fayette Township, N.Y., because Joseph is apprehensive about their safety en route. (Harmony, Pa.) | Biographical Sketches, p. 137 | 1 |
| June 1829 | On the road between Harmony, Pa., and the Hill Cumorah, Joseph, Oliver, and David Whitmer see Moroni carrying the plates; Moroni appears and disappears instantly. | The Historical Record, pp. 207–9 |
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| June 1829 | Joseph has the plates once again in his possession in Fayette Township. Moroni meets Joseph in the garden and gives the plates to him. (Fayette Township, N.Y.) | Biographical Sketches, p. 137 |
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| June 1829 | Joseph finishes the translation; Moroni takes the record. (Fayette Township, N.Y.) | JS—H 1:60 | 1 |
| June 1829 | Oliver, David Whitmer, and Joseph Smith (witnesses) see Moroni, who shows them the plates. (Fayette Township, N.Y.) | HC 1:54–55 | 1 |
| June 1829 | Martin Harris and Joseph Smith (witnesses) see Moroni and the plates. (Fayette Township, N.Y.) | HC 1:55 | 1 |
| June 1829 | Moroni gives the plates to Joseph, and Joseph shows them to the Eight Witnesses. Moroni then calls for the plates and keeps them. (Manchester, N.Y.) | Biographical Sketches, pp. 140–41 | 1 |
| Total Recorded Visits of Moroni to Joseph Smith | 22 | ||
Above Chart from “Moroni—Joseph Smith’s Tutor” By H. Donl Peterson
“Following is a list of some of the personages who appeared to Joseph Smith to restore priesthood keys, to deliver divine instructions, or to perform other functions. The sources History of the Church and Journal of Discourses are abbreviated as HC and JD. The Prophet Joseph communicated with other messengers who previously had lived righteously on earth, but the precise nature of these visits is not known. These personages include Seth, Isaac, Jacob, and the Jewish and Nephite Apostles [Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Noah, Adam, Seth, Enoch, and Jesus and the Father, and the apostles that lived on this continent as well as those who lived on the Asiatic continent. see Journal of Discourses, 21:94]. In addition, Joseph Smith saw other angels in vision, some of whom are identified in recorded revelation (see, for example, D&C 107:53; compare History of the Church, 3:388).
Latter-day Saints are blessed through the Prophet Joseph Smith’s great faith and mission that opened the windows of heaven. He was the pre-appointed agent through which communion with the heavens and the earthly ministry of angels were resumed in a grand manner. The mountain of truth built from the Prophet’s translations and revelations speaks for itself, towering above the stark foothills of earthly philosophy. This is amazing in light of young Joseph’s mortal inadequacy. Through faith, his weaknesses became strengths, and he nobly fulfilled his great foreordained mission—because heavenly messengers were his guides.
And we are among the beneficiaries: We have the wisdom of heaven—the riches of eternity—as found in sacred gospel ordinances and in holy scripture, both ancient and modern. In this way, we too are taught by former prophets, including Joseph Smith. In addition, besides possessing the legacy of former prophets, we have the special blessing of having the words and guidance of a living prophet as well!”
Brian L. Smith, director of the Portland (Oregon) Institute of Religion and a member of the Mountain View Ward, Beaverton Oregon Stake. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1994/10/i-have-a-question/i-have-a-question?lang=eng
| Personage(s) | Purpose of Appearance(s) | Selected References |
| God the Father | Open dispensation, introduce the Son | JS—H 1:17 |
| Jesus Christ | Accept Kirtland Temple and direct bestowal of priesthood keys | D&C 110:2–10 |
| Moroni | Instruct, bestow the plates and Urim and Thummim | JS—H 1:30–49, 59 |
| John the Baptist | Confer Aaronic Priesthood and its keys | D&C 13:1; HC 1:39–40 |
| Peter, James, John | Confer Melchizedek Priesthood and its keys | D&C 27; HC 1:40–42 n. |
| Moses | Confer keys to gather Israel and ten tribes | D&C 110:11 |
| Elias | Commit gospel of Abraham | D&C 110:12 |
| Elijah | Confer sealing power | D&C 110:13–16 |
| Adam (Michael) | Instruct Joseph | D&C128:21;HC 2:380; 3:388 |
| Noah (Gabriel) | Instruct Joseph | D&C 128:21 |
| Raphael | Instruct Joseph | D&C 128:21 |
| “Divers angels” | Declare their respective dispensations | D&C 128:21 |
| Lehi | Instruct Joseph | JD 16:266 |
| Nephi | Instruct Joseph | JD 16:266; 17:374; 21:161 |
| Mormon | Instruct Joseph | JD 17:374 |
Moroni’s Message to Joseph Smith By Kent P. Jackson
A look at the verses the angel Moroni quoted to the Prophet Joseph Smith on 21–22 September 1823.
With Moroni’s appearance to seventeen-year-old Joseph Smith on 21 September 1823, the Lord began to educate the Prophet in preparation for the restoration of the gospel. The Nephite prophet Moroni, as the last prophet of the Lehite dispensation and the final author, compiler, and caretaker of the Nephite record, was appropriately chosen to serve as young Joseph Smith’s tutor. From Moroni, Joseph Smith learned more about his own future calling, and through the process of bringing forth the Book of Mormon, he began to receive and share the gospel light that this sacred volume contains. Moroni’s statue on our temples today announces to the world the message that he delivered to Joseph Smith: The gospel has been restored in its fulness, and its blessings are now available to humankind.
During Joseph Smith’s lifetime, he wrote or dictated four separate accounts of the appearance of Moroni: one dictated to Frederick G. Williams in 1832; a journal entry in 1835; another, the “official” account, dictated in 1838; and the Wentworth Letter, published by the Prophet in 1842. In addition to the accounts that came directly from Joseph Smith, other early accounts were written by Orson Pratt and Oliver Cowdery. Elder Pratt’s account was published in a pamphlet in 1840, while he was serving a mission in Scotland.Oliver Cowdery’s rendition is contained in three articles published in February, April, and July 1835 in the Kirtland Messenger and Advocate.
Moroni’s Message
During his initial visit with Joseph Smith, Moroni informed Joseph that his sins had been forgiven and that he had been chosen to bring forth the sacred record of the ancient Americans. But that was not all. In his 1832 account of the visitation, the Prophet reported simply that he learned “many things concerning the inhabitants of the earth.” In his 1835 account, he said that Moroni “explained many … prophesies.” And in the 1842 Wentworth Letter, Joseph Smith wrote that Moroni taught him “that the covenant which God made with ancient Israel was at hand to be fulfilled, that the preparatory work for the second coming of the Messiah was speedily to commence; that the time was at hand for the gospel, in all its fulness to be preached in power, unto all nations that a people might be prepared for the millennial reign.” Moreover, he wrote, “I was informed that I was chosen to be an instrument in the hands of God to bring about some of his purposes in this glorious dispensation.”
Moroni and the Bible
In the 1838 account, which is found in the Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith shared the greatest detail regarding Moroni’s teaching. The Prophet recorded that Moroni “commenced quoting the prophecies of the Old Testament.” Joseph Smith then listed several passages from the Bible that Moroni quoted. He listed those passages in this order (see JS—H 1:35–41):
Mal. 3 (“part,” perhaps Mal. 3:1–4
Mal. 4:1–6
Isa. 11:1–16
Acts 3:22–23
Joel 2:28–32
After reviewing Moroni’s recitation of these scriptures, Joseph Smith noted the following: “He quoted many other passages of scripture, and offered many explanations which cannot be mentioned here.” (JS—H 1:41.) The Prophet never specified what those “other passages of scripture” were, but Oliver Cowdery provided more information.
As stated earlier, in 1835 Oliver Cowdery wrote three articles in the Messenger and Advocate regarding the appearance of Moroni to Joseph Smith. All of the articles were written in the form of epistles addressed to W. W. Phelps, and they are characterized by Elder Cowdery’s rich literary style. The letters contain lengthy discourses on the restoration of the gospel and the message conveyed to the Prophet by Moroni. In writing them, Elder Cowdery apparently used the opportunity to present to the Church some expositions on several gospel subjects, based on the things Moroni communicated to Joseph Smith. In two of the articles, appearing in February and April, he included scriptures that presumably were quoted or paraphrased by Moroni. The following compilation lists them in the order in which they appear in the narrative.
| Messenger and Advocate 1.5 (Feb. 1835), p. 77–80: | |
| 1 Cor. 1:27–29 | Isa. 29:13 |
| Isa. 29:14 | Isa. 29:11 |
| Messenger and Advocate 1.7 (Apr. 1835), p. 108–12: | ||
| Ps. 100:1–2 | Isa. 1:25–26 | Isa. 43:6 |
| Ps. 107:1–7 | Ps. 107:7 | Jer. 50:4–5 |
| Ps. 144:11–12 | Isa. 2:1–4 | Jer. 31:9 |
| Joel 2:28 | Isa. 4:5–6 | Jer. 31:9 |
| Ps. 144:13 | Jer. 31:27–28 | Isa. 2:3 |
| Ps. 146:10 | Jer. 31:32–33 | Isa. 11:15–16 |
| Isa. 1:7 | Jer. 30:18–21 | Jer. 16:16 |
| Isa. 1:23–24 | Jer. 31:1 | Deut. 32:43 |
| Deut. 32:23–24 | Jer. 31:8 | |
Obviously, Oliver Cowdery was not with the Prophet on the occasion of Moroni’s coming, so the account is secondary. Yet it is not too much to assume that Joseph Smith had rehearsed the event to his colleague on numerous occasions. Elder Cowdery had been the Prophet’s scribe and was designated “Second Elder” of the Church at the time it was organized. When Oliver Cowdery wrote about the Restoration, he was Assistant President of the Church, in addition to being editor of the Messenger and Advocate. His close association with the Prophet, especially in the early part of the Prophet’s ministry, may have enabled him to know more about these events than anyone except Joseph Smith himself.
In the February and July articles, Elder Cowdery marked his reconstructions of Moroni’s words with quotation marks to make it clear to the reader which were Moroni’s words and which were his own comments. However, the April article, which is of greatest interest to this study because it contains more than two dozen Bible passages quoted in context of Moroni’s visit, presents special problems. In this article it is not clear which words are Oliver Cowdery’s and which are the words of Moroni. Unlike the other articles, there are no quotation marks to assist the reader.
Perhaps Elder Cowdery did not feel a need to use quotation marks in the recitations of the story; editorial convention was fairly unstructured in those days. Or perhaps he did not use quotation marks in order to alert the reader to the fact that the entire message was reconstructed from his own understanding and was not necessarily a historical transcript of the event. At the beginning of his discussion, Elder Cowdery wrote: “I have thought best to give a farther detail of the heavenly message, and if I do not give it in the precise words, shall strictly confine myself to the facts in substance.” At the end of the account he wrote: “I have now given you a rehearsal of what was communicated to our brother. … I may have missed in arrangement in some instances, but the principle is preserved.”
How well he succeeded only God, Moroni, and Joseph Smith know. As historian Milton Backman has pointed out, “It is not clear whether Oliver is quoting Moroni or merely explaining, with scriptural references, themes emphasized by Moroni.” And so, as we study Elder Cowdery’s accounts, it is wise to view the angel’s words and the biblical passages cited with a degree of caution. His is a secondhand treatment of an event in which only Moroni and Joseph Smith were participants.” Moroni’s Message to Joseph Smith By Kent P. Jackson
I asked Jonathan Neville to share with me how accurate this preceding information from Kent Jackson’s article is since he has studied Cowdery’s letters so much. Jonathan said the following.
“Excellent article. He explained it very well, with maybe 3 exceptions.
First, Oliver said he wrote those essays using “original documents now in our possession” or words to that effect. We don’t know what those were, but they could have been notes written by Joseph or Oliver’s own notebook in which he wrote down everything Joseph told him in Harmony during the translation of the plates there. We don’t have either of those documents, but David Whitmer mentioned Oliver’s notebook.
Second, Oliver’s quotation marks throughout the essays are direct quotations, as opposed to what he wrote in the April letter. Oliver made that clear in the parts Jackson quoted. This means we should take those direct quotations for what they are, including when Moroni said the record was “written and deposited” not far from Joseph’s home.
Third, Joseph endorsed these letters by having them written in his history and republished. Those actions indicate a greater endorsement than Joseph merely assisting in writing them in the first place. Jackson didn’t mention this, possibly because he didn’t know about it.” Jonathan Neville to Rian Nelson June 22, 2019
Kent Jackson’s article continues below:
A View of the Latter Days
Although Joseph Smith’s prayer as he went to bed that autumn night was for “a manifestation” to know of his “state and standing” before the Lord (JS—H 1:29), what he received, in addition to that, was a powerful lesson about the mission of God’s people in the dispensation of the fulness of times. Moroni’s message to the young Prophet outlined not only the calling of Joseph Smith, but also the destiny of the Church and kingdom of God from the time of the Restoration until the Millennium. Significantly, the Lord’s messenger taught these truths by quoting passages out of the Bible. Since the resurrected Christ also taught by quoting and expounding scripture during his appearance to the children of Lehi in the Americas (see 3 Ne. 22–25), we can view this method of teaching as a significant model to be followed in gospel instruction.
From the scriptures cited by the Prophet in Joseph Smith—History, we can see that Moroni did not select random passages to outline the future of the Lord’s kingdom. They were chosen specifically to introduce the Prophet to his work. In them the following aspects of the mission of the Church in the last days are discussed:
—The calling of the Prophet Joseph Smith (Mal. 3:1; Isa. 11:1, 10–12).
—The opening of the heavens through the Restoration (Joel 2:28–29).
—The restoration of the priesthood and of the sealing keys (Mal. 4:5–6).
—The gathering of the elect (Isa. 11:10–16).
—Destruction and purification before and during the Second Coming (Mal. 3:2–3; Mal. 4:1, 3; Acts 3:22–23; Joel 2:30–31).
—Deliverance for the faithful (Mal. 4:2; Joel 2:32).
—The Second Coming (Mal. 3:1–2).
—The premillennial and millennial state of the faithful (Mal. 3:3–4;Mal. 4:2; Isa. 11:1–9).
It is interesting that, with only the following exceptions, all of the biblical passages presented in Oliver Cowdery’s accounts fit into these categories. Adding to these groupings, Elder Cowdery included some scriptures that tell of the apostasy and scattering of Israel—as a background to the discussion of the return—and he quoted material from Isaiah that deals with the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. In my view, his consistency with the message as related by Joseph Smith adds to the credibility of his reconstructions.
Moroni, the Link between Ancient and Latter-day Prophets
It is significant that Moroni trained Joseph Smith by teaching him from the scriptures. It may be that the Prophet’s great love for the Bible was a by-product of this experience, because for the rest of his life he taught others by using the scriptures. It is also worthy of note that with the exception of Paul’s phrase that the weak would confound the wise (1 Cor. 1:27–29)—which Moroni cited to introduce the topic of Joseph Smith’s work—all of the other scriptures quoted by Moroni come from the Old Testament. In using the words of ancient Israel’s prophets to instruct the messenger to modern Israel, Moroni symbolically tied the gospel dispensations together—the actual realization of which is a major goal of the Restoration. Moroni, an Israelite prophet, was the first emissary to provide the link between ancient dispensations and the dispensation of the fulness of times.
The visitation of Moroni to Joseph Smith holds an important place in our church history. With Moroni’s appearance, the process of restoring lost truths and educating the Prophet gained great impetus. Under the care and instruction of that great prophet of ancient America, the Prophet Joseph Smith received training and guidance that ultimately will lead to the restoration of all things. To all this Moroni’s first visits were a prelude—an instructional session from which Joseph Smith and all of us have learned the course that we are to pursue as we continue in the Lord’s service.
Scriptures Quoted by Moroni
The following is a list of the scriptures quoted by Moroni, as reported by Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. The numbers in brackets refer to the subject-matter categories listed below.
| Deut. 32:23–24 | [1, 7] |
| Deut. 32:43 | [10] |
| Ps. 100:1–2 | [10] |
| Ps. 107:1–7 | [6] |
| Ps. 144:11–12 | [8, 10] |
| Ps. 144:13 | [10] |
| Ps. 146:10 | [10] |
| Isa. 1:7 | [1] |
| Isa. 1:23–24 | [1] |
| Isa. 1:25–26 | [1, 7, 10] |
| Isa. 2:1–4 | [10] |
| Isa. 4:5–6 | [10] |
| Isa. 11:1–16 | [2, 6, 7, 10] |
| Isa. 29:11 | [4] |
| Isa. 29:13 | [1, 2, 3] |
| Isa. 29:14 | [3, 4] |
| Isa. 43:6 | [6] |
| Jer. 16:16 | [6] |
| Jer. 30:18–21 | [10] |
| Jer. 31:1 | [10] |
| Jer. 31:6 | [6] |
| Jer. 31:8 | [6] |
| Jer. 31:9 | [6] |
| Jer. 31:27–28 | [10] |
| Jer. 31:32–33 | [10] |
| Jer. 50:4–5 | [6] |
| Joel 2:28–32 | [3, 10] |
| Mal. 3:1–4 | [2, 7, 9, 10] |
| Mal. 4:1–6 | [5, 7, 8] |
| Acts 3:22–23 | [7] |
| 1 Cor. 1:27–29 | [2] |
- Apostasy and scattering
- The calling of the Prophet Joseph Smith
- The opening of the heavens during the Restoration
- The coming forth of the Book of Mormon
- The restoration of the priesthood and of the sealing keys
- The gathering of the elect
- Destruction and purification prior to and during the Second Coming
- Deliverance for the faithful
- The Second Coming
- The premillennial and millennial state of the faithful”
Moroni’s Message to Joseph Smith By Kent P. Jackson
Moroni Guardian Angel of the United States of America
“By whose power victory so often perched on our banner? It was by the agency of that same angel of God that appeared unto Joseph Smith, and revealed to him the history of the early inhabitants of this country, whose mounds, bones, and remains of towns, cities, and fortifications speak from the dust in the ears of the living with the voice of undeniable truth. This same angel presides over the destinies of America, and feels a lively interest in all our doings. He was in the camp of Washington; and, by an invisible hand, led on our fathers to conquest and victory; and all this to open and prepare the way for the Church and kingdom of God to be established on the western hemisphere, for the redemption of Israel and the salvation of the world. This same angel was with Columbus, and gave him deep impressions, by dreams and by visions, respecting this New World…Under the guardianship of this same angel, or Prince of America, have the United States grown, increased, and flourished, like the sturdy oak by the rivers of water… When Justice is satisfied, and the blood of martyrs atoned for, the guardian angel of America will return to his station, resume his charge, and restore the Constitution of our country…One positive decree of Jehovah, respecting this land, is, that no king shall ever be raised up here, and that whosoever seeketh to raise up a king upon this land shall perish…” Moroni Guardian Angel of America Orson Hyde Journal of Discourses 6:65.
“Indeed this land of America and its leaders have been blessed with the protection of the Lord. ‘As details of the battle emerged, it turns out that either George Washington was extremely lucky, was bulletproof, or was being supernaturally protected. One Indian warrior testified that he had shot at him 17 times. He exclaimed that ‘Washington was never born to be killed by a bullet!’ Another Indian, Red Hawk, had shot and missed him 11 times. He had not missed a shot before, and became convinced that Washington was being supernaturally protected by the Great Spirit. In 1770, fifteen years after the battle, an old Indian told Washington that he had sought out to meet him. He had been fighting in the battle that day, and he had told all the Indians with him to shoot at him, and make sure that he died. When they all missed, he told them to stop. On that evening, he predicted that Washington would never die in battle, and would be ‘the founder of a mighty empire.’ David Barton, The Bulletproof George Washington.
“Many locations in this land of America have been blessed by its guardian angel. Moroni had the great privilege, as he walked across this American Continent, of finding a place and designating the place where the St. George temple was to be built. He also designated where the Manti Temple was to be. And it’s been written that he designated Kirtland and Nauvoo and probably others. Moroni appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith 22 different times during the life of the Prophet Joseph that we know of.” The Angel Moroni by Elder Glen L. Rud
This United States of America is indeed, “A Land of Promise.” Moroni presides over the destinies of the United States, holds the keys of the Stick of Ephraim (D&C 27: 5), and is the guardian angel of this wonderful land. The Prophet Joseph Smith is the Prophet of the Last dispensation. together they are honored men of the Lord.
The Lord has said, “…repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon…” (D&C 84:57). As we study The Book of Mormon, we learn to love even more this blessed America we call “A Land of Promise.”
